Feature: Easter commemorations 2013
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A list of this weekend's republican commemorations by the different
political organisations involved. Check locally for any last-minute
changes.
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SINN FEIN COMMEMORATIONS
ARMAGH
Saturday 30 March
10:30am Maghery. Wreath-laying ceremony
12:30pm Portadown. Speaker: Cathal Boylan
Sunday 31 March
09:45am Crossmaglen. Speaker: Sean Murray
10:15am Camlough. Speaker: Megan Fearon
11:30am Derrymacash. Wreath-laying ceremony
2:00pm Ballymacnab. Speaker: Chris Hazzard
2:30pm Lurgan. Speaker: Jennifer McCann
4:30pm Cullyhanna. Speaker: Paul Maskey
Monday 1 April
2:30pm Armagh City. Speaker: Bronwyn McGahan
BELFAST
Friday 29 March
1:00pm Ormeau Road. Fian Jim Templeton Memorial. Wreath-laying ceremony
Saturday 30 March
2:30pm Whitewell. Wreath-laying ceremony
5:00pm Short Strand. An Tine Beo. Speaker: Seanna Walsh
5:00pm South Link Memorial Gardens. Andersonstown. Speaker: Caoimhin Mac
Giolla Mhin
6:30pm Colin. Twinbrook Memorial. Wreath-laying ceremony
Sunday 8 April
10:30am Markets Memorial Garden. Wreath-laying ceremony
11:00am Carrick Hill. Wreath-laying ceremony
12:15pm Clonard Martyrs Memorial Garden. Wreath-laying ceremony
1:00pm Beechmont Avenue. Main Commemoration - Speaker: Mary Lou McDonald
Monday 1 April
12 noon Newington. Wreath-laying ceremony
1:00pm New Lodge. Speaker: Sean Lynch
Tuesday 2 April
1:00pm Ardoyne. Speaker: Raymond McCartney
3:30pm New Barnsley. Wreath-laying ceremony
CAVAN
Sunday 31 March
2:30pm Killoughter. Speaker: Rose Conway Walsh
CARLOW/KILKENNY
Saturday 30 March
12 noon Mooncoin. Speaker: Dessie Ellis
3:00pm Kilkenny Town. Speaker: Dessie Ellis
CLARE
Sunday 31 March
2:00pm Clooney Cemetery. Speaker: Maurice Quinlivan
CORK
Saturday 30 March
8:00pm Bantry. Wreath-laying ceremony
Sunday 31 March
11:00am Macroom. Wreath-laying ceremony
11:00am Youghal. Speaker: Jonathan O'Brien
12 noon Clonakilty. Speaker: Chris O'Leary
12:30pm Bandon. Speaker: Aengus O Snodaigh
2:00pm Cork City. Speaker: Aengus O Snodaigh
DERRY & ANTRIM
Saturday 30 March
Wreath-laying ceremonies
4:00pm Glens; 5pm Glenravel; 5:30pm Cargin; 6:30pm Moneyglass; 7:00pm
Park Village
Sunday 31 March
12 noon Dungiven. Speaker: Gerry Kelly
2:00pm Main Commemoration. Westland Street, Derry City. Speaker: Pearse
Doherty
2:30pm The Loup. Speaker: Gerry Kelly
Wreath-laying ceremonies
10:00am Rasharkin; 10:45am Maghera; 10:45am Coolcalm; 10:45am Newbridge;
11:40am Bellaghy; 11:40am Lavey; 11:45am Dunloy; 12:30pm Loughgiel;
12:30pm Kilrea; 1:00pm Shantallow, Racecourse Road; 1:00pm Waterside,
Rose Court; 1:30pm Creggan, Central Drive; 1:30pm Bogside, Lecky Road;
1:30pm Brandywell
Monday 1 April
2:30pm Swatragh. Speaker: Mitchel McLaughlin
DONEGAL
Sunday 31 March
10:00am Donegal Town, Clar. Wreath-laying ceremony
11:00am Letterkenny. Wreath-laying ceremony. Gerry McMonagle & Mick
Quinn
11:30am Glencolmcille. Wreath-laying ceremony
12 noon Drumoghill. Speaker: Gerry McMonagle
12 noon Castlefinn. Speaker: Cora Harvey
12 noon Buncrana. Speaker: Padraig Mac Lochlainn
12:15pm Gweedore. Speaker: Pearse Doherty
