Irish Republican Information Service (no. 73)
Teach Dáithí Ó Conaill, 223 Parnell Street, Dublin 1, Ireland
Phone: +353-1-872 9747; FAX: +353-1-872 9757; e-mail: saoirse@iol.ie
Date: 19 Iúil / July  2006
 
Internet resources maintained by SAOIRSE-Irish Freedom
 
 
Irish Republican Information Service
THE body styling itself ‘Limerick Republican Information Service’ is not connected with the Irish Republican Information Service (IRIS), 223 Parnell Street, Dublin 1, email saoirse@iol.ie and has not been authorised either by IRIS or by the body that sponsors IRIS, Republican Sinn Fein. Therefore it is totally unauthorised and should be regarded as such.
 

In this issue:
 
1. 25th Anniversary of Hurson hunger strike
2. Prisoners in Maghaberry and Portlaoise on 24-hour fast
3. Building the IRPAS campaign in America
4. Provo meeting with RUC an act of collaboration
5. Man critical after sectarian attack in Derry
6. Loyalist triumphalism on Eleventh and Twelfth
7. Nationalists attacked by parade followers in Whitewell
8. Paisley: Provos ‘in government over loyalists’ dead bodies’
9. Report into Carthy killing set to be published
10. US vetoes UN condemnation of Israel
 
1. 25th ANNIVERSARY OF HURSON HUNGER STRIKE
 
On Sunday July 15, Republicans from around Ireland gathered in Mostrim, Co Longford to mark the 25th anniversary of the death on hunger strike of Martin Hurson from Cappagh in Co Tyrone. Martin Hurson contested the then Longford\Westmeath constituency in the 26 County elections in June 1981 as a H Block candidate polling 5,520 votes.
 
The ceremony was also to mark the unveiling of the Hurson memorial, located just outside the town at the entrance to the railway station. The memorial was first unveiled in 2001 to mark the 20th anniversary of the hunger strikes but was later removed by Longford Co Council due to road widening. The Co Council subsequently re-erected the memorial.
 
The ceremonies began with a march from the town led by the Glens of Antrim accordion band, two pipers and a flag bearer. The unveiling ceremony was chaired by ex-councillor Sean Lynch, who acted as Martin Hurson’s election agent in 1981 and who delivered his graveside oration.
 
Sean Lynch explained the background to the hunger strikes of 1981 and Martin Hurson’s election campaign. He pledged that the same struggle would continue until Britain had been removed from Ireland. He then called on Stephen Fullam, to lay a wreath on behalf of the Co Longford H Block committee. Wreaths were also laid by Kieran Dolan, on behalf of the Republican Sinn Féin, Martin Hurson Cumann, and Athlone and by Kay Curran, Galway. on behalf of the National H Block committee. Sean Lynch recited a decade of the rosary As Gailge. A bugler then played the Last Post and Revallie. 
 
Tommy Morris, Westmeath read the hunger strike roll of honour. Following this Sean Lynch recounted Tomas Ashe’s, the first Republican to die on hunger strike, local associations and his arrest following a public meeting in Ballinalee. The President of Republican Sinn Féin Ruairí Ó Brádaigh read the statement from the OC of the Republican prisoners currently protesting in Maghaberry prison, in the Six Counties. Ruairí Ó Brádaigh outlined the background to the prisoners’ campaign and the conditions being endured by them.
 
Sean Lynch then unveiled the monument having apologised on behalf of Tom Mitchell, Dublin, who was due to perform the unveiling but was unable to attend. He was elected a TD whilst a prisoner in the Six Counties in 1955 for Fermanagh\ South Tyrone. Although unseated along with Phil Clarke because they were prisoners he was elected again with an increased majority before being eventually unseated in a British court. Before the oration was delivered one of the pipers played a lament.
 
