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Republican news round-up
content updated: Tuesday, 22 February, 2005 8:34 PM
Material published on this page is published ‘as is’ and is the view of fhe respective individuals or party concerned
Source: Sairse.ie
In this issue:
1.. Special Branch seize €11,000
2.. Murphy conviction quashed
3.. McDowell is wrong
4.. Jailing of Derry man 'a disgrace'
5.. Vandalism to Russell Monument denounced
6.. RSF the sole inheritors of the Sinn Féin mantle
7.. Tomás =D3 Curraoin selected to contest DAdarás na Gaeltachta elections
8.. Suspended sentence for policeman who struck protester
9.. Further repression in store for those who oppose the Stormont Agreement
10.. Dublin stance on Cyprus is hypocritical
1. SPECIAL BRANCH SEIZE €11,000
ON Monday, November 15 last following that weekend's Republican Sinn Féin Ard-Fheis in Dublin members of the 26-County Special Branch went to the hotel venue and seized €11,000 of the organisation's funds. The political police had no warrant, did not bother to count the money and gave no receipt to the hotel staff.The money grabbed in this high-handed fashion was the proceeds of the annual Private Members' Draw held at the Ard-Fheis as well as money collected at the Ard-Fheis ballad session on the Saturday night. The money had been left in the hotel safe overnight and when Republican Sinn Féin officers went to collect it the hotel staff informed them that it had been handed out following demands by members of the Special Branch.
Since then Republican Sinn Féin has been acting through a solicitor to retrieve the funds which were seized in such a brazen manner. The subsequent correspondence with Detective Superintendent Diarmuid O'Sullivan of the Special Branch reveals the real purpose of the seizure: to try to cripple the Republican Sinn Féin organisation financially by dragging out the process of returning the funds.
Initially the Special Branch chief demanded to know where the money came from and through the solicitor acting for Republican Sinn Féin arranged to meet with the National Trustees. The Det Superintendent was informed by the solicitor that the monies included €4,900 sterling and €3,800 from the annual draw and the Ard-Fheis function and a meeting between the Branch, the solicitor and the Trustees was arranged for December 13.
This meeting was then cancelled by the Special Branch who claimed they had to be "in court" on the day. No alternative date was proposed and no further attempt to arrange a meeting was made by them. Meanwhile the Special Branch attempted to harass one of the National Treasurers at his home in Dublin. As a result the solicitor acting for the organisation wrote to the Special Branch and stated that all dealings with his clients should be made through him.
In another change of tack the Branch then wrote the letter reproduced here on December 17 last expressing their "concerns regarding the future use of this money" (our italics). As the national draw funds are essential to the running of Republican Sinn F=E9in's Ard-Oifig and administration and this would be obvious to any reasonable adult, this is clearly a further attempt by the Special Branch to drag out the proceedings for another few weeks.
Republican Sinn Féin contested the 26-County local elections in 2004 and will be contesting =DAdarás na Gaeltachta elections on April 2 next so the need for funds is especially important. No doubt if the facts outlined above were revealed in relation to the Ukraine or any other country with a political police/secret police there would be an outcry in the international media about democracy being denied and suppressed.
As Republican Sinn Féin endeavours to secure the return of its funds from the 26-County State the organisation makes a special appeal to members, supporters and friends to come to our aid financially. The Republican cause must be protected come what may.
2. MURPHY CONVICTION QUASHED
ON Friday, January 21, the Dublin Court of Criminal Appeal quashed Dundalk man, Colm Murphy's conviction and 14-year sentence. Colm Murphy was charged with conspiracy to cause an explosion and tried by the Dublin, non-jury Special Criminal Court in January 2002. He appealed the conviction and sentence in a hearing before the three-judge Court of Appeal in December 2004.In its judgement the Court of Criminal Appeal, found that the conviction was 'unsafe' on two grounds. The first ground related to the fact that the non-jury, three-judge Special Criminal Court had been willing to accept unquestioned 26-County police evidence despite the fact that there was clear evidence before the court that two Special Branch men had altered their interview notes and had lied under oath, committing, what Colm Murphy's Defence Counsel, Michael O Higgins described as a "massive perjury". The two members of the 26 County Special Branch concerned, John Fahy and Liam Donnelly are currently awaiting trial on perjury charges before the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court The second ground was that the non - jury Special Court had breached Colm Murphy's right to a presumption of innocence by using inadmissible evidence of previous convictions in arriving at its decision to convict.