3:00pm Drumboe. Main Commemoration. Speaker: Gerry Adams
6:00pm Drumkeen. Wreath-laying ceremony
Monday 1 April
12:30pm Carrigart. Speaker: Padraig Mac Lochlainn
3:00pm Pettigo. Speaker: Michael McMahon
3:00pm Fanad. Speaker: Padraig Mac Lochlainn
DOWN
Saturday 30 March
6:30 pm Downpatrick. Speaker: Mickey Brady
Sunday 31 March
12:15 pm Patrick Street. Newry City. Speaker: Michelle O'Neill
3:15pm Down Road Car Park, Newcastle. Wreath-laying ceremony
4:00pm Lower Square. Castlewellan. Speaker: Rosie McCorley
DUBLIN
Friday 29 March
1:00pm Arbour Hill. Local Speaker
Saturday 30 March
11:00am Ballyfermot. Local Speaker
2:00pm Crumlin. Local Speaker
Sunday 31 March
11:30am Glasnevin Cemetery. Wreath-laying ceremony
2:30pm Main Commemoration. Garden of Remembrance. Speaker: Martin
McGuinness
Monday 1 April
12 noon South East Inner City. Local Speaker
2:30pm Deans Grange, Dun Laoghaire. Speaker: Lynn Ni Bhaoigheallain
FERMANAGH
Sunday 31 March
2:30pm Kinawley. Speaker: Martina Anderson
GALWAY
Saturday 30 March
1:00pm Castlegar. Wreath-laying ceremony
3:00pm Eyre Square. Galway City. Speaker: Barry McElduff
6:00pm Oranmore. Wreath-laying ceremony
Sunday 31 March
1:00pm Ballinasloe. Speaker: Therese Ruane
1:00pm Ros Muc. Speaker: Barry McElduff
Monday 1 April
2:30pm Ard Bear Cemetery, Clifden. Wreath-laying ceremony
3:00pm Clifden, Conamara. Speaker: Liadh Ni Riada
5:00pm Tullycross. Speaker: Liadh Ni Riada
KERRY
Sunday 31 March
12:30pm Tralee. Main Commemoration. Speaker: Toireasa Ferris
KILDARE
Saturday 30 March
2:00pm Kildare Town. Speaker: Brian Stanley
LAOIS
Sunday 31 March
2:30pm Killeshin. Speaker: Brian Stanley
LEITRIM
Sunday 31 March
3:00pm Mohill. Speaker: Kathryn Reilly
LIMERICK
Saturday 30 March
3:00pm Athea Village. Speaker: Mick Nugent
Sunday 31 March
11:45am Limerick City. Speaker: Seamus Morris
LONGFORD
Sunday 31 March
3:00pm Ballymacormack Cemetery, Longford Town. Speaker: Peadar Toibin
LOUTH
Saturday 30 March
12 noon Quay Street, Dundalk. Wreath-laying ceremony
2:00pm Knockbridge. Wreath-laying ceremony
Sunday 31 March
12 noon St Peter's Church, Drogheda. Speaker: Caitriona Ruane
2:30pm Market Square. Dundalk. Speaker: Caitriona Ruane
MAYO
Sunday 31 March
2:30pm Castlebar, Lough Lannagh. Speaker: Michael Colreavy
MEATH
Saturday 30 March
3:00pm Ashbourne. Main Commemoration. Speaker: Caoimhghin O Caolain
Sunday 31 March
Wreath-laying ceremonies
11:00am Ballinlough; Curraha; Drumree; Kells; Longwood; Navan;
Oldcastle; Slane
12 noon Ardbraccen. Speaker: Joe Reilly
MONAGHAN
Saturday 30 March
7:30pm Inniskeen. Wreath-laying ceremony
Sunday 31 March
3:30pm Monaghan Town. Speaker: Declan Kearney
Monday 1 April
12 noon Scotshouse. Speaker: Martin Kenny
3:00pm Clones. Speaker: Martin Kenny
OFFALY
Sunday 31 March
2:30pm Tullamore. Speaker: Martin Ferris
ROSCOMMON
Sunday 31 March
2:00pm Arigina. Speaker: Matt Carthy
SLIGO
Sunday 31 March
3:00pm Sligo Town. Speaker: Phil Flanagan
TIPPERARY
Sunday 31 March
2:30pm Clonmel. Local Speaker
3:00pm Nenagh. Speaker: Paul Hogan
TYRONE
Saturday 30 March
1:00pm Ardboe. Speaker Caral Ni Chulainn
3:00pm Coalisland. Speaker: Conor Murphy
Sunday 31 March
4:00pm Carrickmore. Speaker: Padraig Mac Lochlainn
