Irish Republican Info Svc #226 12/11/97 =========== Posted to multiple newsgroups and lists =========== ===== Redistribute *only* with full header and signature! ===== Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit IRISH REPUBLICAN INFORMATION SERVICE (no. 226) Teach Daithi O Conaill 223 Parnell Street Dublin 1, Ireland Phone: +353-1-872-9747; FAX: +353-1-872-9757; e-mail: saoirse@iol.ie December 11, 1997 Internet resources maintained by SAOIRSE - Irish Freedom: http://iol.ie/~saoirse In this issue: 1. Mellows a victim of bogus peace settlement -- O Bradaigh at Athenry 2. O Bradaigh makes appeal to unionists at Ulster AGM 3. Blair/Adams meeting comes at a price 4. Pro-British death squad kills Belfast GAA club manager 5. 'Both involved in murder' -- mother of Margaret Wright 6. Bilingual signs approved by Queen's student referendum 7. Orange Order link to RUC excused 8. No end to Harryville 9. Trimble's GAA slur denied 10. 26-County moves to transfer Irish political prisoners 1. MELLOWS A VICTIM OF BOGUS PEACE SETTLEMENT O'BRADAIGH AT ATHENRY SPEAKING at the 75th anniversary commemoration for Liam Mellows in Athenry, Co Galway, on Sunday, December 7, Ruairi O Bradaigh, President, Republican Sinn Fein said: "Liam Mellows and three other Republican leaders were executed without trial within 48 hours of the official foundation of the present 26-County State. They had led the opposition to Partition and continuing British rule in Ireland, a bogus settlement which was alleged to bring peace. "Seventy-five years after their deaths for Ireland there is still no lasting peace. British rule here is modernising once more following on a period of the most intense coercion or government by force. "Once more as in Liam Mellows' time the British seek a compromise in order to divide and reduce support for the people's struggle against colonial rule. "A new Stormont involving as much of the nationalist population as possible, a colonial police force including ex-prisoners and former Volunteers, cross-Border committees and the full support internationally of Dublin and Washington will not deliver a permanent peace -- no more than did the Treaty of Surrender in Liam Mellows' day. "The Dublin administration may define the 'national territory' in its constitution as the 26 Counties and accept totally the reformed British presence in the Six Occupied Counties but Irishmen and women of Liam Mellows' calibre will continue the struggle for Irish freedom. "Mellows in his 'Notes from Mountjoy Jail' charted an anti-imperialist course for the Republican Movement. Some of his programme, eg the setting up of an All-Ireland Republican Government, was accepted, but it was too late. "This brilliant mind, following in line the other revolutionary Republican intellectuals -- Pearse, Connolly and MacSwiney -- was extinguished without any process whatsoever. This war crime was carried out because Mellows as an uncompromising 'man of ideas' was a threat to the new colonialism embodied in the 26-County State. "The current process and the Stormont talks may -- at best -- buy time for British rule here, but it will not give the Irish people a permanent peace. Only a winding down of the British Governments presence in Ireland over a period of years -- as in Hong Kong -- will give us the peace we all yearn for. "In that context the Irish people themselves, without outside interference, can act as a unit and build the New Ireland with a place and space for minorities alike. Then will Liam Mellows' dream be realised." 2. O BRADAIGH MAKES APPEAL TO UNIONISTS AT ULSTER AGM IN THE course of an address to the annual general meeting of Comhairle Uladh (Ulster Executive) of Republican Sinn Fein in Monaghan on Sunday, November 30, Ruairi O Bradaigh, President of Republican Sinn Fein, said: "The bicentenary of the 1798 Rising is upon us next year, when, hopefully, the sort of inspiration which the celebrations of 1898 produced will be under way and all who claim to honour Wolfe Tone and Irish Republicanism will have to state where they stand. "We have no fear in that regard. Our political and other programmes are mere developments of the basic philosophy of power to the people, the Rights of Man and right to self-government, the breaking of the connection with England and the establishment of a free and democratic society where the common name of Irishman -- and Irishwoman -- is substituted for all the various religious labels. "Republican Sinn Fein will be to the fore in commemorating the Protestants, Catholics and Dissenters who fought, bled and died so bravely in 1798 in Counties Antrim and Down. "Likewise in County Donegal where Napper Tandy landed from France and Wolfe Tone fought so heroically in a naval battle against