Posted by Jim on January 18, 2014
After almost four years in jail without charge, Irish prisoner of
conscience Martin Corey was released from custody on Wednesday — but
only on condition that he stay away from the media and his home town
or face being returned to jail.
Mr Corey was hidden from members of the press who had gathered outside
the Maghaberry jail on Wednesday night. He was taken out in a
blacked-out prison van directly to a train station where he was
released to his lawyer.
A British official said: “The Parole Commissioners have decided to
release Martin Corey on a licence that is subject to conditions which
are designed to manage the risk they assess him to pose.”
Two of those conditions are that Mr Corey is forbidden to give media
interviews and also that he must not live in or near his home in
Lurgan, County Armagh.
The 63-year-old has been in prison since he was ordered to be interned
by the then British Direct Ruler Shaun Woodward, in April 2010, on the
basis of “closed material”.
His lawyers had been preparing a challenge to his detention in the
European court on the basis that he was unable to defend himself against
‘secret’ allegations. The Parole Commission considered his case late
last year and had been due to reveal its decision before Christmas.
He has never been told why he was detained or what, if any, evidence
there was against him. It was reported the Lurgan man was only told on
Wednesday that he would be freed within hours.
Although still officially denied, his imprisonment is widely seen as a
an example of the modern use of internment without trial by the British
Crown forces.
Cait Trainor from the Release Martin Corey Campaign welcomed his release
but said the manner in which it took place spoke volumes.
“It is clear the continued imprisonment of Martin Corey was a political
embarrassment to the Northern Ireland Office and he was released in a
way that would ensure minimum publicity,” she said.
“The British government, secretary of state and all those involved in
the internment of Martin Corey showed contempt for human rights and were
involved in a despotic policy of ruling by decree.”
Other conditions believed to have been imposed on Mr Corey include
restrictions on his attendance at certain public and social events.
The Parole Commissioners are protected by legislation which ensures the
public are prevented from scrutinising the parole process. But Brian
Gormally, director for the Committee on the Administration of Justice,
said the commissioners should explain the process and make public their
reasons for imposing the release conditions.
The CAJ is awaiting the outcome of a judicial review, having challenged
the commissioners for refusing to allow its members to act as
independent observers during parole hearings.
“If indeed there has been a blanket ban on speaking to the media about
the determination that seems a clear infringement on the right to
freedom of expression,” Mr Gormally said.
Sinn Fein Assembly member for west Belfast, Jennifer McCann said the
case has jeopardised the public’s trust in the justice system.
“He was held without any due process, he has never been questioned from
being arrested about any specific incident and indeed his lawyers have
never been able to challenge any of the secret evidence that was bought
before the parole commissioners,” she said.
“I believe if they had anything to charge Martin Corey with that they
would have done it.”
She said Sinn Fein had consistently raised the issue, and she was glad
he was now free to return to his family.
“There are very clear lessons which present themselves to the British
government,” she said.
“The arrest and detention of people without any evidence being presented
cannot be justified in any terms.”
Posted by Jim on January 17, 2014
The loyalist body politic pretty much started off 2014 the way they have in 30 previous years. They rejected compromise. This time it was the one crafted by Richard Haass and Professor Meghan O’Sullivan to address the contentious issues of flag protocols, parades and how to address the legacy of murder and mayhem left by Britain in the North. Let us not despair but instead look at the actions which might be possible This list includes some wished for happenings in the North and, just as important, things that we hope and pray will NOT happen! Were all these things wished for come to past, I have no doubt that 2014 will be, as the Chairman of the Board crooned, “..a very good year!
1. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relation Committee announces that he will hold hearings on the implementation of the 1998 Belfast Agreement with a particular focus on the three ‘justice’ provisions of the Treaty which the United Kingdom has all but ignored or failed to implement.
2. The Irish government will bring the U. K. to the European Court of Human Rights and to the International Court of Justice for violations of the so-called Good Friday Agreement, an accord registered with the United Nations.
3. Her Majesty’s government announces that instead of complaining about the expense of investigating and prosecuting the killers of over 1000 Catholic civilians, select Crown jewels will be sold or otherwise used for collateral to raise the necessary funds.
4. PBS in America runs the BBS Panorama documentary titled BRITAIN’S SECRET TERROR FORCE and PBS Host Charlie Rose interviews Ms. Anne Cadwallader to discuss her latest book LETHAL ALLIES which depicts the pervasive and sinister nature of Britain’s collusion with loyalist murder gangs.
5. The U. S. Department of State will NOT continue to cover-up British trashing of the 1998 Belfast Agreement and its annual Human Rights Report will accurately reflect the United Kingdom’s attempt to get away with murder of more than 1000 Catholics, the mass murder of the no-warning bombings of Dublin and Monaghan and the murder of attorney Patrick Finucane.