For other Tyrone commemorations: www:tyronecommemorations:com
WATERFORD
Saturday 30 March
3:00pm Waterford City. Speaker: Micheal Mac Donncha
Sunday 31 March
11:30am Portlaw. Speaker: Brendan Mansfield
3:00pm Waterford County: Knockboy. Speaker: Jonathan O'Brien
WESTMEATH
Monday 1 April
3:00pm Drumrainey Cemetery, Westmeath. Speaker: Joe Reilly
WEXFORD
Saturday 30 March
12:30pm Riverchapel. Fionntain O Suilleabhain
6:00pm Ballymore. Wreath-laying ceremony
Sunday 31 March
1:00pm Wexford Town. Speaker: Tomas Sharkey
Monday 1 April
12 noon Murrintown. Speaker: Sandra McLellan
2:30pm Enniscorthy. Speaker: Sandra McLellam
WICKLOW
Saturday 30 March
3:00pm Bray. Speaker: Eoin O Broin
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REPUBLICAN SINN FEIN COMMEMORATIONS
ANTRIM
Easter Sunday, Belfast, Republican Plot, Milltown Cemetery, assemble 12
noon at gates of cemetery.
ARMAGH
Holy Saturday, Lurgan commemoration, assemble at the top of Kilwilkie at
3pm for march to the Republican Plot, St. Colman's Cemetery.
Holy Saturday, wreath-laying ceremonies at Ballymacnab and Keady.
Easter Sunday, Armagh City assemble 2.45pm at the gates of Sandyhill
Cemetery.
Holy Saturday, wreath-laying ceremony, Republican Plot in Camlough.
CARLOW
Easter Saturday, wreath-laying ceremony at the Republican Plot, Carlow
cemetery at 3.30pm.
More information on: http://www.rsf-kildare.ie/
CLARE
Easter Sunday, wreath-laying ceremonies at Kilmurry McMahon and Doonbeg.
CORK
Easter Sunday, assemble at Wilton Roundabout, 2pm. Parade to Republican
Plot, St. Finbarr's Cemetery.
DERRY
Cuchulainn Memorial, City Cemetery, Derry City, Easter Sunday, assemble
at 12 noon.
Wreath-laying ceremonies at the following on Easter Sunday morning:
The Loup Cemetery, 9am, at the grave of Brigadier Sean Larkin; and the
grave of Tommy Toner in Dungiven, 10.15am at the graves of Vols Kealy,
O'Carolan and Kilmartin and hunger striker Kevin Lynch.
DONEGAL
Holy Saturday, Doneyloup, Castlefin 7.30pm. Clady Bridge, 11.30am.
Drumboe Easter Sunday, assemble Johnson's Corner 2.30pm.
DOWN
Easter Sunday, Newry, assemble 10am, gates of St. Mary's Cemetery for
march to Republican Plot.
DUBLIN
Easter Sunday, commemoration at Deansgrange Cemetery, 1pm.
Easter Monday, Assemble Garden of Remembrance, 1.45pm for march to GPO,
O'Connell Street, Dublin.
FERMANAGH
Easter Sunday, Arney, at the grave of Phiolip Cassidy, 2.30pm.
GALWAY
Good Friday, wreath-laying ceremony at the Workhouse, Tuam, 5pm.
Holy Saturday, wreath-laying ceremony, Kilcummin Cemetery, Oughterard,
7pm.
Assemble at Cathedral for parade to Liam Mellows Memorial, Eyre Square,
Galway City, Easter Sunday, 11am.
Republican Plot, Donaghpatrick, Headford, Easter Sunday, assemble
Queally's Cross, Caherlistrane, 3pm.
More information on: http://www.rsfgaillimh.com/imeachtaevents.htm
GLASGOW
Easter Sunday commemoration and function. Details from SAOIRSE sellers.
KERRY
Holy Saturday, wreath-laying ceremony, Republican Plot, Caherlistrane
Cemetery, 2pm.
Easter Sunday, Cahersiveen, assemble 2.30pm at the Monument, The Square.
Tralee, Easter Sunday, assemble at Denny Street at 2pm for parade to
Republican Plot, Rath Cemetery.
Killarney, wreath-laying ceremony at Republican Monument.
