Friday, December 01, 2006


"....em....it's just that , George....eh......I just want to be sure , to be sure..."

....the forceful words of our esteemed leader , Bertie Ahern , on how he sought clarification from George Bush that Washington was not using Shannon Airport as a facility to assist them in their oil war in Iraq .
This is the same political clown (Bertie , we mean...) who , when asked in September last about political appointments to State Boards replied - " I might have appointed somebody but I appointed them because they were friends , not because of anything they had given me . " !!
When Bertie Ahern has to think for himself - ie on the occasions when he believes the paid lackys around him who , for a laugh , tell him that he is actually intelligent enough to answer questions and make minor statements without their assistance - the above two quotes are more recent examples of just how politically moronic and immature the man is . An earlier example of Mr. Ahern's political incompetence can be had from his speech to the Fianna Fail Ard Fheis in April 1997 , when , no doubt having been advised by his lackeys to do so , he spoke on the issue of political corruption within the Fianna Fail party - " No-one , no-one , is welcome in this party if they betray the public trust . I say this and I mean this with every fibre of my being. "
This from the man who signed blank cheques (see 'Cheque-Mate' , here) for the political criminal Charlie Haughey and who , more recently , was caught taking money from his business pals in Manchester !

To conclude : we ask readers who are not familiar with the Irish people , and/or those who have reasonably competent politicians to elect , not to confuse the political and moral calibre , or lack of , of these clowns with the Irish people as a whole . The political careerists in that chamber are a blight on those of us who live in the real world - any impression given , taken or implied that there is a political , moral or mental connection between 'us' and 'them' is erroneous and such thoughts should immediately be discarded . Those political clowns have embarrassed the rest of us into apologising to sensible people everywhere on their behalf as , in their privileged and sheltered world , only the weak apologise . We are genuinely sorry for the impression given by Bertie Ahern and his colleagues in Leinster House that 'the Irish are fools'. Sorry .






THE SEEDS OF A POLICE STATE .......
There is substantial evidence that a major crime was perpetrated within the Garda Siochana five years ago .
The evidence for this crime has certainly been available to senior Gardai ever since then , but no enquiry whatsoever has taken place , let alone any Garda being disciplined in connection with that crime .
By Vincent Browne and Derek Dunne .
From 'MAGILL' magazine , September 1983 .

After lunch , Nicky Kelly alleged , Detective Garda Michael Finn was responsible for him falling off a seat and stood behind him asking questions , slapping him on the ears when he gave 'unsatisfactory answers' : by late afternoon , Kelly alleged , Detective Garda Thomas Ibar Dunne punched him on the arms and suggested to him roles that he played in the Sallins mail train robbery .

Between the hours of 9.00am on the Tuesday (6th April , 1976) and 5.30pm on the Wednesday , Kelly underwent continuous questioning during which time he alleged that he was shouted at by Detective Garda Dunne and punched repeatedly on the arms by him , and that he was also beaten by a number of detectives whom he could not identify . Detective Garda Michael Finn and Detective Sergeant Patrick F. Cleary were accused by Nicky Kelly of beating him on three separate occasions with a black jack - Kelly alleged he was beaten under the arms and from the legs to the knees , that he was being punched and shouted at to sign a statement , and that Detective Garda Michael Finn threatened to break his nose .

On the third occasion when he alleged he was beaten with the 'black jack' by Detective Sergeant Patrick F. Cleary , a statement had already been written out , and it was his refusal to sign it which brought on the third , and according to Kelly , the worst of the beatings with the 'black jack' . He also alleged that during this period Detective Garda Egan slapped and punched him about the arms , ears and face , and that Detective Sergeant Culhane shouted and roared at him , and that Culhane punched him , causing him to fall to the ground . After the third beating with the 'black jack' , Nicky Kelly said he signed a statement at 5.15am in order to stop further beatings.......
(MORE LATER).



THE SEEDS OF ANOTHER BITTER HARVEST .......
By STEPHEN GREER .
From 'FORTNIGHT' magazine , October 1983 .


The supergrass development has undoubtedly damaged the paramilitaries for the time being , but the long-term results could easily prove to be counterproductive as far as the establishment of peace , justice and stability is concerned . ('1169...' Comment - In relation to being "counterproductive as far as the establishment of peace justice and stability is concerned..." , one need look no further than the continuing claim of jurisdiction from Westminster over six Irish counties , and the enforcement of that claim by political and military methods . Any 'treaty' which disregards that fact serves only to prolong the struggle .)

The parallel with internment is disturbingly close : in the early 1970's , detention without trial was seen by those who advocated it as a potential panacea for the mounting disorder - it is now widely recognised , however , that this 'security initiative' served only to incarcerate many innocent men , thus further alienating large sections of the nationalist community from the legal process , and that this in turn dramatically increased the flow of recruits to the IRA and added fuel to an already bitter civil conflict . The supergrass strategy contains the seeds for a similar harvest .
[END of 'THE SEEDS OF ANOTHER BITTER HARVEST']
(Next - ' Beyond Breakouts And Supergrasses' : from 1983)


THE PROVOS AT THE BALLOT BOX .......
By Michael Farrell .
From 'MAGILL' magazine , June 1983 .