The main oration was delivered by Lurgan Republican Brendan Magill, who was himself imprisoned in both Portlaoise and English prisons. In a spirited oration Brendan Magill told the assembled crowd about Martin Hurson’s background. He said that the horrific torture inflicted on Martin Hurson by the RUC contributed to his early death on hunger strike. "Martin Hurson gave his life for Ireland. He and his comrades were in Long Kesh to get the Brits out of Ireland and to re-establish the All-Ireland Republic. They did not die for seats in Leinster House, Stormont or Westminster." Brendan Magill said.
 
Referring to the current protest for political status by Republican prisoners in Maghaberry he warned that there must not be a repeat of 1981. "It is our duty to alert the Irish people to what is happening in Maghaberry. These men are not in prison simply to achieve better conditions but to drive England out of Ireland."
 
He went on to pay tribute to Sean Lynch and the other Longford Republicans during Martin Hurson’s election campaign. "The hunger strikers died for you and me, they died to make Ireland a better place. Let us play our part in achieving the Republic for which they died." Brendan Magill concluded.
 
The ceremony ended with a parade back to the town centre where the band played Amhráin na bFiann.
 
2. PRISONERS IN MAGHABERRY AND PORTLAOISE ON 24-HOUR FAST
 
ON Friday, July 14, 2006 Republican POWs both in Maghaberry and Portlaoise held a 24-hour fast in protest against the regime in Maghaberry and the attempts to criminalise Republican prisoners by enforcing sub-standard conditions on the segregated landings.
 
Republican POWs in Maghaberry have been engaged in a prison protest since June 19, 2006 and there are now over thirty POW’s on the protest.  They are fighting to improve conditions for segregated prisoners in Maghaberry who are in effect being punished for exercising their right to segregation from non-political prisoners.  They are demanding that their five demands be addressed.
 
1. Right to free association
2. End to controlled movement
3. Right to full time education
4. Separate visiting facility
5. Right to organise our own landings
 
POWs in Portlaoise have been acting in solidarity with their comrades in Maghaberry during the prison protest and 19 POWs in Portlaoise took part in Friday’s fast. 
 
The Republican Prisoners Action Group (RPAG) have been highlighting the worsening conditions that have existed since the implementation of segregation but our concerns were ignored by the prison service and others.  This has led to POW’s themselves embarking on a protest as they felt that this was the only avenue left open to them.  This issue cannot be ignored any longer, it must be dealt with and these demands must be addressed.
 
3. BUILDING THE IRPAS CAMPAIGN IN AMERICA
 
ON Saturday, June 10th, Irish Republican Political Activist Support (IRPAS) campaign coordinator Patrick Williams appeared on the New York weekly radio
programme, Radio Free Éireann. Pat discussed briefly with the hosts John McDonagh and Sandy Boyer the fact that there are still Republican political prisoners in both Irish states and that the dependants of these prisoners and other political activists deserve assistance.
 
Pat also told them that participants in the IRPAS program would receive monthly bulletins with up to date information regarding the plight of political activists who are imprisoned on the inside or in a state of virtual imprisonment on the outside!
 
On July 8 IRPAS coordinator, Pat Williams made another appearance on RFÉ. Geraldine Taylor from Belfast was a guest on the show.  Geraldine, a member of the Republican Sinn Féin Ard Chomhairle, has spent all her life working in support of political status for Republican prisoners and activists and is still in the forefront of that struggle.
 
She informed listeners about the White-Line picket which is another Belfast phenomenon, made up by  activists and supporters standing on the white dividing line in the middle of a Belfast city street. They carried banners and information kits seeking support for the prisoners on protest in Maghaberry Prison. Geraldine noted that there were close to 300 people on the line in the middle of the busy Falls Road earlier that day just before that she got on the air. She was very pleased to note that other organisations also joined in support along with local people, indicating that there is concern about the escalating protest in Maghaberry.
 