Easter Monday, Republican Plot, Listowel, wreath-laying ceremony,
assemble at graveyard gates, 12 noon.
KILDARE
Easter Sunday, commemoration at the Republican Plot, Grey Abbey
Cemetery, Kildare town, 1pm.
Easter Monday, wreaths will be laid throughout the county.
More information on: http://www.rsf-kildare.ie/
KILKENNY
Holy Saturday, wreath-laying ceremony, Rathciaran, Mooncoin, 12.45pm.
LAOIS
Wreaths will be laid on the graves of William O'Connor and James Lacey,
Barrowhouse Cemetery; grave of Denis O'Dwyer, Wolfhill cemetery and the
Republican Plot, Portlaoise.
LEITRIM
Holy Saturday, commemoration at the grave of Vol. Patrick Gill,
Jamestown, 3pm.
LIMERICK
Easter Monday, Republican Plot, Mount St Lawrence Cemetery, 3pm.
LONDON
Easter Monday, see SAOIRSE sellers for details or phone 0044-7926357676.
LONGFORD
Easter Sunday, commemoration, Clonboney, Ballinalee, at the graves of
Sean Connolly and Tommy Kelliher, 3pm.
LOUTH
Dundalk, Easter Sunday, assemble at gates of St. Patrick's Cemetery,
2.30pm for wreath-laying ceremony at the Republican Plot.
MAYO
The Annual Mayo Easter Commemoration will take place on Easter Monday
April 1st at 12pm in Kilkelly. The parade will meet in Kilkelly and
march to the East Mayo Brigade Memorial on main Sligo-Galway Road for
the main commemoration. The main speaker of the day will be Mary Ward.
We invite people to come to this event in honour of those who have given
their lives for Irish freedom.
More information on: http://www.rsfmayo.com
MEATH
Easter Sunday, wreath-laying ceremonies at grave of Seamus Fox, Drumree,
12 noon; at grave of Niall Fagan, Summerhill, 1pm; at Ballinlough
Cemetery, Kells, 2pm.
Easter Monday, wreath-laying ceremony at grave of Vol. George McDermott,
Ardbracken, 2pm.
MONAGHAN
Easter Sunday, Commemoration, Urbleshanny Cemetery, Scotstown at grave
of Vol. Seamus McElwaine, 2pm.
NEW YORK
Cumann na Saoirse Naisiunta (The National Irish Freedom Committee) will
hold it's Easter Commemoration on Easter Sunday March 31 at 9.00am at
the grave of its' co-founder Joe Stynes in Woodlawn Cemetery, East 233
St., Bronx, NY.
The graveside ceremony will include a reading of the 1916 Proclamation
of the Irish Republic, the significance of Easter to Ireland's freedom
struggle, the Republican Movement's Easter Statement, Cumann na Saoirse
Easter Message and the laying of the wreath at Joe Styne's grave.
After the graveside ceremony breakfast will be served at 10:30 a.m. at
the Heritage Restaurant, 960 McLean Ave (near Glover Ave) Yonkers
(Woodlawn area) NY10704
After breakfast 'the Countdown to Easter 2016' program will commence.
This program, initiated in 2010 by the late Brian Mor O Baoighill, will
include tributes to the executed signatories of the Easter Proclamation
and to the other executed Leaders of the 1916 Easter Rising.
More information available at http://www.irishfreedom.net
OFFALY
Easter Sunday, wreath-laying ceremonies throughout the county.
ROSCOMMON
Ballinlough, Easter Sunday, 12 noon, parade to IRA memorial.
Elphin parade to County Roscommon Memorial after 11.30 mass.
Easter Sunday, County Commemoration, Kilglss, Strokestown at the grave
of Frank O'Donoghue, 3pm.
SLIGO
Sligo Town, Easter Sunday, wreath-laying ceremony, Republican, Sligo
Cemetery.
TIPPERARY
Easter Sunday, commemoration, Hunger Strike Memorial, Banba Square,
Nenagh, 10am.
WATERFORD
Holy Saturday, wreath-laying ceremony at Statue on Quay, Waterford city,
12 noon.
WESTMEATH
Easter Sunday, 3pm, 2013 County Comemoration, Meedin Cemetery, at the
graves of Patrick Seery and Paddy Geraghty.
Wreath-laying ceremonies will take place throughout the County at
Republican Graves and Monuments over the Easter period.