The Vice-President of Republican Sinn Fein, Des Dalton said: "Republican Sinn Fein welcomes the Dublin Court of Criminal Appeal's quashing on Friday January 21 of Colm Murphy's conviction and 14 -year sentence by the non-jury Special Court. However we deplore the court's decision to send Colm Murphy back for retrial on evidence which has been clearly discredited. On top of this they imposed prohibitive bail sureties amounting to 120.000 euros even though his application for bail was unchallenged. The fact that the non - jury Special Criminal Court was willing to convict Colm Murphy based on evidence which it is unlikely would have been accepted by a conventional court, as well as infringing his right to presumption of innocence, highlights the assault on basic human and civil rights which the non-jury Special Court and the draconian Offences Against the State Act represent.
"In its most recent observations on the 26 County State's human rights record in 2000 the UN Human Rights Committee called on the Dublin Government to dismantle the non-jury Special Criminal Court. Despite this the Dublin Government announced in December that it intended opening a second non-jury Special Criminal Court. It would appear that the Dublin Government remains determined to use all the draconian legislation, at its disposal, regardless of the impact on Human Rights, to suppress those who refuse to accept or compromise with British rule in Ireland and oppose the Stormont Agreement".
3. McDowell Is Wrong REPUBLICAN
Sinn Féin Vice-President, Des Dalton, Kildare said on January 19 that the assertion by 26 County Justice Minister, Michael McDowell in the Irish Times (January 15) that Republican Sinn Féin was simply "using the label" Sinn Féin and was not the same organisation founded 100 years ago was factually wrong.He went on: "Republican Sinn Féin has an unbroken continuity from 1905 to the present day. Since 1917 we have maintained intact the constitution of Sinn Féin whilst over the years others have breached that constitution and left the Sinn Féin organisation such as Cumann na nGaedheal/Fine Gael, Fianna Fail, Clann na Poblachta, the Worker's Party and the Provisionals.
"In fact the constitution of Sinn Féin states clearly that acceptance of British rule in Ireland or participation in either Westminster of the two partitionist Assemblies of Stormont and Leinster House is incompatible with membership of Sinn F=E9in."
4. Jailing Of Derry Man 'A Disgrace'
A DERRYMAN, Martin Doherty, on Wednesday, January 19, became the first person to be jailed as a result of the British Army's killing of 14 unarmed people and the wounding of 13 others in Derry 33 years ago.Martin Doherty who was granted anonymity by the British established Saville Inquiry into the events of Bloody Sunday, and given the codename 'Provisional IRA 9' was arrested at his home at Fanad Drive in the Creggan area of Derry city.
Martin Doherty was given a three-month sentence at the Belfast High Court on January 7 for being in contempt of court after he refused to give evidence to the Saville Inquiry.
Protesting the sentence outside of Derry's Guildhall were people who were wounded on Bloody Sunday as well as relatives of those who were killed by the infamous British Parachute Regiment. Michael McKinney, speaking on behalf of the victim's families said: "It is disgraceful that after everything that has occurred at this inquiry that the only person to be arrested and imprisoned to date will be a Derry man who clearly did not murder anyone on Bloody Sunday." He continued: "It was not Martin Doherty who killed or wounded people then, but of those were responsible, none has been arrested and none has been imprisoned for their actions that day. Martin Doherty has shown a lot less contempt for this inquiry than those who took the stand and refused to take the stand and refused to answer questions or told downright lies." "Indeed, if the judicial system had pursued those responsible for Bloody Sunday as they have pursued Mr Doherty, we would not have witnessed the whitewash if Widgery or indeed this second Bloody Sunday inquiry," Michael McKinney said.
In a statement Republican Sinn Féin pointed out: "It is an indictment of the British Justice system that following a 434 day inquiry, the only person to be imprisoned is a Derry man who clearly did not kill anyone on Bloody Sunday. The jailing of Martin Doherty confirms the fears of many that the Saville Inquiry will amount to yet another whitewash, merely Widgery' Mark II." Meanwhile the Saville Inquiry announced that it is to reconvene in London later this month to hear the evidence of a man known as 'Witness x' who denies having told the RUC that he was a member of the IRA, and that on Bloody Sunday he fired two magazines from a carbine rifle into Glenfada Park.
