Brexit would have ‘profound political significance’ for North, court hears

Posted by Jim on October 8, 2016

Victims’ rights campaigner Raymond McCord, who is challenging
the constitutional authority of the British government to take
Northern Ireland out of the European Union.
File photograph: Matt Kavanagh/The Irish Times

Gerry Moriarty. (Belfast). Thursday, October, 2016

Executing Brexit would be an “act of profound legal and constitutional as well as political significance” for Northern Ireland, Belfast High Court was told on Thursday.
In the final day of the three day judicial review, a lawyer challenged the argument made by lawyers for the British government and the Northern Executive that quitting the European Union would have no impact on the 1998 Belfast Agreement.

David Scoffield, QC, who is representing a group of politicians and human rights groups, said that the “North-South machinery” of the agreement was “designed and required to implement EU policies and programs”.

That would make “no sense” if Northern Ireland was no longer a member of the EU, said Mr. Scoffield. In winding up his argument, Mr. Scoffield said that the triggering of Article 50 by the British government to begin taking the United Kingdom out of Europe would be an “act of profound legal and constitutional as well as political significance.”

Mr. Scoffield referred to how Tony McGleenan, QC, acting for the British government, had argued that after the EU referendum result, the “ship had sailed” in terms of Brexit. Mr. Scoffield said, however, the ship “has not sailed” until Article 50 was triggered.
He contended that it was for the Westminster parliament, rather than the British prime minister by ministerial prerogative power, to activate Article 50 as is scheduled to happen by the end of March next year. “Article 50 once it is triggered, there is no way back as far as Northern Ireland is concerned,” he said.

Mr. Scoffield is representing a cross-political, cross-community group that includes the SDLP and Alliance leaders, Colum Eastwood and David Ford, former Sinn Féin Minister John O’Dowd, Greens Assembly member Steven Agnew, former Progressive Unionist
Party leader Dawn Purvis, the Committee on the Administration of Justice (CAJ) and the Human Rights Consortium.
‘Make position known’

Mr Scoffield also contended that the Northern Ireland Office and the Northern Secretary James Brokenshire <http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?tag_person=James%20Brokenshire&article=true> must speak to the interests of Northern Ireland. “The Northern Ireland Office must take a position on whether Brexit is good or bad for Northern Ireland and make its position known to the Westminster government,” said Mr Scofffield.

He added that Mr Brokenshire’s role “was to speak for Northern Ireland’s interests and to do so he must be properly informed”.

A number of legal challenges to the Brexit vote are also taking place in Britain. These could be relevant to the ultimate determination of High Court <http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?tag_organisation=High%20Court&article=true> judge Mr Justice Maguire <http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?tag_person=Mr%20Justice%20Maguire&article=true> who is hearing the case. He said the court was likely to reconvene at a later stage.

Good Friday Agreement

Victims’ campaigner Raymond McCord, whose son Raymond junior was murdered by the Ulster Volunteer Force <http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?tag_organisation=Ulster%20Volunteer%20Force&article=true> in 1997, is also a party to the judicial review.

His lawyer Ronan Lavery <http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?tag_person=Ronan%20Lavery&article=true>, QC, argued that as a result of the Belfast Agreement, Northern Ireland has special constitutional status within the United Kingdom.

He said that when the British and Irish governments endorsed the Belfast Agreement of Good Friday 1998 they signed up to the people of Northern Ireland having a “veto” over any change to the constitutional position of Northern Ireland.

Taking Northern Ireland out of the EU without consent would breach that veto, he contended.

Outside the court on Thursday, Mr McCord said he was “delighted” with the way his case had proceeded and he believed his legal team had presented a strong constitutional case.

“I believe the court has the power to say that Brexit can’t go ahead in Northern Ireland,” he said.

Mr McCord said that 56 per cent of people in Northern Ireland voted to remain in the EU and that vote must be respected. He took his case on behalf of his son and on behalf of other victims, he said.

