> IRISH NEWS ROUND-UP > http://irlnet.com/rmlist/ > > Thursday/Friday, 8/9 June, 2000 > > > 1. CRISIS LOOMS OVER POLICE BILL > 2. Family esapes lethal pipe bomb attack > 3. Ahern calls for independent inquiry into Hamill murder > 4. Woman chased by British Army helicopter > 5. Bloody Sunday Soldier was told to lie > 6. 'Tour of the North' rerouted > 7. New SF candidates in North Belfast > 8. German store sacks five over union membership > 9. Review: The Songs of Elizabeth Cronin, Irish Trad. Singer > 10. Feature: Putting equality centre stage > 11. Analysis: Heroin deaths and political corruption > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > >>>>>> CRISIS LOOMS OVER POLICE BILL > > > Sinn Fein warned the British government today [Saturday] that > there was a growing crisis over policing in the North of Ireland > which has the potential to unravel the peace process. > > The republicans said the Policing Bill, which passed its Second > Reading in the House of Commons this week, was unacceptable and > needed to be amended. > > Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams said Britain's Secretary of State > Peter Mandelson had a "huge distance" to cover if he was to > implement Patten, and indications that it would be amended were > not good enough. > > Nationalists see the Police Bill as a far too watered-down > version of what Patten envisaged. The Patten report was itself a > difficult compromise for those who called for the outright > disbandment of the 92% Protestant RUC. > > Said Adams: "I am not persuaded at all by the protestations of > the British Government and Peter Mandelson. > > "They have moved a huge distance away from the Patten > recommendations and they still have a huge distance to cover to > get back to them," he said. > > "Unless this happens any hope of having a fair policing service > will become nothing more than an aspiration," he said in Dublin > as he attended the meeting of the Sinn Fein Ard Chomhairle > [leadership]. > > Across the border, party colleague and Assembly member Gerry > Kelly spoke to BBC radio on the same issue. > > He said: "There is a crisis, a real crisis. As this Bill stands, > who could ask a nationalist, or what nationalist would decide, to > join such a policing service?" > > Mr Kelly added: "We have a large obstacle to get over. This is > very fundamental, a touch-stone issue for the whole Good Friday > Agreement and for moving out of conflict." He said the Bill as it > stood was "absolutely the wrong Bill to do it with". Mr Kelly > said: "Patten was a compromise. What is happening now is that you > have Patten and people are looking for another compromise > somewhere away from Patten." > > He ageed the issue had the ability to unpick everything achieved > so far, adding: "let's try to get it right". > > MPs OPPOSE BILL > > Earlier this week, a Westminster meeting expressed the growing > concern and anger over the failure of the Policing Bill to > implement the Good Friday Agreement's commitment to a new > beginning for policing in the north of Ireland. > > The meeting, organised by the cross party pressure group Friends > of Ireland - Friends of the Good Friday Agreement, had been > called to coincide with the eve of the second reading of the > Bill. The wide-ranging audience, filling the Commons Westminster > Hall, encompassed MPs, members of the House of Lords, > representatives of Irish community organisations and lobby > groups. Speakers and contributions from the floor reflected the > seriousness of the issue, which was at the heart of the Agreement. > > Professor Brendan O'Leary attacked the "serious weakening" of the > powers of the police board and condemned the bill as "drafted by > the forces of conservatism for the forces of conservatism". He > said: "Patten didn't go as far as some of us wanted. Nonetheless, > it deserved a fair wind - it is not getting that in the Policing > Bill." He added: "Those of us who worked hard on the Commission > feel betrayed by the Bill." > > Kevin McNamara MP said the issue of policing is "the most > important point of all the issues in the Good Friday Agreement". > He cited examples of shoot-to-kill policy, collusion, destruction > of evidence by the security services, the case of Robert Hamill > and the "catologue of daily harassment as evidence of 'the need > for a new beginning'". > > The London pressure group will be campaigning on this issue with > other organisations in Ireland and abroad for the duration of > the Bill's passage through parliament, which is likely to last > until at least July and possibly beyond. > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > >>>>>> Family esapes lethal pipe bomb attack > > > A loyalist pipe bomb attack on a family in south Down is believed > to have been a sectarian murder attempt. > > A mother and her 20-year-old daughter are still in shock after > they narrowly escaped injury in the attack at their home in > Annalong on Thursday night. > > Last night police revealed that the pipe bomb was similar to one > found in nearby Clough within the last two months. > > Anne-Marie Cowen and daughter Marie