5. VANDALISM TO RUSSELL MONUMENT DENOUNCED
IN A statement on January 8, Des Dalton, Vice President, Republican Sinn Féin, said:"Republican Sinn Féin roundly denounces those who vandalised the Seán Russell monument in Dublin's Fairview Park over the Christmas period.
"Those who carried out this mindless attack displayed a lack of even a most basic political understanding of Seán Russell or Irish revolutionary history. Seán Russell was present at the foundation of the Irish Volunteers in 1913. He was out in 1916 and was a member of the GHQ Staff of the IRA during the Tan war. He opposed the Treaty of Surrender and played an active part in the civil war/counter - revolution of 1922\23 and remained an active Republican up to his death in 1940. Russell was a separatist and a Fenian and should be viewed in the same context as Roger Casement in 1916. Russell's sole political motivation was Breaking the connection with England and securing Ireland's right to national independence.
"It is ironic that Russell should be now labelled a fascist, following the unveiling of the statue in 1951, which was modelled on a photograph of Seán Russell speaking at Tara, Co Meath at Easter 1938 which showed him holding his speech in one hand whilst extending the other in making a rhetorical point, the extended arm was viewed as a communist salute and was broken off the statue on numerous occasions leading to the remodelling of the statue.
"Both sets of vandals, be it those who in the 1950s who viewed it as a pro-communist symbol or those more recent vandals who have labelled Seán Russell as a fascist both display an equal ignorance and complete lack of any political understanding or maturity."
6. RSF THE SOLE INHERITORS OF THE SINN FEIN MANTLE
On January 7 Des Dalton, Vice President, Republican Sinn Féin issued a statement stating that Republican Sinn Féin were the "sole inheritors of the Sinn Féin mantle".He continued: "As we in Republican Sinn Féin embark on this the centenary year of the foundation of Sinn Féin in 1905 it is necessary to point out that whilst other political organisations such as Fine Gael, Fianna Fail, The Workers' Party and the Provisionals may attempt to claim lay claim to the right of celebrating this centenary, Republican Sinn Féin are the sole inheritors of the Sinn Féin mantle. We have an unbroken continuity over the past 100 years. In that 100 years numerous group have broken with Sinn Féin and subsequently were absorbed into the partitionist system north and south.
"At every juncture since the adoption of a Republican constitution in 1917 Republican Sinn Féin have adhered to and defended that constitution, which states clearly that the fundamental principles of the organisation are: (a) That the allegiance of Irishmen and Irishwomen is due to the sovereign Irish Republic proclaimed in 1916 and established by the First Dáil Eireann on 21 January 1919, and (B) That the sovereignty and unity of the Republic are inalienable and non - judicable. First and second among its stated objects are:
(A) The complete overthrow of British Rule in Ireland and the establishment of a Federal Democratic Socialist Republic based on the Proclamation of 1916.
(B) To bring the proclamation of the Republic, Easter 1916, into effective operation and to maintain and consolidate the Government of the Republic, representative of the people of all Ireland, based on that proclamation."Now as we prepare to commemorate and celebrate our centenary we call on all of those who have long since abandoned the separatist ethos upon which Sinn Féin was founded to refrain from the pretence that they have any link to the historic Sinn Féin organisation. Further we would call on the Provisionals to follow the example of the Workers' Party and end their use of the title Sinn Fein.
"They have dishonoured this honourable and historic name long enough. Sinn Féin was founded with the objective of removing Irish participation in the British parliament at Westminster and creating an All-Ireland Parliament, those who draw salaries from or opened offices in Westminster whilst also participating in the partitionist assemblies of Stormont and Leinster House have long since abandoned the very title deeds of Sinn Feiin."
7. Tomás O'Curraoin Selected to Contest Adarás na Gaeltachta Elections
AT a selection convention held in Bearna on January 15, Tomás O' Curraoin was selected to stand in the Adarás na Gaeltachta Elections, to be held in April.Tomás, from Bearna, also stood in the last year's Co Council elections, where he received 1,070 first-preference votes, a tally which increased to 1,345 before he was eliminated on the second-last count.