More information available at http://rsfwestmeath.blogspot.com/
WEXFORD
Republican Plot, Stt Ibar's Cemetery, Crosstown, Easter Sunday, assemble
at Cresent Quay, Wexford at 3pm. Mass for all who died for Ireland,
Church of the Immaculate Conception, Rowe Street, 11.15am.
WICKLOW
Holy Saturday, wreath-laying ceremony at 1798 monument between Tinehealy
and Shilleagh.
Wreath-laying ceremony at the Billy Byrne Monument at 12 noon.
Wreath-laying ceremmony at the Seamus O'Brien Memorial, Post Office,
Rathdrum, 1pm.
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EIRIGI COMMEMORATION
1916 Easter commemoration, Assemble Falls Road, Easter Monday, 1pm
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IRSP COMMEMORATION
Assemble at the Republican Socialist Plot in Derry city cemetery,
12 noon, Easter Saturday
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32CSM COMMEMORATIONS
Assemble at the entrance to the City cemetery at 2.00pm on Easter
Monday. Main speaker Francie Mackey.
An event is also organised in Cork: Assemble 31st march, 1 o'clock, TSB,
Clashduv road, Togher for march to St. Finbarr's cemetery, Wilton.
* Note that the Dominic and Mary McGlinchey independent commemoration
takes place at Deerpark Road, Bellaghy at 4.30pm on Easter Saturday
afternoon.
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Parties struggle to mark Easter sacrifice
The removal by British officials of a banner on the Falls Road in west
Belfast advertising a planned 1916 commemoration on Easter Monday has
recalled events surrounding the removal of an Irish tricolour flag almost
fifty years ago, eirigi has said.
The banner promoting the commemoration has already been replaced, the
party said.
In 1964, the then RUC police smashed down the doors of the Republican
election offices and took possession of an Irish flag, carrying it away
through a barrage of stones and empty bottles, to the prolonged jeers of
crowds of locals. It is an event of great historical significance,
marking for some the start of the 'troubles' in the North.
"While the removal of the Easter commemoration banner last week did not
take place under the same circumstances, there are certainly questions
to be answered," the party said.
"The banner's removal took place after several months of unionist
protests, blockades and marches initiated by Unionist politicians in
relation to the flying of the British flag at Belfast city hall. These
have resulted in disruption to communities, sectarian attacks and street
violence.
"In contrast, the commemoration banner had been erected in the middle of
west Belfast and had not caused any adverse reaction from any quarter.
"What, then, prompted DRD staff to remove the banner even though they
had been informed it would be taken down at Easter after serving its
purpose?
"Who, if anyone, had made the complaints about the banner's presence?
Did a Stormont minister issue instructions for the banner's removal?
"Whatever was the case, this week, the banner, like the tricolour in
1964, is back in place on the Falls Road."
'NO LILY IN DAIL'
Meanwhile, Sinn Fein has clashed with Fine Gael over the wearing of the
Easter Lily in the Dublin parliament.
The lily is traditionally worn around Easter to recall those who died on
behalf of Ireland in the various phases of the struggle against British
rule.
Cork North Central Sinn Fein TD, Jonathan O'Brien, has said that the
objections raised by Fine Gael deputy Charlie Flanagan to the wearing of
the Easter Lily in the Dail reflected is own "deep-rooted prejudices".
In an outburst in the middle of Dail proceedings, the notoriously
right-wing Flanagan challenged Sinn Fein TDs Brian Stanley and Michael
Colreavy on the wearing of the Lily and called on the Ceann Comhairle
[Speaker] to make a "ruling" on the matter.
Sinn Fein pointed out that no-one had objected to the wearing by Fine
Gael TD Frank Feighan last November of the British Legion military
charity's Remembrance Poppy.
Deputy O'Brien said: "The outrageous attempt by Charlie Flanagan to
prevent Sinn Fein Deputies from honouring Ireland's patriot dead by
wearing a commemorative Easter Lily reflects his own deep-rooted
prejudices and his loathing of all things Republican.
"I would remind Deputy Flanagan that without the sacrifice of
generations of men and women who fought British Imperialism, he would
never have had the opportunity to stand here as a parliamentarian and
make such ludicrous statements," he said.
'BRITISH AGENDA'
In Derry, the 32 County Sovereignty Committee has continued to condemn
arrests which resulted in two of its leading members barred from
attending Easter commemoration events.
In one of the most openly political court judgements seen in recent
years, prominent republicans Gary Donnelly and Anthony Lancaster were
told to stay away from the group's events following their arrest in
connection with last year's event, at which an IRA statement was read
out.