“I think justice is better served by being in the European Union. Europe has helped victims of this country and has helped people to come together as well,” he added. “I don’t believe the British government would help victims the way Europe has.”

USA broadcast schedule & online streaming of Irish, British & Euro sports

Posted by Jim on October 7, 2016

Friday, October 07, 2016 Guinness Pro12 Rugby 2:30pm Connacht v Ulster beIN Connect World Cup Qualifier 2:45pm Portugal v Andorra ESPN3 & Deportes World Cup Qualifier 2:45pm Belgium v Bosnia & Herzegovina Fox Soccer Plus World Cup Qualifier 2:45pm France v Bulgaria ESPN3 World Cup Qualifier 2:45pm Hungary v Switzerland ESPN3 AVIVA Premiership Rugby 2:45pm Bath Rugby v Sale Sharks NBCsports.com World Cup Qualifier 2:45pm Netherlands v Belarus Fox Sports 2 World Cup Qualifier 2:45pm Luxembourg v Sweden FS2Go World Cup Qualifier 2:45pm Greece v Cyprus FS2Go World Cup Qualifier 2:45pm Estonia v Gibraltar FS2Go World Cup Qualifier 2:45pm Latvia v Faroe Islands FS2Go Soccer Friendly 4:00pm Cuba v USA ESPN2 Saturday, October 08, 2016 Scottish League Cup 8:00am Bala Town v Alloa Ath FSP AVIVA Premiership Rugby 10:00am Harlequins v Northampton Saints NBCSN World Cup Qualifier 12:00pm Montenegro v Kazakhstan ESPN3 World Cup Qualifier 12:00pm Azerbaijan v Norway Fox Soccer Plus World Cup Qualifier 12:00pm Armenia v Romania FS2Go World Cup Qualifier 12:00pm England v Malta ESPN3 & Deportes World Cup Qualifier 2:45pm Poland v Denmark ESPN3 & Deportes World Cup Qualifier 2:45pm N. Ireland v San Marino ESPN3 World Cup Qualifier 2:45pm Slovenia v Slovakia ESPN3 World Cup Qualifier 2:45pm Germany v Czech Republic Fox Sports 2 World Cup Qualifier 2:45pm Scotland v Luthania Fox Soccer Plus Sunday, October 09, 2016 Scottish League Cup 8:00am Queen of the South v Linfield FSP Soccer Friendly 9:00am Rusia v Costa Rica ESPN3 & Deportes AVIVA Premiership Rugby 11:00am Saracens v Wasps NBCSN World Cup Qualifier 12:00pm Ukraine v Kosovo Fox Sports 2 World Cup Qualifier 12:00pm Wales v Georgia Fox Sports 1 World Cup Qualifier 12:00pm Israel v Liechtenstein ESPN3 World Cup Qualifier 12:00pm Finland v Croatia ESPN3 & Deportes World Cup Qualifier 2:45pm Iceland v Turkey ESPN World Cup Qualifier 2:45pm Moldova v Ireland ESPN3 World Cup Qualifier 2:45pm Serbia v Austria ESPN3 World Cup Qualifier 2:45pm Macedonia v Italy Fox Sports 2 World Cup Qualifier 2:45pm Albania v Spain Fox Sports 1 Monday, October 10, 2016 World Cup Qualifier 2:45pm Andorra v Switzerland FS2Go World Cup Qualifier 2:45pm Belarus v Luxembourg FS2Go World Cup Qualifier 2:45pm Bosnia-Herzegovina v Cyprus FS2Go World Cup Qualifier 2:45pm Sweden v Bulgaria Fox Sports 2 World Cup Qualifier 2:45pm Netherlands v France Fox Sports 1 World Cup Qualifier 2:45pm Estonia v Greece ESPN3 World Cup Qualifier 2:45pm Gibraltar v Belgium ESPN3 World Cup Qualifier 2:45pm Latvia v Hungary ESPN3 World Cup Qualifier 2:45pm Faroe Islands v Portugal ESPN3 & Deportes Tuesday, October 11, 2016 World Cup Qualifier 12:00pm Kazakhstan v Romania Fox Sports 2 World Cup Qualifier 2:45pm Poland v Armenia Fox Sports 2 World Cup Qualifier 2:45pm Slovakia v Scotland FS2Go World Cup Qualifier 2:45pm Denmark v Montenegro ESPN3 World Cup Qualifier 2:45pm Norway v San Marino ESPN3 World Cup Qualifier 2:45pm Czech Republic v Azerbaijan FSP World Cup Qualifier 2:45pm Lithuania v Malta FS2Go World Cup Qualifier 2:45pm Slovenia v England ESPN World Cup Qualifier 2:45pm Germany v N. Ireland ESPN3 & Deportes World Cup Qualifier 4:00pm Bolivia v Ecuador beIN Sports Soccer Friendly 8:00pm USA v New Zealand ESPN Friday, October 14, 2016 Scottish Premier League 2:45pm Inverness CT v Rangers FSP Saturday, October 15, 2016 English Premier League 7:30am Chelsea v Leicester City NBC Sports English Premier League 10:00am Bournemouth v Hull NBC Extra English Premier League 10:00am Manchester City v Everton NBC Extra English Premier League 10:00am Stoke v Sunderland NBC Extra English Premier League 10:00am West Brom v Tottenham NBC Extra Scottish Premier League 10:00am Celtic v Motherwell CelticFC.TV English Premier League 10:00am Arsenal v Swansea NBC Extra English Premier League 12:30pm Crystal Palace v West Ham NBC Sports Sunday, October 16, 2016 English Premier League 8:30am Middlesbrough v Watford NBC Sports English Premier League 11:00am Southampton v Burnley NBC Sports Monday, October 17, 2016 English Premier League 3:00pm Liverpool v Manchester Utd NBC Sports