Chairing the convention, RSF Vice-President, Des Dalton, from Kildare, said that he was delighted that Republican Sinn Féin would be represented by Tomás O'Curraoin in this year's Adarás elections, and that he felt that Tomás had an excellent chance this time of winning a seat, especially after the large vote he received in last year's Local elections.
Tomás O'Curraoin is a native of Na Fothra=ED Maola, Bearna, and is employed by O'Malley Construction. He is particularly well known in GAA circles, through his involvement with Bearna/Na Forbacha hurling club, at underage and adult levels, and also through his activities as a hurling referee.
Speaking after the convention, Tomás said that he was honoured to receive the nomination from Republican Sinn Fein, and that he was looking forward to the election campaign. "=DAdarás na Gaeltachta badly needs more powers - and we have been campaigning for them for many years - powers over roads, planning, water, communications, infrastructure - in order to save the Irish language and develop the people of the Gaeltacht. Self-government is what is needed for the Gaeltacht", said Tomás O'Curraoin.
8. SUSPENDED SENTENCE FOR POLICEMAN WHO STRUCK PROTESTER
A 26-COUNTY policeman was give a one-month suspended sentence at Dublin District Court on January 14 after being found guilty of attacking a 'Reclaim the Street's protester in May 2002.Video footage showed Paul Daly striking the protestor, Emmet Bunting a teacher from Dublin, across the body after Mr Bunting had fallen to the ground having been struck by another unidentified policeman. Daly is among several Gardai who have been charged with assault in relation to street protests in May 2002 and 2003.
Eight of them have been acquitted so far despite the fact that one of them, Garda Corcoran, admitted he had struck a protestor, Brian Hayden, Tallaght, Dublin, across the head with his baton but was was acquitted by a jury in September 2004. As a result of the blow Brian Hayden received eight stitches on the crown of his head.
9. FURTHER REPRESSION IN STORE FOR THOSE WHO OPPOSE THE STORMONT AGREEMENT
IN A statement on January 5 Republican Sinn Féin spokesperson Des Long from Corbally in Limerick said that the current political impasse in relation to the Northern conflict had grave implications for all those Republicans who continue to oppose the Agreement.He went on: "The decision by the Dublin Administration to open a second Special non-jury Court in Dublin and the declared intention of the leader of Fianna Fail to "round up" all those who oppose the Stormont deal is indicative of a mind set ready to introduce and oversee internment." "Our information is that a special committee has been set up to project various outcomes of the failure of the Agreement and one is the introduction of internment for all those who continue to oppose the Stormont deal.
"Already true Republicans who oppose the sell out and surrender policies of the Provos are being harassed and intimidated and imprisoned on the word of a lone policeman.
"The Dublin Administration is now taking advantage of the so-called American and British "war on terrorism" to bring in yet another Special Court to stifle genuine opposition to the deal that reinforces partition and copper-fastens British rule in Ireland.
"The lessons of history teach us that for as along as our country is occupied by forces of a foreign power there will be men and women ready to oppose such occupation. The fact is the Stormont deal has failed and now it is time to examine alternatives such as British withdrawal and the establishment of a new four-province federal Ireland."
10. DUBLIN GOVERNMENT STANCE ON CYPRUS IS HYPOCRITICAL
"THE concern expressed by the leader of the Dublin government, Bertie Ahern at the failure of the Turkey to recognise the Cypriot government in advance of EU accession talks next year is in stark contrast to its willingness to sign away Ireland's right to national sovereignty and territorial integrity," Des Dalton, Vice-President, Republican Sinn Féin said on December 19. "As we pointed out earlier this year, the EU's position regarding their support for the ending of Turkish occupation and the reunification of Cyprus prior to that country deciding to join the EU whilst welcome, is at odds with their willingness to ignore the partition and British occupation of Ireland ever since the 26 County state joined the then EEC in 1973. "Britain remains an outstanding example of a member of the EU who claims sovereignty over and maintains a military presence in the territory of another member. When all of this is considered one can only conclude that the position taken by both the Dublin government and the EU regarding Cyprus is hypocritical."
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