She went on to emphasise that the prisoners were not on hunger strike, but that they were rightfully refusing to eat their meals in their cell right next to the toilet, which is a permanent fixture in each cell which is unhygienic and creates a health hazard. She said that the prisoners demand the right to eat their meals separately in the canteen and that the British have consistently refused this as part of their attempt to criminalise this generation of Republican activists.
 
Geraldine said that the prisoners are now forced to try and supplement their diet by purchasing vitamins within the prison because the prison authorities refuse to allow the families to bring the vitamins in - at a lot less expense. She said that this was an additional financial strain on the families. Geraldine stressed time and again that this escalating protest could be alleviated by just a little action, by anyone and everyone who has now become aware of the growing problem for Irish republican prisoners within the British prison in Maghaberry and for their families who are trying to cope with harassment on the outside. Geraldine implored listeners everywhere  to make appeals to the governor of Maghaberry Prison, and to make elected officials, the media and other activists aware of the situation before it gets worse.
 
Hosts John McDonagh and Sandy Bowyer spoke on the anniversary on the death of 1981 martyr Joe McDonnell on July 8th 1981 in Long Kesh concentration Camp. John who was in Ireland and attended the funeral spoke of the riots that occurred when the British attempting to capture the honour guard. He said that he remembers the tremendous outpouring of emotion and grief and he said that he hoped that such a situation this would be happening again.
 
Pat Williams (IRPAS) informed listeners about the CABHAIR Monthly Sustainer plan that Cumann na Saoirse Náisiúnta has in place here in America. Pat explained that the plan is now in its second month and has shown good response for the June appeal. He said that it is a voluntary appeal and that the amount to be contributed is up to the donor. Pat said that a number of people collected the 25th anniversary hunger strike calendar for having donated at least $100.00. Pat joined in the call for activist to do as Geraldine suggested and contact elected officials, the media and other activists before the situation spirals out of control. He concluded  by reminding the listening audience that this year was the 25th anniversary of the 1981 Hunger strike and that "as they were political prisoners in 1981 and they are political prisoners today", as the principles are the same.
 
4. PROVO MEETING WITH RUC AN ACT OF COLLABORATION
 
THE recent revelation that the Provos’ policing spokesman, Gerry Kelly, held a meeting with the RUC/PSNI in the run-up to the 12th July demonstrates clearly that collaboration with the British colonial police is already Provo policy ahead of any Extraordinary Ard-Fheis on the matter.
 
Gerry Kelly claimed that "political representatives would need police on the ground on the day of a march to de-escalate the situation", and attempted to justify inviting the RUC to the Ardoyne area by "ensuring that there was not a huge presence of British Army soldiers in the area".
 
True Republicans realise, however, that the primary role of the RUC under whatever guise, as an integral part of the British Crown Forces, is to provide the first line of defence of English rule in Ireland. Republican Sinn Féin seeks a full British withdrawal rather than the remodelling of British rule - in order that Irishmen and Irishwomen can be supreme in their own country.
 
5. MAN CRITICAL AFTER SECTARIAN ATTACK IN DERRY
 
THREE nationalist men were set upon and beaten by a gang of around eight people on the Chapel Road in the mainly Protestant Waterside area Derry in the early hours of July 16. The trio were attacked as they stood at a bonfire at 3.20am in the morning following a party at the house.
 
Paul McCauley, the most seriously injured of the three victims sustained head injuries and was being treated in the Royal Victoria Hospital following the sectarian attack. The 29-year-old was believed to come from the Prehen area of the city. One of his friends sustained a fractured jaw and the other man was badly bruised.
 
Witnesses said that the attackers came from the direction of Irish Street and Bann Drive. Eight men crossed rough terrain and made their way through a scrub-filled field in the dark before they burst into the party, which was arranged as a send-off for Paul’s friend, who was set to go to Azerbaijan to teach English on Wednesday, a plan which has now been shelved. Following attack the loyalist gang made off in the direction of the Fountain, a loyalist enclave.
 