'The Credibility Factor' :
Before October the Sinn Fein candidates and their policies were little known outside republican circles - ('1169....' Comment : ....as intended by those who introduced , supported and maintained political censorship) as their South Armagh Assembly member , Jim McAllister , puts it : " A lot of people thought we were just wild men , only good for shouting 'Brits Out!' ... " Since then ,they have got a lot of TV and press coverage in the North , emerging as just as articulate and able as their SDLP counterparts . A lot of the 'bogeyman effect' has been dissipated , just by public exposure .

'The Registration Factor' :
The (Six County) Assembly elections revealed that thousands of people had no votes : electoral officers have admitted that in a few areas like South Armagh up to 30 per cent of the population were unregistered - many of these were republican supporters who saw no point in voting or were suspicious of all forms of 'officialdom' . More were alienated youth . Sinn Fein have put in a big effort to get these people registered and it should have some effect on this election and a bigger effect in 1984 or 1985 .

The most significant factor in increasing the Sinn Fein vote , however , is likely to be constituency work ; they had gradually been getting interested in social and economic issues for some time but it has really taken off since the October 1982 elections , with Advice Centres/Clinics having been opened and staffed in West Belfast , Derry , Strabane , Fermanagh-South Tyrone and Armagh-Newry.......
(MORE LATER).







Wednesday, November 29, 2006

THE SEEDS OF A POLICE STATE .......
There is substantial evidence that a major crime was perpetrated within the Garda Siochana five years ago .
The evidence for this crime has certainly been available to senior Gardai ever since then , but no enquiry whatsoever has taken place , let alone any Garda being disciplined in connection with that crime .
By Vincent Browne and Derek Dunne .
From 'MAGILL' magazine , September 1983 .

Nicky Kelly stated that the Gardai then 'spreadeagled' him against a wall and kicked his legs apart , causing him to fall to the ground . They jabbed him in the ribs when they were doing this , and Detective Garda Thomas Ibar Dunne is alleged to have cursed at Kelly throughout the ordeal .

The last alleged assault on that Monday (April 5th 1976) was when Detective Garda Michael Finn brought Nicky Kelly up to a cell and shoved his head into a toilet bowl five or six times ; Kelly was taken to the Bridewell Garda Station at approximately 1.00am on the Tuesday morning , where he rested the night in his cell .

On that Tuesday morning (April 6th , 1976) , Nicky Kelly said that Detective Garda Thomas Ibar Dunne shook him and that Detective Garda William Maher pushed him about and , later on , a Detective Garda Lawlor and a Detective Garda Boland pushed him from one to the other , and shouted at him . At one stage , Kelly fell to the floor and , he alleged , Detective Garda Boland hit him with a chair - further , he alleged that Detective Garda Lawlor and Detrective Garda Boland punched him on the arms and slapped him on the upper body . There was to be no let-up for Nicky Kelly after the lunch break.......
(MORE LATER).



THE SEEDS OF ANOTHER BITTER HARVEST .......
By STEPHEN GREER .
From 'FORTNIGHT' magazine , October 1983 .

In Britain , criminal trials are heard before juries and it is the legal duty of the presiding judge to warn jurors of the dangers of relying on uncorrobrated accomplice evidence : in the North of Ireland , however , 'terrorist' cases are tried by non-jury 'Diplock Courts' where the only comparable safeguard is the bizarre practice of the judge warning himself - in 1982 , Mr. Justice Murray refused to convict Charles McCormick , an RUC Special Branch Officer charged with the murder of an RUC colleague , on the grounds that the only evidence against McCormick was that of an accomplice ! Judges in the supergrass trials have tended not to follow suit . Indeed there is little evidence to show that they have taken any heed of their own warnings .

The prominence of supergrasses in the North of Ireland's criminal justice system can only be properly understood as the latest instalment in a long line of 'security policies' which have failed to eliminate political violence from this society . In the UK , with the exception of the drive against organised crime in London in the late 1960's and early 1970's , informers have appeared in a much more random manner and have not been fashioned into the cutting edge of a deliberate law enforcement strategy .

The claim that the supergrass phenomenon will contribute to the pacification of the violence in the North of Ireland must be treated with considerable scepticism.......
(MORE LATER).



THE PROVOS AT THE BALLOT BOX .......
By Michael Farrell .
From 'MAGILL' magazine , June 1983 .

The name 'Londonderry' is as offensive to North of Ireland nationalists as 'Rhodesia' was to blacks in Zimbabwe - or 'Kingstown' to the people in Dun Laoghaire , Dublin . Even the 'Derry Journal' newspaper , which normally supports the SDLP , attacked them for "...sadly misreading public opinion.." over the Derry City Council 'Derry-name' change issue .

Sinn Fein made hay out of the SDLP's gaffe , sticking up mocking posters about the 'Londonderry branch of the SDLP' all over the Bogside. It was a small issue but to a lot of nationalists it symbolises what they see as the SDLP's tendency to play down nationalist grievances to appease British , Unionist and even Southern media opinion . ('1169...' Comment- ...the Provos , on the other hand , blow loud ,long and hard about nationalist grievances : at this stage in their political 'career' they have to , in order that they may keep their own people on board . But that will change in time.)