Leaflets and other publicity material were also seized by the PSNI and
presented in court as "evidence".
"The arrests were designed to criminalise the 32 County Sovereignty
Movement and place bail conditions on members to restrict their ability
to honour Ireland's Patriot dead," the group said in a statement this
week.
"Political thinking is still driven by a British agenda in the occupied
Six Counties," they said.
"The same British agenda which censored the Republican voice in the 70s
and 80s. This time however, the censorship is driven by the complicity
of those previously affected."
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>>>>>> ONH raises stakes for security agenda
Breakaway IRA group Oglaigh na hEireann has claimed that a bomb
abandoned in County Fermanagh last weekend was intended to target the
hotel hosting British Prime Minister David Cameron and other world
leaders attending June's G8 summit.
The summit is the biggest gathering of world leaders ever to take place
in Ireland's occupied Six Counties.
In a coded statement on Monday afternoon, Oglaigh na hEireann also
claimed responsibility for a mortar rocket device aimed at the heavily
fortified New Barnsley police barracks in west Belfast two weeks ago.
ONH also provided two photographs of a mortar launching device alongside
a printed note stating: "MK1 10KG Mortar, Range 300 Metres."
The brief statement said:
"Car bomb defused in County Fermanagh on Sat 23rd March. Target was
hotel hosting G8 summit in June.
"Photos are of mortar bomb deployed in Belfast on March 15. Target was
News Barnsley PSNI station Belfast.
"Oglaigh Na hEireann (ONH) Belfast."
By specifically referring to the G8 location close to the border, ONH
grabbed international headlines and raised security concerns around the
summit to fever pitch.
Millions of pounds are to be spent to secure the lakeshore resort for
the major international event on 17 June. British police and military
have been placed on standby for possible deployment to the North ahead
of the event, in addition to the North's regular PSNI, military
intelligence and private security contractors.
The PSNI has also recently acquired a number of spy drones to be flown
over the luxury hotel site.
On Saturday morning, the British army defused a 60kg explosive device
packed into a beer keg which had been left inside a car abandoned on the
Derrylin Road near Enniskillen. It was initially suggested that the
target of the device was the nearby Lisnaskea PSNI station, one of the
most heavily fortified police bases in Europe.
Another ONH attack this month using a booby trap bomb that was to be
triggered by a mobile phone signal was said to have been timed to
coincide with a mini Anglo-Irish summit between Cameron and the Irish
Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, in Downing Street earlier this month.
A second beer keg with wires attached to it was found abandoned along
the Clogh Road in Rosslea in the early hours of Wednesday.
A British Army unit bomb squad officers spent the day examining the
suspicious object, close to the border between jurisdictions. The alert
continued on Thursday before being declared "an elabourate hoax".
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>>>>>> Parishioners told 'stay away' as loyalists parade past church
North Belfast nationalists are expected to defy a ban on holding a
protest outside a Catholic church during one of the biggest sectarian
parades of the year.
People living in Carrick Hill reacted angrily after the Parades
Commission restricted the location of proposed protests as loyalist
members of the Apprentice Boys pass the flashpoint St Patrick's Church
and nearby nationalist homes on Easter Monday.
Protests at a car park opposite the city centre church and at Clifton
Street are limited to 30 people.
A request to stand directly outside St Patrick's -- the parish church of
many of the protesters -- was refused. Last year, loyalists caused
controversy by marching in circles outside the chapel while playing
sectarian tunes. On another occasion, they were observed to urinate on
the church railings.
The commission was criticised last week for permitting the Apprentice
Boys to parade along the disputed route with only minor restrictions.
Residents' spokesman Frank Dempsey said his community might decide to
ignore the commission both on where protests are held and the numbers
taking part.
Referring to previous parades past St Patrick's, he asked: "Why are
parishioners not allowed to stand outside their own church when the
leadership of the UVF can stand outside it?"
Mr Dempsey said that before coming to a decision people in the area will
consider comments PSNI chief Matt Baggott made during the Union Jack
protests.
He said: "People are asking 'Do we really have to go near the Parades
Commission given what Matt Baggott said in January that anyone is
entitled to a peaceful protest?'
"Resident groups are abiding by determinations and the loyal orders
don't even consult with the Parades Commission and then break their
determinations.
"Then they are rewarded in places like Carrick Hill, Ardoyne and Short
Strand."
