Irish Republican Info Svc #194 4/21/97


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 Irish Republican Information Service, No. 194
 Teach Daithi O Conaill, 223 Parnell Street, Dublin 1, Ireland
 Phone: +353-1-872 9747; FAX: 872 9757
 e-mail: saoirse@iol.ie or saoirse@indigo.ie

 Republican Sinn Fein homepage: http://indigo.ie/~saoirse
 View our SAOIRSE homepage: http://iol.ie/~saoirse

IN THIS ISSUE

1. Voters urged to halt 'steady acceptance of British rule'
2. Britain's burning hatred -- Death-squads on rampage
3. Men beaten by British soldiers charged in court
4. Orange police re-instated
5. British troops may be released within 18 months
6. Lurgan riots
7. Death-squad victim out of danger
8. British army incursion into Monaghan
9. Casement accused to appeal decision
10. Fate of Pearson to be decided this week
11. Anti-Irish racism ignored as letter goes astray
12. The 'constitutional' march or The three roads
13.British Labour Party will retain bipartisan policy on Ireland


1. VOTERS URGED TO HALT 'STEADY ACCEPTANCE OF BRITISH RULE'

SPEAKING at the Republican Sinn Fein press conference in Belfast on April
15 Ruairi O Bradaigh, President, said in relation to the Westminster
election on May 1: 

"We are not telling people to vote; we are not telling them not to vote.
What we are asking them is that whenever they come in contact with those
who once claimed to be abstentionists that they tell them they accept the
British parliament and participate in it at their peril; that if they do
so they may well find themselves opposed by principled abstentionists. 

"Constitutional reformism will not be allowed to swamp the historic Irish
revolutionary movement." 

In the run-up to the election Republican Sinn Fein will be asking voters
to call upon their elected representatives to abstain from the English
parliament. 

Ruairi O Bradaigh told the press conference that the organisation would
not be standing candidates or endorsing any other political groupings in
the Westminster election to a British parliament. He was joined by former
Six-County councillors and representatives from the nine counties of
Ulster at the press conference. Ruairi O Bradaigh announced plans for tens
of thousands of leaflets, produced by the organisation's Comhairle Uladh
(Ulster Executive), to be distributed by Republican Sinn Fein before
polling day on May 1. 

Headed 'Irish elected representatives should reject Westminster' the
leaflet states that events at Garvaghy Road, Drumcree and Derry in 1996
showed the contempt that the British and their Unionist allies have for
'constitutional nationalists' and those who dilute their opposition to
British rule. 

The text of the leaflet follows: 

The Westminster election to a British parliament on May 1 in the Six
Occupied Counties will not be contested by any organisation committed to
the historic Republican goal of a British withdrawal from Ireland. 

The question must be asked by every nationalist: What has been got from
the English parliament in Westminster? The answer is NOTHING. We ask all
voters in the Six Occupied Counties to call upon their elected
representatives to abstain from the English parliament. 

Irish people have been taking seats at Westminster since the Act of Union
in 1800. Over that entire period no British parliament allowed Irish
nationalist MPs to hold a balance of power and loosen the imperialist grip
on our country. AND IT NEVER WILL. 

Sinn Fein and the Republican Movement were established earlier this
century to draw power away from, and deny legitimacy to, the British
parliament. Instead it aimed to establish Irish democracy and independence
for the whole island free from British rule. 

Those who agree to sit in Westminster are accepting the British claim to
rule in part of Ireland. They are also delivering their constituents to
the seat of power which has waged war on Irish nationalists for
generations. Entering Westminster is a badge of slavery and those who do
so are treated as such by the British establishment. 

Drumcree, Garvaghy Road and Derry, 1996 have shown the contempt that the
British and their unionist allies have for 'constitutional nationalists'
and those who dilute their opposition to British rule. 

Nothing has changed in this regard and a vote for any of these parties in
this election will not stop the oppression, raids and harassment of the
nationalist people by British Crown Forces. 

Nationalists should also ask these parties to spell out what was in the
secret Hume/Adams Document? Was it the same formula that John Hume offered
the Republican leader Daithi O Conaill in 1972 (and rejected by the
Republican Movement at the time), ie a merger with the SDLP to become one
big constitutional nationalist party? That is not the road to Irish
freedom. 

The litany of failure under British rule has lengthened since the last
Westminster election: the Stormont talks and the Forum have as little to
offer nationalists as the Framework Document, the Downing Street
Declaration, the Anglo-Irish Agreement, Sunningdale and Stormont for 52
years had before them. 