the English before being brought ashore a prisoner, we shall honour all who sacrificed themselves for Liberty, Equality and Fraternity. "Already in August last at the All-Ireland Fleadh Cheoil in Ballina, County Mayo was launched 'Songs of 1798 -- the Year of the French', a very worthy production indeed. We also commend the cassette and CD of 19 patriotic ballads now on the market named 'Who Fears to Speak'. Further our calendar for next year is devoted to the people's uprising of 1798. "Even as the nationalist nightmare continues in parts of Belfast, in County Antrim and in other areas of the Six Counties, we feel the time is opportune for an appeal to unionists. If they feel they are being pushed down the road of Dublin rule or absorption into the 26-County state as has been hinted, we fully understand and sympathise with their fears. "When it suits their masters in Westminster -- as happened in the case of Hong Kong -- they will be dumped or handed over to the Leinster House regime. There will be no New Ireland in that event -- just an extension of the present set-up South of the Border. "If they are as wise, as prudent and as far-seeing as they claim to be, then they should be exploring with us now the possibility of a new radical Ireland with self-government for every community. Are there any amongst them capable of initiating dialogue with us? An exchange of views would do no harm. It would do a lot of good and we could learn from each other. "Real power, constitutionally guaranteed, in a New Ireland would surely be preferable to a long and debilitating rearguard action against a gradual change from Westminster rule to Leinster House rule. How many more Drumcrees, how many more Harryvilles must we have on the way? There is a real long-term alternative and it should be explored now. "We commend our EIRE NUA proposals for a new four-province federal Ireland and a direct participatory democracy to unionists and we are always ready and available for discussion. "Apart from making advance preparations for local elections and Udaras na Gaeltachta elections in the 26 Counties, we must oppose the recently-signed Amsterdam Treaty which will be put to a referendum in March. "This pact tightens the EU grip on our country, even further than the Maastricht contract. Under the Amsterdam Treaty neutrality is threatened as it provides for 'common European defence' which would be nuclear-based. "Ministers meeting at the European Council could commit us to such with probably no further referendum on neutrality if Amsterdam is adopted next spring. Those who loudly proclaim 'abhorrence of war and violence' will be tested as to their stand on the Amsterdam Treaty. "Do they stand against small wars of national liberation and favour large-scale war, even with nuclear weapons," Ruairi O Bradaigh asked. At the meeting Comhairle Uladh elected a new officer board and an Ulster representative to the Ard Chomhairle were elected for the crucial year ahead. It was unanimously agreed that Comhairle Uladh, Republican Sinn Fein will actively oppose any internal Six County settlement involving a New Stormont rather than a New Ireland which is the inevitable result of the ongoing British talks at Stormont. This internal settlement will be a complete sell-out for future generations of the Irish people who deserve the same rights to freedom and democracy as any other nation. Republican Sinn Fein will oppose any settlement which will fall short of the basic demand for Irish unity and freedom from foreign occupation and interference. 3. BLAIR / ADAMS MEETING COMES AT A PRICE IN A statement on December 11, Ruairi O Bradaigh, President, Republican Sinn Fein said: "Today's meeting between Tony Blair and Gerry Adams in Downing Street is an attempt to give a publicity boost to the current process, particularly among the nationalist people of the Six Counties. "The price-tag for these photo opportunities with the British and US governments is the acceptance of British rule in a reformed Stormont and cross-Border committees. Those playing Britain's game will have to enforce the outcome of the Stormont talks on other nationalists by taking part in a new British-controlled police force. It is Gerry Adams, not Tony Blair, who has moved fundamentally away from first principles. "Behind this photo opportunity is the reality of the continuing extradition of Irish political prisoners from the US and the 26 Counties to the British. The law in the 26 Counties is being amended to provide for increased penalties so that political prisoners in England, transferred to the 26 Counties, will serve out their 35-year sentences in full. "The Provisionals are being absorbed into the system and in the process are helping to update and strengthen