Deplorable anti-Irish bigotry encouraged

Posted by Jim on October 6, 2016

“Finally, don’t forget no DUP politician has ever endorsed sharing power with nationalists or republicans, or ‘rogues and renegades’ as Arlene Foster blurted out. She’s photographed last week with a caption describing the men alongside her as members of the UDA, an illegal organisation that preys on the Unionist community but only shares power with Sinn Féin because she must. Some of her MLAs still won’t speak to Sinn Féin MLAs. Does she encourage them to show some reconciliation? What do you think?”
Brian Feeney (Belfast). Wednesday, October 5, 2016

A writer in the Irish Times on Saturday produced a useful phrase the Dutch have: plaatsvervangende schaamte. It translates as, the shame you feel on behalf of others. You have to feel it because the people who should be ashamed have no shame.

Unfortunately it’s a phrase that doesn’t apply to many Unionists.

Is there no Unionist who is ashamed of what their politicians get up to, or in some cases fail to get up to? There’s no doubt last week’s revelation that a DUP minister changed a boat’s name from Irish to English made some unionists cringe but none of them will say so publicly. Gerry Kelly was spot on. As he said, ‘it is downright bigotry and anti-Irish’.

Most people dismissed it as petty and vindictive but it’s more than that. It betrays a particular mindset which should be out of place nowadays but despite all the talk of reconciliation and a shared society that attitude of mind is widespread among Unionists. No Unionist stepped forward to deplore the obliteration of an Irish name. What made that failure even worse were the spurious excuses and explanations presented. That an Irish name somehow contravened health and safety, that it contravened naval and mercantile regulations. Those inventions showed even DUP apologists knew the real reason for the decision was indefensible so they concocted false reasons.

People complain the phrase ‘Unionist leader’ is an oxymoron. For DUP MLA readers that means the two words contradict each other for Unionists never show any leadership. There’s a major flaw in that complaint because it assumes if they were showing leadership they’d do the right thing. The fact is that Unionists do show leadership, and a DUP minister expunging an Irish name shows the way to party blockheads— in the decreasing number of Unionist controlled councils —that it’s okay to denigrate the Irish language, music, games, literature.