The only way forward is to give your support to the three historic demands
of the Republican Movement, still demanded in 1997 by Republican Sinn
Fein: 

1. A public declaration of intent by the British government to leave
   Ireland; 
2. An amnesty for all political prisoners;
3. A New Ireland negotiated by the Irish people themselves.

Nothing less can deliver peace with justice for Ireland.

Bi linn agus cabhraigi linn. 

2. BRITAIN'S BURNING HATRED -- DEATH-SQUADS ON RAMPAGE

MANY of the attacks on Catholic churches, schools, businesses and homes in
the Six Counties during the month of April are said to be the work of a
group associated with jailed loyalist 'King Rat' Billy Wright. They are
also believed to be responsible for arson attacks on Protestant churches
and businesses during April. The Loyalist Volunteer Force (LVF) have as
their aim the fomenting of anti-nationalist tensions within the loyalist
community. The MI5-controlled mouthpiece, PUP leader David Ervine said on
April 20 that he was convinced the blaze at Mountpottinger Baptist church
in east Belfast was the work of dissident loyalists. "I have absolutely no
doubt that the incident was the work of Protestants -- should they be able
to call themselves that is another question -- but undoubtedly it was done
by Protestants". 

At the time of the attack on April 1 nationalists from the Short Strand
were immediately blamed. DUP bigot Sammy Wilson blamed nationalists, but a
week later residents of the Short Strand announced they had met community
workers from the loyalist area who told them a man close to King Rat was
behind the attack. On April 2 the LVF launched an arson attack on a
Protestant-owned haulage firm in Portadown causing over #100,000 worth of
damage. In New Mills, County Tyrone they attempted to burn down a post
office shouting 'IRA' and 'Orange bastard' at the Protestant employee as
they fled. 

In County Down, St Coleman's Catholic church in Annaclone near Banbridge
was extensively damaged on April 15 in the latest arson attack. The
sacristy and all religious artefacts was completely destroyed in the
overnight petrol-bomb attack. In another arson attack in Newtownards on
April 17 a blaze gutted the lounge and two bedrooms of a house in the
Victoria Parks area. Nobody was injured in the attack which occurred at
8.30pm. 

In the County Antrim town of Crumlin an arson attack caused extensive
smoke and scorch damage to Camlin's Bar, Main Street. 

Also on April 17 an arson attack badly damaged the Gate Inn pub and
restaurant near Aghalee, County Antrim. Loyalist slogans were daubed on
the wall of the building after it was set alight. 

3. MEN BEATEN BY BRITISH SOLDIERS CHARGED IN COURT

A CATALOGUE of injuries inflicted by British troops was outlined by
lawyers for three men as they appeared on charges in a British court at
Banbridge, County Down on April 17. Bernard McGinn (40), Castleblayney,
County Monaghan, Micheal Caraher (30), Cullyhanna, County Armagh and
Martin Mines (28), Crossmaglen, County Armagh were among seven men
arrested on April 10 during British Crown Forces raids in South Armagh.
Two rifles, one a Barrett Light 50 sniping rifles were seized during the
raids. 

Three of the seven men were released after seven days interrogation and a
fourth was flown to England, where he was charged on April 19 in
connection with the February 9, 1996 Docklands explosion in London. He was
named as Seamus McArdle (29), whose parents are natives of Crossmaglen.
Another south Armaghman, Patrick McKinley (32), from Mullaghbawn has
already been charged in connection with the Docklands explosion, which
ended the Provisionals unilateral and unconditional ceasefire. 

The men arrested in the Cullyhana/Crossmaglen area of South Armagh were
taken to the notorious Gough Barracks interrogation centre in Armagh on
April 10. It has been revealed that all were badly beaten by British Crown
Forces at the time of their arrest and later in custody. At the court
hearing on April 17 details were given in the cases of Caraher, McGinn and
Mines. 

Micheal Caraher's lawyer, Gerry Trainor, said that his client was taken to
Craigavon Area Hospital twice since his arrest because of injuries to his
hand, chest and head. Caraher was in "extremely poor health" as a result
of gunshot injuries inflicted by British marines in December 1990 when his
brother Fergal was shot dead in Cullyhana in a shoot-to-kill incident. He
lost part of his lung in the attack. 