A friend who had been at the party said: "There were about 20 of us and then at the end of the party we were down to three or four and I went to the kitchen to clear up. Then there was a commotion and someone ran in and told me to call the ambulance.
 
"I came down to the field and it was like a massacre. I found Paul choking on his own blood. Apparently the guys who did it were standing over him and shouting, ‘kick him, kick him’, then they ran off laughing."
 
There were disturbances in the aftermath of the assault including an attempted hijacking in the Gobnascale area of the city.
 
6. LOYALIST TRIUMPHALISM ON ELEVENTH AND TWELFTH
 
ON July 12 signs bearing the names of hunger strikers were burnt on loyalist Twelfth bonfires across Belfast.
 
Communities in all quarters of the city were again subjected to sectarian Eleventh Night shenanigans, and left to foot the bill of the wanton destruction caused to public roads and property.
 
In the east Belfast interface estate of Cluan Place, overlooking the nationalist Short Strand enclave, loyalists erected a wooden box with the names of at least two hunger strikers, Bobby Sands and Kevin Lynch, on top of the fire.
 
This, occurring on the 25th anniversary of the hunger strikes, appeared to be part of a coordinated action as flags and posters with the names of Republican volunteers were also set alight on a bonfire in the Shankill.
 
In the North of the city, motorists’ lives were put at risk as the RUC/PSNI looked on as youths spent days casually building a bonfire on a blind corner of the Crumlin Road. Unsuspecting motorists were forced to swerve on to the other side of the busy road to avoid colliding with the bonfire which took up an entire side of the road. Youths also erected a sign at the foot of the structure with ‘KAT’ (’Kill All Taigs’) in large painted lettering.
 
In Stoneyford village loyalists smashed open the gates of a local reservoir to build a bonfire on land belonging to the Water Service. Despite the youths having broken into the site over a fortnight ago the huge mass of tyres and wood was not removed. A number of nationalist electoral posters were attached to their bonfire.
 
7. NATIONALISTS ATTACKED BY PARADE FOLLOWERS IN WHITEWELL
 
On the morning of July 12 nationalists in the Whitwell area were attacked by some of those attending the annual 12th parade. Amongst those injured were a young child who was struck by a paint bomb and suffered relatively serious injuries.
 
Local residents on the Lower Ormeau Road subjected to five-fingered salutes from Orange Order members mocking those people murdered in Seán Graham’s bookies in 1992. The incident occurred as the Orange Order parade returned along Stranmillis embankment this evening.
 
8. PAISLEY: PROVOS ‘IN GOVERNMENT OVER LOYALISTS’ DEAD BODIES’
 
DUP Ian Paisley, speaking to members of the Independent Orange Order in Portrush co Antrim on July 12 said that the Provos ‘would be in government over loyalists’ dead bodies’.
 
He said: "Compromise, accommodation and the least surrender are the roads to final and irreversible disaster. There can be no compromise."
 
He insisted there could be no accommodation or surrender and on the issue of power-sharing with what he called ‘IRA/Sinn Fein’, he said: "It will be over our dead bodies.
 
"Ulster has surely learned that weak, pushover unionism is a halfway house to republicanism."
 
9. REPORT INTO CARTHY KILLING SET TO BE PUBLISHED
 
The long awaited report of the Barr tribunal into the fatal shooting of John Carthy by 26-County police in Abbeylara, Co Longford, more than six years ago is set to be published on July 20.
 
John Carthy (27), a building worker who suffered from manic depression, was shot dead outside his home by two members of the Garda Emergency Response Unit on April 20 2000.
 
His death followed a 25-hour armed stand-off, which began when he sent his mother from the house and fired his shotgun several times into the air. Armed and unarmed gardai subsequently surrounded the house.
 
John Carthy, who was alone in the house, discharged a number of shots from the kitchen window during the stand-off, before leaving the house carrying the gun at around 5.45pm.
 