British rule in Ireland rather than weaken it. "However, a new generation of Irish people will continue the struggle for British disengagement from Ireland. In this regard Republican Sinn Fein is encouraged by the steadily increasing numbers being attracted to its ranks, particularly the amount of young people who see us as the alternative to the current flawed process," Ruairi O Bradaigh said. 4. PRO-BRITISH DEATH SQUAD KILLS BELFAST GAA CLUB MANAGER THE manager of the St Enda's GAA senior football team in north Belfast, Gerry Devlin (36), was shot dead outside the club premises at about 10.50pm on Friday, December 5 by a pro-British death squad. The victim was ambushed by one armed man as he arrived at the club to collect his brother and shot four times in the head and body. On December 7 the club, situated at Hightown Road, Glengormley, was due to celebrate its move to new premises nearby. The events were cancelled and shocked club members spoke of how the club has suffered at least 13 gun and bomb attacks by loyalist death squads in recent years. One man told the 'Irish Times' (December 6): "This is the most attacked GAA club in Ireland." The club is in a quiet rural setting close to several loyalist areas on the outskirts of north Belfast. The then president of the club, Sean Fox, a 72-year-old grandfather was shot dead in his home by the UDA/UFF loyalist death squad in 1993. A bobby-trap containing explosives and bolts was left hanging from a gate at the club in 1994. The Loyalist Volunteer Force is suspected of having carried out the killing of Gerry Devlin. In May, Sean Brown (61), a leading member of the Bellaghy Wolfe Tones GAA club in County Derry was abducted, tortured and killed by the LVF. Gerry Devlin is survived by his wife Hazel and two sons, Aiden (14), and Gavin (12). A relative of Gerry's, Damian Devlin (24), was one of three nationalists shot dead by two UVF gunmen as they sat in the Avenue Bar in Belfast in 1988. The loyalist death-squad opened fire indiscriminately on the customers in the crowded pub. The President of the GAA, Joe McDonagh, said that the only reason Gerry Devlin was murdered was the fact that he was "a hard-working member of the Gaelic Athletic Association, dedicated to serving his community." He joined more than 1,000 mourners at the funeral in Glengormley on December 9. The coffin, draped in the black-and-amber St Enda's club jersey and flanked by a guard of honour, was carried the mile and a half to Carnmoney cemetery. No unionist politicians attended the funeral and the St Enda's club executive committee told the 'Irish News' (December 9) of their sadness that "no local political party leaders have seen fit to condemn these attacks on our club, particularly the brutal murder of an innocent man." The DUP, however have tried to link the killing to dissident members of the UVF or UDA/UFF loyalists death squads, in an apparent attempt to score political points off these death squads' political representatives (the PUP and UDP) who are attending the Stormont talks. The Ulster Unionist Party MP, Ken Maginnis, showed a similar callous opportunism by "blaming" British government concessions to "Republicans for inciting loyalist violence". The British media and British government reaction to the killing was muted because it was a nationalist victim of the pro-British death-squads. The media in the Six Counties was accused by Mike Philpott on BBC Radio Ulsters' 'Talkback' programme (December 9) of having a league table for the coverage of political killings there: "First there are the victims of any murders carried out by the IRA. And second, or last, are dead taigs [nationalists]." The speaker also referred to the "League Table" for coverage by the media in Britain outlined recently on BBC television by Roy Greenslade, a former editor of the 'Daily Mirror'. "Top of the list were English people killed in England by the IRA. Next came Englishmen and women wearing an army uniform, murdered in Northern Ireland. After that were members of the RUC. Then there were ordinary Protestants killed by the IRA. And finally, murdered Catholics, regardless of who pulled the trigger or placed the bomb." 5. 'BOTH INVOLVED IN MURDER' -- MOTHER OF MARGARET WRIGHT ONE man was cleared of the killing of Protestant woman, Margaret Wright, who was mistaken for a Catholic, and another man lost his appeal against the killing on December 5. Christopher Sheals (30) was cleared of killing Wright, who was beaten, stripped and shot four times in the head in the loyalist Village area of Belfast in April, 1994. An appeal against the charge of causing her grievous bodily harm was dismissed although his sentence was reduced from 20 to 15 years. A second man, Stephen Rules lost his appeal against the charge of killing Wright which carried a sentence of life imprisonment. Outside the court, the victims' mother, Evelyn Wright, said: "I am happy they did not walk . . . No matter if its murder or GBH they were both involved." 