The commission has also been criticised for allowing the Apprentice Boys
to march past the Ardoyne interface despite having turned down an offer
to meet residents.
SDLP councillor Nichola Mallon said an "apparent lack of consistency" in
the commission's decisions was a source of frustration.
"Residents in Carrick Hill are asking me why, when the commission deemed
the route past St Patrick's controversial and reflected this in its
determination on the parade, are they not allowed to peacefully protest
at this spot outside the church?" she said.
Sinn Fein's Gerry Kelly said: "Without dialogue from the loyal orders,
with either the residents or the Parades Commission, parades should not
get the go-ahead."
The main Ardoyne residents group, GARC, said the parade through the area
by a Protestant supremacist organisation was unwanted.
They pointed out that the parade was obviously intended to be
provocative as the marchers were being bussed into the community in
order to hold their march, before taking part in the main parade in
Derry.
"The obvious questions to be asked of the Apprentice Boys, locally and
at leadership level, is why they simply don't board their bus when they
assemble and go to Derry?
"Why is it so important to march through an area that has shown time and
time again for generations that their sectarianism is not welcome?
"Why can they not have a day celebrating their culture without first
having to trample over the rights of their neighbours to live free from
sectarianism?
"And the simple answers are that they enjoy the opportunity to remind
the 'taigs' of their place, and that while permission is continually
granted by the Parades Commission then it will be continually sought."
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>>>>>> Cost of 'touts' hits record level
A record amount of money has been paid out to informers in the past
year, according to new figures.
Figures released by the PSNI following a Freedom of Information request
show almost half a million pounds was paid out in the financial year
2011/12, the most ever paid by the British state to Irish 'touts'.
In 2006/7, "Covert Human Intelligence Sources", as they are officially
known, were paid just over #160,000 but by last year the figure had
jumped to #450,000.
Gerry Kelly, Sinn Fein's policing spokesperson, said the party had
concerns over the payments.
"Any police service in the world will use informants. What is our
difficulty, and we have raised this at the Policing Board, is an issue
of accountability.
"Who is watching what way the public money is used?," he queried.
"And let us be very clear about this - into the very recent past we have
had examples of some of these informants being completely out of
control.
"Their handlers allowing them to be involved in everything right up to
and including murder."
LIVING IN FEAR
Earlier this month, the 32 County Sovereignty Movement reported that a
man in the Bellaghy area of County Derry was living "in fear" after
speaking to MI5 agents following a roadside incident.
The man was stopped at an apparently routine police checkpoint when he
was directed him to pull in at the side of the road. He was held there
until a black car pulled up and two men exited who identified themselves
as MI5 agents and stated that they wanted him to work for them.
"The man who was approached is now in fear for his wellbeing following
the underlying threats made to him by these British crown forces," the
32CSM said.
"This incident is the latest in approximately a dozen incidences which
have taken place within the last month to different individuals. We
would ask anyone who either suffers an approach or has suffered an
approach to contact their local 32csm cumann/known members and make
these matters public.
"We would also advise to give the details of any approaches to a
solicitor and also contact the local media/newspaper to have it on
record. These shadowy forces rely on the silence of victims and
intimidatory methods to try and exert pressure on vulnerable people.
"Do not suffer in silence."
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>>>>>> Liam Campbell bailed as 'Real IRA' cases proceed
A former member of the Real IRA's ruling army council has just been
released from the jail where he was held for four years during a lengthy
extradition battle.
He is wanted in Lithuania over allegations he was behind a gun-running
plot alongside his brother, who continues to be held there in appalling
conditions.
The Lithuanian authorities have fought a lengthy legal battle to
extradite Campbell to face questioning and possible charges over an
arms' plot which could have seen him behind bars for a decade.
His brother Michael is already serving a 12-year sentence in Lithuania
after being lured into an MI5 sting operation with a team of
intelligence agents offering to provide weapons to the men.
In January, the Belfast Recorders Court refused to order Campbell's
transfer to the Baltic state. Judge Tom Burgess said he could be exposed
to inhuman and degrading conditions.
Days later, Campbell applied for bail at Belfast High Court but was
refused. But further efforts by his lawyers were finally successful and
he was released last Thursday.
He had spent most of his time there in isolation following a dispute on
the republican wing by former Real IRA comrades.
He was accused of involvement in the 1998 Omagh bomb, but was never
brought to trial.