Few in Unionist positions of leadership ever step in to condemn bigotry or naked anti-Irishness for the simple reason some of them agree with it. They don’t know how to defend it because it’s unacceptable in a civilised society, so they device cock-eyed reasons for their actions so preposterous that their followers know they’re specious. They do it because they can get away with it.

The same behaviour applies to the now dismantled squalor at Twaddell. The media agree that no Unionist politician could be seen on Friday or Saturday, as the Orangemen began their last forlorn march up the Crumlin Road. However when the camp was being established there were plenty of Unionist politicians to be seen egging on the dupes in their caravan, standing on a platform as usual with known members of the UVF and UDA. Unionists agreed with the protesters.

The absence of Unionist politicians at the weekend is an indication to the hardliners that no Unionist politician supported the compromise that led to the agreement. Afterwards some appeared to express approval but no one can accuse any of them of complicity when it emerges there’ll be no more return marches.

Finally, don’t forget no DUP politician has ever endorsed sharing power with nationalists or republicans, or ‘rogues and renegades’ as Arlene Foster blurted out. She’s photographed last week with a caption describing the men alongside her as members of the UDA, an illegal organisation that preys on the Unionist community but only shares power with Sinn Féin because she must. Some of her MLAs still won’t speak to Sinn Féin MLAs. Does she encourage them to show some reconciliation? What do you think?

Will Arlene Foster tell her minister to stop disgracing the party by painting out Irish words? Are you kidding? Will she instruct bonehead councillors to show respect for diversity because it could rebound on Unionists in Republican dominated councils? No chance.

The DUP is opposed to the concept of diversity. The party never endorsed the Good Friday Agreement or any of its concepts. They oppose its concepts shamelessly. How do we know? Actions speak louder than words. See Matthew 7:16. By their fruits you will know them. Do you gather grapes from thorns or figs from thistles?

Free Tony Taylor

Posted by Jim on October 4, 2016

Tony Taylor – The Facts

Tony Taylor was released from prison in 2014 after having served three years in custody, with four further years on Licence. Tony, as a member of the Republican Network for Unity, contributed to local politics in Derry by peacefully raising benefit cuts, prison conditions and policing issues. Tony complied with the terms of his licence, including reporting his activities to the NI Probation Board.

Tony was detained by police in Derry on October 17, 2015 and interviewed over two days at Musgrave Street Station about alleged republican activity based on MI5 “Intelligence”. He was unconditionally released pending a report to the PPS.

On 10th March 2016 Tony, while out shopping with his wife and children, was taken by the PSNI and returned to Prison. The Northern Ireland Office said his licence was revoked by the Parole Commission because of the risk he posed to the public. Tony’s solicitor, Aiden Carlin, has confirmed that this “risk to the public” was based on an MI5 assessment, and the same “Republican Activity” for which Tony was questioned and unconditionally released in October 2015.

Three weeks after Tony was returned to prison the Secretary of State admitted that her original order revoking his licence had been illegal. The recommendation to return Tony to prison had been made without even contacting the Probation Board. Tony remained in prison.

In July the P.P.S. concluded its examination of the file on his arrest and questioning in October 2015, and directed that Tony would not face prosecution.

Tony Taylor remains in prison for the same reasons of a “risk to the public” for which he has been:

Detained and questioned for two days in October 2015

Unconditionally released by the PSNI

Told by the P.P.S there will be no prosecution.

ORANGE PARADE ‘RETURNS’ AFTER 3 YEARS

Posted by Jim on October 1, 2016

An Orange Order parade was forced through the greater Ardoyne area in
north Belfast this Saturday morning amid a military-style policing
operation and a bitter war of words among nationalists.

PSNI armoured vehicles had lined the route from early this morning and
helicopters hovered overhead as the massive security operation swung
into place.