The same lawyer acted on behalf of Bernard McGinn who appeared in court
with his hands handcuffed behind his back. McGinn was also brought to
Craigavon Area Hospital after his arrest with a long list of injuries.
These included: extensive haematoma in both eyes, lacerations to the nose,
injuries to the right ear requiring stitches, injuries to the head
requiring staples, lacerations in the shoulders, injuries to the arm
caused by puncture wounds by rifle barrels and injuries to the lower back
and knees. McGinn was in such pain in Gough Barracks that he had
difficulty holding a pen. At this stage in the court the British judge
told the RUC to remove the handcuffs from Bernard McGinn. 

Thomas Tiernan, lawyer for Martin Mines, asked for an outline of the
evidence against his client but the RUC British policemen did not provide
it. He said his client had made a written complaint that he was physically
assaulted and sustained injuries to his head and body during detention. 

The use of the seven-day detention by the British Crown Forces allows them
to assault persons in custody during the initial 24 hours and allow the
remaining time to lessen the visible signs of injury before they appear in
court. Despite this, McGinn's face was clearly bruised in court. 

He was charged with the deaths of two British soldiers in 1997 and 1993
and a former British soldier in 1978, and Michael Caraher was charged with
injuring a British policeman in a gun attack on March 29 last. All three
were charged with possession of weapons and ammunition, with "conspiracy
to murder a person or persons unknown on April 10" and with membership of
the Provisionals military organisation. They were remanded in custody to
appear at the Maze court on May 7 next. 

Seamus McArdle was remanded in custody in London on April 19 to appear at
Belmarsh Magistrates Court on May 14 next. 

4. ORANGE POLICE RE-INSTATED

FOUR British police (RUC) members in Fermanagh who were suspended on full
pay after claims they took part in Orange Order disturbances last summer
returned to duty on April 17. 

Their return to duty follows the announcement by the DPP that they will
face no charges arising out of their part in loyalist protests in
Enniskillen at the time of the Orange Order's "Siege of Drumcree" in 1996. 

It is believed another investigation into three north Down-based RUC
members facing similar accusations is still on-going. 

5. BRITISH TROOPS MAY BE RELEASED WITHIN 18 MONTHS

BRITISH Direct-Ruler Patrick Mayhew announced on April 17 that the case of
two British soldiers imprisoned for life for murder would be referred to
the Life Sentence Review Board in October. 

Scots Guards Mark Wright and James Fisher were jailed for life for
shooting 18-year-old Peter McBride dead in the New Lodge area of Belfast
in 1992. He was shot twice in the back as he ran from an army patrol. 

The two will have spent five years in jail by the time of the review,
although most life prisoners have to wait ten years before their cases can
be referred to the Board. 

The Life Sentence Review Board has two options when reviewing a case -- to
set a release date for the men, or decide to review their case at another
time, probably after one or two years. 

If a prisoner is given a release date, they are usually freed one year
after the decision. 

Patrick Mayhew said the decision to refer the case to the Review Board a
full year ahead of the due date was taken because of "exceptional
mitigating factors". The real reason is Tory electioneering and the
campaign for the British killers release by the British political and
military establishment. 

Jean McBride, the mother of Peter McBride said she was disgusted at the
decision. 

"There were no exceptional circumstances," she said. "There was no
rioting, they were under no attack." 

6. LURGAN RIOTS

BRITISH policemen (RUC) fired eight plastic bullets during a riot in
Lurgan, County Armagh on April 15. Rioting involving up to 200 people
began between nationalists and loyalists from the Taghnevan and Mourneview
estates respectively. The RUC came under petrol-bomb attack during the
incident. 

7. DEATH-SQUAD VICTIM OUT OF DANGER

THE nationalist man who was shot and seriously wounded in Belfast by a
loyalist gunman on April 9 is out of intensive care, it was reported on
April 16. 

Ciaran Delaney (23),of Bawnmore Park, Newtownabbey was shot by a man
disguised as a postman while he waited with a friend on the Old Church
Road for a lift to work. 

8. BRITISH ARMY INCURSION INTO MONAGHAN

A BRITISH army helicopter landed a squad of soldiers in Tullyfinnegan,
near the County Monaghan town of Emyvale -- four miles south of the Border
-- in the early hours of April 12. 

The helicopter is believed to have dropped the soldiers in a field behind
Edenmore primary school. 

A local farmer reported movements on his land. "I got home soon after
midnight and heard the helicopter before going to bed. My son heard it
again around 2.30am and then saw about ten torch lights out the back. He
could see them moving around," Peadar Trainor said. 

"The dogs were going mad but we didn't go out because the soldiers have
night sights and can see in the dark, if they see movement they might
shoot," he said. 

Other farmers in the area reported seeing the soldier, using whistles and
torches moving through their land in what appeared to be a search pattern. 