There has only been one test of electoral strength between the SDLP and Sinn Fein since last October - in a local council by-election in Carrickmore in Mid-Ulster : it was not an SDLP stronghold , and the vacant seat had been held by the more nationalist IIP , but in the by-election in March Seamus Kerr of Sinn Fein won , with 2,289 votes to 654 for the SDLP candidate who came third , after 'The Alliance Party': but Carrickmore is not typical - it has a long republican tradition and the size of the Sinn Fein majority over the SDLP is not likely to be reproduced elsewhere but , significantly , Seamus Kerr claims that Sinn Fein increased its vote substantially over its total in the (Six-County) Assembly elections : if that trend is repeated , even on a smaller scale , in other areas , the SDLP must be very worried . And there is reason to think it may be.......
(MORE LATER).







Monday, November 27, 2006

THE SEEDS OF A POLICE STATE .......
There is substantial evidence that a major crime was perpetrated within the Garda Siochana five years ago .
The evidence for this crime has certainly been available to senior Gardai ever since then , but no enquiry whatsoever has taken place , let alone any Garda being disciplined in connection with that crime .
By Vincent Browne and Derek Dunne .
From 'MAGILL' magazine , September 1983 .

THE CASE OF NICKY KELLY .
Edward Noel (Nicky) Kelly was arrested under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act , 1939 , at Arklow , County Wicklow , at 10.00am on the Monday morning of the 5th of April , 1976 , and brought soon afterwards to Fitzgibbon Street Garda Station in Dublin .

He said in evidence that repeated requests for legal counsel were ignored and alleged the first assault took place around midday when Detective Garda Thomas Ibar Dunne turned him round by the shoulders against his will in the presence of Detective Sergeant Francis Campbell and that he was shouted at by Detective Dunne : later on , Nicky Kelly said , Detective Garda Thomas Ibar Dunne slapped him about the face and ears , shouting at him all the time , and that Dunne then sprinkled holy water on him .

Nicky Kelly said that Detective Garda Michael Finn (*'CASE 2' , here) entered the room , slapped him , and asked him if he was ready to make a statement . Further , Detective Finn made him stand up and sit down on a chair repeatedly , and then pulled the chair from under him , causing him to fall to the ground . Kelly alleged that the next assault occured when Detective Garda Thomas Ibar Dunne punched him on the arms , and that Detective Garda Michael Finn was the next to assault him by ramming his head of a locker , whilst Detective Garda William Maher was present also . Together , Kelly claimed , the Gardai shouted at him to "own up....... "
(MORE LATER).



THE SEEDS OF ANOTHER BITTER HARVEST .......
By STEPHEN GREER .
From 'FORTNIGHT' magazine , October 1983 .

There are at least three factors which make the testimony of the North of Ireland's 'converted terrorists' especially unreliable -
1) The need to construct a story sufficiently appealing to the RUC to attract immunity from prosecution , and the financial and other rewards which 'successful' supergrasses obtain could operate as an incentive for the fabrication or embroidering of 'evidence' .
2) It seems that several supergrasses were rejected in the past by the paramilitary organisations to which they once belonged because they were regarded as being unscrupulous or of a criminal disposition . If the paramilitaries take this view how can the 'authorities' trust them as reliable and credible witnesses ?
3) Because of the hostility which undeniably exists between informers and their former paramilitary colleagues and others , there is a serious risk that such witnesses may attempt to use the criminal justice system to pay off old scores against personal enemies . This could result in people being convicted for offences which they did not commit .

It is also extremely misleading to present the supergrass strategy as merely a particular application of the 'UK'-wide practice of defendants 'turning Queen's evidence' : for one thing , unlike most supergrasses here , criminals 'grassing' on their associates in Britain are usually not granted total immunity from prosecution - as a rule they are tried and sentenced before appearing as 'Crown' witnesses in cases against their criminal colleagues.......
(MORE LATER).



THE PROVOS AT THE BALLOT BOX .......
By Michael Farrell .
From 'MAGILL' magazine , June 1983 .


Sinn Fein supporters are mostly young , employed and unemployed and/or ex-prisoners - as are their candidates in elections . They live in the working-class ghettos , they speak the people's language ('1169...' Comment - ..... or at least they did , then : but that was before the professional spin-doctors taught them [post 1986] how to pad-out a reply with terms such as "...going forward.." and other similar shite talk !) , they experience their problems .

The SDLP candidates are all middle-class : three of the four candidates in Belfast are doctors , and most of their workers are middle-class too . On election day they have to pay people to staff the polling booths . Sinn Fein have no trouble getting volunteers .

The SDLP give the impression of being tired , jaded and out of touch with the people : the 'Londonderry' issue is a good example - at the end of April the small 'Irish Independence Party' (IIP) group on Derry City Council proposed that the official name of the city be changed back from 'Londonderry' to 'Derry' : the SDLP , who control the council , said they didn't want to offend the Protestant minority in the city and abstained . The motion was voted down by the Unionists.......
(MORE LATER).