Loyalists cheered as hundreds of Orangemen made their way up the Crumlin
Road, parading through the nationalist communities of Ardoyne,
Mountainview and the Dales. A protest against the parade by the Greater
Ardoyne Residents Collective (GARC) was limited to 60 participants by
the Parades Commission.

GARC spokesperson Damien ‘Dee’ Fennell said that the provocative Orange
march had been “resurrected” by a deal between Sinn Fein and the
loyalist paramilitary UVF. He said the it was something that “the people
of this area thought was dead and gone”, and denied claims by Sinn Fein
that it had local support.

The agreement between the Sinn Fein-supported Crumlin Ardoyne Residents’
Association (CARA) and three Orange lodges has deeply divided the
community. GARC has claimed that 85% of residents are opposed to all
Orange marches, and have accused Sinn Fein of “trampling over the rights
of residents”.

“If there is widespread community support for this deal, then why is all
this security needed?” Mr Fennell asked.

After three years of intimidation, this morning’s ‘return’ parade should
see the final removal of the long-running campsite operated by loyalists
at the Twaddell interface. The agreement also sees a “moratorium” placed
on future return Twelfth parades in the area, in return for Sinn Fein’s
support for outward parades.

Last night, a march and rally by nationalist residents brought several
hundred onto the streets in a demonstration of support for GARC. Sinn
Fein and clergymen had urged local residents to stay home and to support
their agreement to allow the sectarian parade through.

GARC’s protest went ahead despite false reports and messages online that
it had been cancelled. Mr Fennell said there had been a ‘dirty tricks’
operation, but that it had “failed miserably”.

“Not only have we proven a point that we can demonstrate peacefully as
we always have done,” he said. “We’ve also proven that there is
overwhelming support for GARC analysis and rejection by the the vast
majority of residents for SF/UVF deal.”

Last night saw another heavy deployment of PSNI as the protest march and
rally made its through the nationalist community. Protesters marched
through Ardoyne before finally reaching PSNI lines at the Estoril Park
and Balholm Drive where a short rally was held before dispersing.

Mr Fennell said: “Hundreds of residents turning out here tonight to
reject that deal to protest against the continuation of ongoing parades
dispels the myth put forward by Sinn Fein, the clergy and their friends
within the state establishment that GARC has no support in this area”.

“GARC came out tonight peacefully and radically to display the
opposition that exists to sectarian parades and this deal,” he said.

He also blasted restrictions placed on last night’s protest march by the
Parades Commission as a “disgrace”.

“We have 250 loyalists parading through this area with the blessing of
Sinn Fein,” he said. “And we’ve had several hundred residents restricted
from part of their own area. After lobbying by Sinn Fein. I think it’s a
disgrace and as the [previous] speaker put it, I think Sinn Fein has
been bought by British gold.”

In response, Sinn Fein’s Gerry Kelly accused GARC of “provoking
confrontation”.

“There are many genuine people who are exercised about the issue of
Orange parades,” he said. “But there are also people associated with
GARC who don’t want a resolution to parading and who are associated with
anti-peace process political parties.

“It is Sinn Fein’s view we need less evening parades, not more. Our
community does not need any more of our young people ending up in prison
as happened following a similar parade some years ago.

“Sinn Fein believes the agreement is a huge step forward. It represents
the best opportunity to resolve an issue once and for all, which has
plagued this community over many, many years.”

In a statement issued in return, GARC said several of its members had
received criminal records after Mr Kelly publicly called on people to
demonstrate against Orange marches from the mid-90s onwards.

‘Where is Kelly’s call for Loyal Orders to withdraw their continued
demands to march through this area?,” they asked.

“Sinn Fein are all over the place on this issue. It seems their hatred
of anyone seeking to go against their appeasement policy is clouding
their judgement regarding who is really responsible for the ongoing
problem of unwanted sectarian parades – The Loyal Orders.”