The British Ministry of Defence denied the incursion. Meanwhile 26-County
police said they were investigating reports of "suspicious noises" around
the area. 

9. CASEMENT ACCUSED TO APPEAL DECISION

ONE of the 'Casement Three' is appealing a decision by the Life Sentence
Review Board not to examine his case for another year. 

Michael Timmons (37), from west Belfast is also seeking a declaration from
the high court in Belfast that the Board's policy of not disclosing the
contents of reports concerning him is unlawful. 

Meanwhile the court of appeal is due to rule with a few weeks on the
admissibility of evidence concerning the conviction of another of the
Casement Three, Patrick Kane. 

The court of appeal decision could lead to an immediate appeal trial for
Patrick Kane, a 40-year-old believed to have a mental age of 11 and unable
to read or write. 

The Casement Three -- Patrick Kane, Michael Timmons and Sean Kelly -- were
convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment for the killings of British
soldiers David Howes and Derek Wood in 1988. 

The two soldiers were killed after they drove into the funeral cortege of
Kevin Brady. Brady had been killed in a loyalist attack on the funerals of
the Gibraltar Three. 

The car containing the soldiers, who were not in uniform, was mistaken for
another loyalist attack and surrounded by a crowd attending the funeral.
Once the two were identified as British soldiers they were taken away by
other people and killed. 

Kane, Timmons and Kelly were convicted on the basis of their alleged
involvement in the initial surrounding of the car when it was believed to
contain a loyalist death-squad. Under questioning at Castlereagh
Interrogation Centre, Patrick Kane admitted he was among a group of more
than 20 men in Casement Park where the two soldiers were stripped and
beaten before being shot. His confession was not supported by video camera
evidence. 

The confession has been called into question on the grounds that Kane,
with the mental age of a child, had caved into pressure from his
interrogators. 

News of Kane's case being referred to the court of appeal has been
welcomed by campaigners for the men's release and human rights groups but
there was anger that Timmon's and Kelly's case would not be reconsidered. 

10. FATE OF PEARSON TO BE DECIDED THIS WEEK

FORMER POW and IRA Volunteer Brian Pearson will know by the end of this
week whether he will be given political asylum or deported from the US.
The INS has until April 28 to decide if it will pursue its appeal to a
higher court. The decision can only be taken at the highest level. Five
other deportees cases are also awaiting decisions. The powerful chairman
of the House of Representatives International Affairs Committee, Ben
Gilman, has appealed to President Clinton and Secretary of State Madeleine
Albright on Pearson's behalf. 

11. ANTI-IRISH RACISM IGNORED AS LETTER GOES MISSING

IRISH community groups in Britain have written to all the main parties in
the Westminster election with a five point plan to combat discrimination
in employment, the criminal justice system and other areas of life for
Irish people resident in Britain. The letter was put together by groups
such as the Federation of Irish Societies, the National Association of
Probation Officers and the Irish Commission for Prisoners Overseas.
Amongst its proposals is that the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) be
referred to an independent review body. The British political parties
concern for these matters can be judged from their reactions when
contacted by one Irish newspaper. The Tory Central Office knew nothing of
the letter, the Labour shadow home secretary was unavailable for comment
and the Liberal Democrats refused to confirm receipt of the letter. 

12. THE 'CONSTITUTIONAL' MARCH OR THE THREE ROADS

THOSE observing the election posturings of the latest batch of
constitutional politicians cannot help but notice the received wisdom of
Provisionals on both sides of the border. Apparently the old idea of there
being only one road to freedom has got us nowhere. 

The cry of 'Eureka' emerges from Connolly House, Belfast. There are three
roads to freedom, the road to Leinster House, the road to Stormont and the
road to Westminster. At the end of the day we shall converge in that great
utopia of peace and unity. 

Stubborn Republicans of course see the road to Leinster House stopping at
Leinster House, the road to Stormont stopping at Stormont and . . . shall
we go on? 

13. BRITISH LABOUR PARTY WILL RETAIN BIPARTISAN POLICY ON IRELAND

IN A speech on April 17 the British Labour Party spokeswoman on the Six
Counties, Mo Mowlam, said that a future Labour government in Britain would
continue a bipartisan approach on Ireland with the Conservatives. The
bipartisan policy, which has stood for more than 20 years now, is
effectively a joint, common approach to the British colonial
administration in the six north-eastern counties of Ireland and would make
the British Labour policy indistinguishable from that of the Tories. 


                              -end-

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