6. The U. S. Joint Committee on Security and Cooperation in Europe (Helsinki Commission) exposes the ongoing efforts of Britain to destabilize N. I. by corrupting law, justice and human rights and submits a report to the Members of the House of Representatives and the Senate recommending sanctions and rebuke for failure to abide by the ‘Good Friday’ Agreement .
7. Prime Minister David Cameron announces that Great Britain will no longer hide behind abuse of the 30 year document release requirement of the freedom of information statute which, for ‘security purposes’, exempts N. I. from the time limit stipulation. This has in the past been used to to deny victims truth and delay the day of justice.
8. Speaker of the U. S. House John Boehner and Majority Leader Senator Harry Reid announce that Britain’ admission to the murder of attorney Patrick Finucane means those who conspired to kill the human and civil rights advocate will be subject to the sanctions stipulated in the Sergei Magnitsky law named after the attorney murdered by the Russian government.
9. Taoiseach Enda Kenny acknowledges the irony between his opposition to amnesty for those responsible for murder in the N. I. conflict and his failure to demand British action on the Dublin-Monaghan bombing perpetrators and their British Army handlers.
10. The British government announces that it supports the Haass proposal for a Historical Investigations of Catholic murders which will have subpoena power and welcomes the contribution of $30 million from the U. S. for the cost of the investigations, the approximate amount of money the U. S. gave to the U. N. investigation into the murder of Lebanese leader Rafik Hariri in 2005.
11. Journalist Ruth Dudley Edwards and Nobel Laureate Mairead Corrigan finally retire and call an end to their life long obsession opposing Irish unity and the political leaders who espouse it.
12. The Irish Attorney General Alan Shatter announces his opposition to any effort to end the hunt for and prosecution of Nazi’s for their crimes while defending his record of doing absolutely nothing to pursue those who conspired to commit the largest ever criminal act in the State and in the entire Anglo-Irish conflict, the no warning bombings of Dublin Monaghan Towns with a loss of 33 innocent civilians lives.
Prime Minister Winston Churchill once said that “America will exhaust all other possibilities before doing the right thing.” We wish, hope and pray that the United Kingdom, having exhausted every avenue to avoid accountability for its actions in Northern Ireland will, in 2014, do the right thing and will do so prompted by a new ‘special relationship’ between the Irish and American governments.
Michael J. Cummings, Member
Irish American Unity Conference
Posted by Jim on January 15, 2014
The prominent Irish republican, Martin Corey, has been released after almost four years in prison without trial.
He had been held in Maghaberry jail since April 2010 without any charges being brought against him, after he was deemed to be a risk to the public.
The Republican Sinn Féin member is a convicted double murderer.
Corey was originally sentenced to life in prison in 1973 for his part in the IRA murders of two police officers, but was released on licence in 1992.
He was re-arrested at his home in Lurgan, County Armagh, on 16 April 2010 and had been in custody since that date.
‘Unspecified allegations’
He was told he was being sent back to jail because he was considered a risk to the public, but at the time neither Corey, or his legal team, were told why the authorities believed he posed a threat.
Former Northern Ireland Secretary of State Shaun Woodward had ordered his prison recall on the basis of “closed material” and unspecified allegations of involvement with dissident republicans.
Corey’s supporters claimed he was being interned without trial and launched a campaign to secure his release.
Last May, his lawyers said they would challenge his detention in the European court.
Corey was released from custody on Wednesday evening on the instructions of Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Theresa Villiers.
‘Political embarrassment’
He left Maghaberry prison via a back entrance in an unmarked van.
It is understood the conditions of his release include a ban on speaking to the media.
Members of the Free Martin Corey Campaign have told the BBC they had concerns about the manner of his release.
A campaign spokesperson, Cait Trainor, said: “It is clear the continued imprisonment of Martin Corey was a political embarrassment to the Northern Ireland Office and he was released in a way that would ensure minimum publicity.”
BBC News Northern Ireland
—
Sandy Boyer
Posted by Jim on January 10, 2014
The Need to Secede
December 1995
By Gerry McGeough
Futurologists, those sober-minded individuals who analyze current trends in politics, finance, commerce, demographics, sociology and so forth in order to predict future developments in society, must find themselves in the realm of the opaque where the six counties are concerned. Such is the mixed cauldron of variables there right now that standard procedures of divination are unlikely to yield much in the way of enlightenment.
Indeed, futurologists might as well abandon their regular modus operandi and just haul out the chicken entrails for all the foresight they’re liable to receive. One gut feeling’s as good as the next in the current context.