He began to walk in the direction of Abbeylara village and was shot from behind by gardai when he did not comply with orders to put down his gun.
 
The tribunal, chaired by retired 26-County High Court judge Robert Barr, began in early 2003 to examine the circumstances surrounding John Carthy’s death, and in particular the Garda actions during the stand-off.
 
It completed its hearings in December 2004 after taking evidence from 169 witnesses.
Robert Barr had originally intended to deliver his report to Lenister House by June 2005. He has not commented on the reason its publication has been delayed for more than a year.
 
The tribunal heard evidence from gardai up to assistant commissioner level, family and friends of John Carthy, former employers, doctors, including his psychiatrist, journalists and several expert witnesses who dealt with policing and medical matters.
 
The chairman examined the actions taken and decisions made by gardai from their initial response to John Carthy to his fatal shooting.
These included decisions not to bring a solicitor to the scene, the absence of a mental health professional during the siege and the withholding of cigarettes from John Carthy.
 
This was the fifth inquiry into John Carthy’s death following the inquest, an internal Garda report into the incident, an FBI report and a Leinster House inquiry that was aborted following a successful appeal by the Garda to the 26-County Supreme Court.
 
10. US VETOES UN CONDEMNATION OF  ISRAEL
 
ON July 13 the United States blocked an Arab-backed resolution that would have demanded Israel halt its military offensive in the Gaza Strip, the first UN Security Council veto in nearly two years.
 
The draft, sponsored by Qatar on behalf of other Arab nations, accused Israel of a "disproportionate use of force" that endangered Palestinian civilians, and demanded Israel withdraw its troops from Gaza.
 
The United States was alone in voting against the resolution. Ten of the 15 Security Council nations voted in favor, while Britain, Denmark, Peru and Slovakia abstained.
 
The US has periodically used its veto to block resolutions critical of Israel. The last council veto, in October 2004, was cast when the United States blocked a resolution
condemning another Israeli operation in Gaza.
 
The draft was reworked repeatedly to address concerns that it was too biased against Israel. Language was added calling for the release of an abducted soldier and urging the Palestinians to stop firing rockets at Israel.
 
Nonetheless, US Ambassador John Bolton said it was still unacceptable because it had been overtaken by events in the region - including the capture of two Israeli soldiers by Hezbollah militants on Wednesday - and was "unbalanced".
 
"It placed demands on one side in the Middle East conflict but not the other," Bolton said. "This draft resolution would have exacerbated tensions in the region."
 
Israel launched the operation two weeks ago in response to the June 25 capture of an Israeli soldier, 19-year-old Cpl Gilad Shalit.
 
The resolution called on Israel and the Palestinians to "take immediate steps to create the necessary condition for the resumption of negotiation and restarting the peace process." It urged all parties to help alleviate the "dire humanitarian situation" faced by Palestinians.
 
The United States sought a text that said the Israeli actions were in direct response to rocket attacks against Israel and Shalit’s capture.
 
Bolton said the United States remains "gravely Concerned" at the escalation of the conflict and believes the best way to calm the situation is for Hamas to release Shalit.
 
The draft also demanded Israel release the Palestinian officials it has arrested.
 
The Palestinian observer to the UN, Riyad Mansour, said he was disappointed with the council’s "continued inability to act while innocent Palestinian civilians continue to be brutally killed by the Israeli occupying forces".
 
Referring to past US practice of vetoing similar resolutions, Mansour said the council is failing the Palestinians. In Gaza, the Palestinian Foreign Ministry spokesman, Taher al-Nunu, said the United States must bear some responsibility for Israel’s attacks.
 
"The veto is a political cover for the crimes of the occupation, and regrettably, instead of putting war criminals of this government that lost its mind on trial, they are giving a political cover to carry out more of these crimes," al-Nunu said.
 
Eight of the last nine vetoes in the council have been cast by the United States. Of those, seven concerned the Israel-Palestinian conflict.
 
ENDS