NEW OMAGH APPEAL
But two other republicans found financially responsible for the 1998
Omagh bomb are set to again appeal the verdict, it has been confirmed.
In the unusual legal action, Colm Murphy and Seamus Daly were sued for
damages by some victims' relatives in a civil court, which requires a
lesser standard of evidence.
Colm Murphy was convicted of involvement in the attack in 2002 but
succeeded in overturning his conviction on appeal in 2005.
Even though a previous court case in 2009 found the two financially
responsible, they successfully appealed this before being required to
face the same civil action again. Last week the two men were again found
culpable.
Liam Campbell and prominent republican Michael McKevitt (currently in
prison for 'directing' the Real IRA) were also held responsible in the
2009 judgement, but failed to have it overturned.
SHIVERS JUDGEMENT AWAITED
Meanwhile judgement in the retrial of Brian Shivers, accused of
involvement in the 'Real IRA' attack on Massereene British Army base,
has been reserved after three weeks of evidence.
Mr Shivers had a murder conviction in the case overturned in January
before the current retrial was ordered. Suffering from life-threatening
cystic fibrosis, he was finally released on bail earlier this month, as
he was before his first trial.
Belfast Crown Court judge Justice Deeney, presiding over a Diplock,
juryless courtroom, heard final submissions in his retrial this week.
Both sides agreed claims of a DNA link to the alleged 'getaway' car was
key. It is also again acknowledged that Mr Shivers could not have been
directly involved in the 'Real IRA' ambush in which two British soldiers
died.
While Mr Mooney contended the DNA proved 47-year-old Shivers was a
"secondary party" to the murderous attack by allegedly destroying the
getaway car, Mr Pownall said it proved nothing.
The prosecution this week added new charges to the indictment, including
one of 'assisting offenders', possibly in the belief that a murder
conviction may now be impossible to achieve.
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>>>>>> Analysis: Another one interned by decree
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Alec McCrory writes on the latest in a series of British state measures
which are directed towards republicans and pose a significant threat to
civil liberties. From the Pensive Quill.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
When Damien McLaughlin returned from a visit with his wife and young
children on Tuesday, he discovered a large folder sitting on his bed. A
sixth sense alerted him to the possibility of bad news. Damien had not
ruled out the revocation of his licence due to the weakness of the
current charges against him. With a degree of foreboding he gingerly
lifted the folder removing a larger brown envelope. Inside the envelope
was a letter from the British Secretary of State informing him that his
licence had indeed been revoked based on security reports. No other
explanation was given for this decision.
Damien was previously convicted of possessing a weapon and was sentenced
to five years imprisonment. He was on Roe House during the protest and
was subjected to dozens of brutal strip searches. His personal account
of the procedure, which appeared on TPQ last year, is the most graphic
and disturbing to appear to date.
He was released last year having completed more than half of his
sentence. Because he fell under the terms of 'The Criminal Justice Order
2008' - this effectively removed fifty-per cent remission - the
remainder of his sentence was to be served on probation. The conditions
of release required him to meet with a probation officer on a monthly
basis, inform them of all changes in his personal circumstances, provide
fingerprints when requested to by the police, and to seek permission to
travel. Damien was also placed on a 'terrorist' register for an extended
period of five years.
All of this reeks of a new policy of criminalisation which political
prisoners are bound to resist to the better end.
Damien McLaughlin now finds himself one of a growing number of
Republicans who have been interned by decree. This policy of creeping
internment has been met with little opposition from the nationalist
parties at Stormont. They prefer to approach the issue on the basis of
the individual injustice rather than that of systemic abuse. To shout
too loudly would run the risk of alerting people to the existence of
serious anomalies within the criminal justice system.
Our appointed champions of the new political order want the people to
remain ignorant to the old ways of British misrule. As long as those
being jailed are a tiny minority there is no need to kick-up a fuss. And
if asked what we are doing about Marian Price: we are working our
backsides of behind the scenes. This has become the stock response of
the political parties to any questions.
Martin Corey, Marian Price, Gerry McGeough (released), Brendan
McConville, John Paul Wotton, Stephen Murney, Brian Shivers and Damien
McLaughlin. All of these people have families and are well respected
members of their communities. Slowly, these human rights abuses are
leaking out into the public arena thanks to the efforts of political and
human rights activists. Many campaigns have helped to raise awareness
around these issues, so much so, that more questions are now being asked
about the return of internment and other forms of injustice. The people
are awaking from their slumber.
END INTERNMENT NOW!