That said, and in spite of all the contradictions, strains, backtracking, posturing and confusion so evidently inherent in the peace process, a broadly discernible albeit ostensibly unfocused development is emerging. At its most rudimentary, this would seem to imply the concept of an Assembly eventually evolving from a series of protracted talks. Talks, of course, being a euphemism for negotiations of labyrinthine complexity; not forgetting a liberal dash of the histrionics and temper tantrums so beloved by unionist politicians.
Participants to such an Assembly – Lord preserve us lest anyone should refer to it as being “Stormont-like” – would, presumably be elected representatives drawn from the various hues of nationalist and unionist opinion within the six counties. Like all practical politicians, the need to ply their trade would override any inhibitions about violating those ever-irksome earlier stances on this and that. Besides, wasn’t “Principle” a book by Machiavelli or something?! By Assembly time, most of the holy cattle would have been already packed off to the abattoir in any case.
The main thing would be that politicians could do what they do best, namely: obfuscate, legislate (to some devolved extent at least), debate, speechify, pretend whatever needs to be pretended at all and any given times and, of course, express outrage at the behaviour of opponents while masking relief at not being on the skewer themselves. Now, what else was there? . . . Oh yes, serve constituents, naturally.
Added to this would be the lure of being in a position to appropriate slices of the lucrative flow of international funds towards the dreams and schemes of needy, deserving, and, above all, loyal voters. Such an Assembly, under British auspices with perhaps some joint authority input from Dublin, all within the European context, could roll along nicely for several political lifetimes, thank you very much indeed. Hey. If it leads to a united Ireland, then fine! Since we’re all presumed utilitarian at heart, I’m sure everyone could accommodate themselves to whatever arrangement might be necessary in the interim.
A few years from now, though, committed Irish nationalists might want to explore the merits of the secession factor. “Secession” isn’t quite the term when referring to areas of Ireland under British occupation, but it’ll suffice for now. This would entail the overwhelmingly nationalist areas of occupied Ulster simply declaring their independence from Britain. These areas would include all of Counties Tyrone and Fermanagh, DerryCity, most of CountyDerry, North Antrim, West Belfast, South Down, South Armagh and considerable chunks of Mid-and North Armagh. In short, most of the six-county land area! Since the British hacked up our country on a county-by-county basis during Partition, what’s to stop us taking it back bit by bit, unpalatable as that may be for most of us, if all else fails?
In the wake of a carefully conducted, efficient political campaign on the issue, a Westminster general election could provide the opportunity for putting the secession program into effect. Secessionist candidates standing in constituencies covering each of the areas mentioned, would make it clear that once elected they would fulfil the wishes of their voters by withdrawing their districts from the so-called United Kingdom – having an obvious mandate to do so.
At that point, they could register their independent status at the United Nations and apply to join the rest of Ireland to form a single political unit. This, of course, would be a mere formality provided Dublin retains Articles 2 and 3 of the Irish constitution. Either way, the newly independent areas of Ulster would be entitled to raise a standing army to defend themselves against British aggression.
Britain, of course, would never tolerate or permit such a state of affairs and would undoubtedly clamp down on subsequent civil disobedience from the self-liberated denizens of Ulster. So be it! The Irish nationalist cause would be back on the agenda once more and the freedom struggle a burning issue again; this time for a new generation of Irish patriots and our overseas Diaspora. Could the secession issue become a challenge for courageous visionaries in years to come? A new test for the famed stamina, tenacity and ingenuity of our people perhaps? Don’t bother to ask the futurologists – just read Irish history! Meantime, back to Stormont! Éireann go brách!
Posted by Jim on
CAPITOL HILL. Sunday, December 5, 2014 — Israeli Foreign Minister, Avigdor Liberman, has shocked and outraged Irish-Americans by his cruel and brutal statement that Maggie Thatcher was right to let Bobby Sands “commit suicide.”
” This is an appalling attack on an Irish patriot and hero, ” said Fr. Sean Mc Manus, President of the Capitol Hill-based Irish National Caucus and Holy Land Principles, Inc. ” It is also an outrageous insult to Irish-Americans. I have written to the Israeli Ambassador to Washington demanding an apology and that the Israeli Governments repudiates this awful racist and anti-Irish-Catholic venom.”
Fr. Mc Manus went on to explain that at the time of the 1981 Irish Hunger Strike – in which Bobby Sands and nine other young Irish patriots died — Jewish-American Members of Congress were the greatest defenders of the Hunger Strikers: ” I did a twelve- day hunger-strike outside the British Embassy. The great Congressman Ben Gilman (R-NY) — later Chairman of the House International Relations Committee — came and joined me in front of the British Embassy, proudly standing with me in solidarity with Bobby Sands.”
Fr. Mc Manus concluded: ” I hope that Ambassador Ron Dormer will see the seriousness of this dreadful development and that he will get his Government to withdraw his Foreign Minister’s deplorable rant.”
END
Fr. Sean Mc Manus
President
Irish National Caucus
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