Archive for the ‘Six County State’ Category
Was Liam Cosgrave’s 1973-77 Fine Gael-Labour Coalition the worst-ever Dublin Government?
On many occasions Gene Kerrigan has argued that the Bertie Ahern coalition elected in 2002 was the worst-ever Dublin Government.
Back in January 2006, this column argued in some detail that the then government, headed by Bertie Ahern, was the worst in the history of the State
Surely the Liam Cosgrave-led 1973-77 Coalition deserves this honour –
The record speaks for itself : Read the rest of this entry »
Boston College Betrays Interviewees
The legal dispute between Boston College and the British State over the “Belfast Project”, a series of confidential interviews with participants in Northern Ireland’s “Troubles”, has taken a dramatic turn in a foul direction :
Some background: Boston College sponsored the Belfast Project, an effort to secure interviews with former members of paramilitary organizations on both sides of the Troubles in Northern Ireland. Because such a project would require people to speak frankly about their participation in acts of unlawful violence, the project’s researchers promised participants that their interviews would be embargoed until their deaths. Each tape and transcript of an interview with a former member of the Provisional IRA, for example, or the Ulster Volunteer Force, would be closely held in BC’s Burns Library, securely locked away from historians and journalists until the contents of the material could no longer cause legal harm or political retribution to the interviewee.
http://chrisbrayblog.blogspot.com/2011/12/boston-college-time-for-resignations.html
More news will follow.
Internment of Marian Price, Attempted Extradition of Seán Garland
Very Good News – it seems Seán Garland, long-time leader of the Workers’ Party and a veteran of the Irish Republican movement since the 1950’s, has won his battle against the United States government, which wishes to charge him about accusations of currency forgery.
http://cedarlounge.wordpress.com/2011/12/21/sean-garland-extradition-refused/#comment-111337
Many people put their political differences with Garland and his party to one side, and supported the anti-extradition campaign.
One example is the United States socialist Gerry Foley: Read the rest of this entry »
Fairytales of Dundalk – Mr Myers,Mysterious IRA Mole-Cells, Gardai whose second-name starts with C
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/1029/1224306730026.html
Readers are encouraged to go past this unexciting headline in the Saturday October 29 2011 Irish Times – “Myers tells tribunal he will not reveal sources”.
The Smithwick Tribunal is investigating claims that IRA “moles” based in Dundalk Garda Station helped organise the killing of two Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) officers, Buchanan and Breen during “the troubles”. Read the rest of this entry »
A King of Plagiarism in the Irish Examiner
The English Independent Journalist, Johann Hari, is a proven plagiarist
One of the Dublin Establishment’s favourite Unionists, Stephen King, who has a regular column in the Irish Examiner, seems to sing a similar tune.
Stephen King. Ireland’s Very Own
“Harigate” Scandal?
http://ansionnachfionn.com/2011/10/06/stephen-king-irelands-very-own-harigate-scandal/
Surely, we should protect Doctor King, in the interests of the peace process?
Why get bothered about journalistic standards, or trivial things like the facts?
Northern Ireland News – Be Shocked, But Not Surprised – Prisoners Abused By the State
Two quotes sum up stories which should shock :
Over the last year, political prisoners in Maghaberry have faced a range of abuses of their human rights. More recently, Marian Price has been effectively interned, her licence revoked after 30 years of freedom. Worse, she is the only woman prisoner in Maghaberry, which means she is very isolated.
This public meeting has been organised by a broad-based group of women, many of whom do not agree with the political views of the prisoners whose rights they want to defend. But it is the case all over the world that, if we don’t stand up for the rights of all, whatever their political views, all of us will suffer in the end. Speakers at the meeting are families of the prisoners, including Marian Price’s sister. The meeting will be chaired by Bernadette McAliskey.
More Details Here :
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=237249876294398
Here is Quote Number 2 :
A report which could end the protest by republican prisoners at Maghaberry jail has gathered dust on the desk of Justice Minister, David Ford, for eight months.
The secret document – drawn up by respected individuals hand-picked by Mr Ford – lays out a clear way of ending the bitter confrontation between dissident inmates and the prison authorities.
…….
the main recommendation of the report – given to Mr Ford last October – indicates the confrontation could be swiftly resolved. New technology – whereby prisoners are searched with scanners and then sit in an x-ray-type machine called a BOSS chair – could bring peace to the jail, the authors suggest.
………
The report was compiled by former NIO political director, Chris McCabe; Peter Bunting, assistant general secretary of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions; and two experienced conflict resolution negotiators – Dutch woman Fleur Ravensbergen and Conal McFeely from Derry.
Full Report here :
Congratulations to Goretti Horgan and Bernadette McAliskey – Their example should be followed.
Tale of the tape pits law against history
Liam Clarke has written a very good article about the PSNI (six-county police) “attempt to gain access to Boston College’s Belfast Project Archive of the taped testimonies of IRA and loyalist figures.”
It can be read here on the excellent Newshound site :
http://www.nuzhound.com/articles/Sunday_Times/arts2011/jun19_Tale_of_tapes_BC__LClarke.php
Tomás Ó Flatharta 