6. BILINGUAL SIGNS APPROVED BY QUEEN'S STUDENT REFERENDUM STUDENTS at Queen's University in Belfast voted by a 75% majority to restore bilingual signs on December 8. More than 1,800 students voted for the re-instatement of the Irish language signs, with 600 against. The bilingual signs, containing information in both the English and Irish languages, were removed by university authorities in August last and replaced with English-only signs. Despite the large majority of students wishing to restore the bilingual signs this cannot be done without the consent of the university authorities. 7. ORANGE ORDER LINK TO RUC EXCUSED THE head of the Police Federation, Les Rodgers, said on December 3 that he had "no problem" with members of the British colonial police (RUC) having joint membership of the Orange Order. Speaking to the Westminster "Northern Ireland Select Committee" in London, Rodgers said such joint membership was "irrelevant". 8. NO END TO HARRYVILLE A RELIGIOUS service held in Dunloy on December 7 by the Apprentice Boys was hoped to signal the end of the loyalist picket outside Harryville Catholic church in Ballymena. The service was part of a deal whereby Apprentice Boys would attend a religious service in the nationalist village of Dunloy and the loyalist picket outside Harryville Catholic church would be ended. Dunloy residents had no objection to a religious service taking place in the Orange Hall in the village. After the service the governor of the Apprentice Boys, Alastair Simpson, said the Dunloy branch welcomed the opportunity to exercise its civil and religious liberties. The service would not, however, end the loyalist picket at Harryville, Simpson said. At the picket outside the church on November 29, loyalists scattered nails in the church car park in an attempt to wreck parishioners car tyres. 9. TRIMBLE'S GAA SLUR DENIED GAELIC Athletic Association (GAA) members in County Tyrone were surprised to hear on December 2 that they had recently "taken over" the town of Pomeroy and prevented Protestants from going to a church service. Members of the Church of Ireland congregation concerned were equally taken-aback by the claims. The claim was made by David Trimble, leader of the Ulster Unionist Party, on December 1 on BBC Radio Ulster, as part of an attempt to equate the GAA to the Orange Order. He said many Protestants felt "threatened" by the actions of GAA supporters. "I know of one example in a County Tyrone village where on a Sunday evening a congregation were prevented from going to their church because GAA supporters had taken over the centre of the town and were parading through it," Trimble said. A spokesperson from Trimble said the following day that the County Tyrone village concerned was Pomeroy but had no date for the alleged church blockade. Apart from Trimble's allegation, nothing exists to indicate that the blockade ever took place. 10. 26-COUNTY MOVES TO TRANSFER IRISH POLITICAL PRISONERS THREE Irish political prisoners were transferred from jails in Britain to Portlaoise prison in the 26-County area on December 3. Denis Kinsella, Dublin (serving 25 years), Vincent Wood, Mayo (17 years), and Patrick Hayes, London (20 years) were flown by helicopter from Speake Airport in Liverpool. All three are serving sentences for offences committed in the 1990s. The transfers came at a time when amended legislation was being announced in Dublin which would insure that prisoners sentenced for offences in Britain served the full sentence in an Irish prison. The amendment would facilitate the transfer of prisoners such as John Crawley, Robert Morrow, Patrick Martin, Francis Rafferty, Gerard Hanratty and Donald Gannon, who are serving 35 years each for conspiracy to cause explosions in Britain. The maximum sentence for the same offence within the 26-County legal system is 20 years. The amendment to the Transfer of Sentenced Persons Convention will give the Dublin minister for justice powers to direct that the sentences imposed in Britain can be served in the 26-Counties regardless of the discrepancy in the lengths. Meanwhile, it was announced on December 2 that prisoners in the Six Counties due for Christmas leave -- a system whereby prisoners are allowed to go home for Christmas -- will have their leave extended to ten days. Last year most prisoners had seven days leave. -end- Please circulate the information in IRIS and credit us if reprinting. We welcome your comments and ideas. 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