were at both at home when an > explosion rocked their house shortly after 11pm. > > "Our street is very mixed - we just can't understand why someone > had to do something like this," she said. > > Mrs Cowen was watching television when the device was hurled at > the rear of her home. It blew the back door off the house and > caused extensive damage to the kitchen, shattering the window. > > "I was sitting in the living room when I heard this massive > bang," she said. "Marie was upstairs in bed so I shouted up to > make sure she was alright. Then I went into the kitchen - if > either of us had been in there at the time we would have been > killed." > > Meanwhile, an orchestrated attack against Gaelic sports > supporters travelling home from a football championship game > could have ended in tragedy, said the driver of a stoned bus. > > In a planned ambush, loyalists in Portadown dragged a pallet > across the road forcing vehicles travelling home from the match to > Lurgan to slow down. In one of several incidents, a bus driver > was injured when a brick was hurled at him, smashing one of the > vehicle's windows. A number of passengers were showered with > glass during the attack. > > A passenger described how the injured driver had managed to "keep > on driving and got us out of it". There were 16 people, including > several children, in the bus at the time of the attack. > > In another incident, two cars travelling along the same route and > carrying four women and six children were stoned. One woman from > Lurgan said her sister's car was attacked and the windscreen > smashed. > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > >>>>>> Ahern calls for independent inquiry into Hamill murder > > > > The British government is coming under increasing pressure to > launch an independent public inquiry into the murder of Robert > Hamill following intervention from the Irish Prime Minister, > Taoiseach Bertie Ahern. > > Father-of-three Mr Hamill was viciously beaten by loyalists in > Portadown in 1997 and died in hospital 11 days later from his > injuries. A four-strong RUC patrol witnessed the attack but did > not intervene. > > After a three year campaign, Bertie Ahern has finally agreed to > press British Prime Minister Tony Blair for an inquiry. On > Thursday he received a report on new evidence in the case from > Robert Hamill's sister, Diane, who has led the campaign for an > independent inquiry. > > The move follows a widely condemned decision by the Coroner's > Office not to hold an inquest into the murder. Local Assembly > member Dr Dara O'Hagan branded that decision a "disgrace". > > She said Mr Hamill and his family had been failed by the four RUC > personnel "who sat in a jeep as he was brutally kicked to death" > and by the RUC spin doctors "who put up a smokescreen of > misinformation" immediately after the fatal attack. > > She also criticised the subsequent RUC 'investigation' which > failed to convict anyone for his murder and the RUC disciplinary > inquiry which failed to hold any of the four RUC members > accountable. > > Speaking after a meeting with the Hamill family in Dublin > yesterday, Mr Ahern said there were "very serious and unanswered > questions" about the role of the RUC at the time of the attack. > > "The Robert Hamill case is a matter of urgent public interest," > the Taoiseach said yesterday. > > "The issues of concern in this case must be satisfactorily > addressed in a manner which will command the confidence of the > community. The government are, therefore, of the view that this > case should be the subject of an independent public inquiry." > > Mr Hamill's sister Diane, who attended the meeting with her > husband, family lawyer Barra McGrory and Martin O'Brien of the > Committee on the Administration of Justice, welcomed the latest > development. > > "We are absolutely delighted with how the meeting went and if we > keeping pushing for an inquiry they (British government) will > have to give it to us," she said last night. > > "We remain determined to have the truth established about what > occurred that night, and the subsequent failures in the police > investigation of the murder." > > This week, New York Congressman Joseph Crowley added his voice to > the call for an independent inquiry in the Hamill murder. > > Diane Hamill testified before the US House International > Relations Committee last year. Crowley recalled how she > described "in vivid detail" the harassment she has been subjected > to and the lack of support she has received from the British > government. > > He said the Belfast Coroner's decision was "unacceptable" and > urged fellow Congress members to support a letter to Secretary of > State Peter Mandelson asking for a formal investigation. > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > >>>>>> Woman chased by British Army helicopter > > > An incident in south Armagh in which a woman was hounded by a > low-flying British Army helicopter has led to renewed calls for > the grounding of Britis helicopters in the North of Ireland. > > The woman, who declined to be named, was forced to take refuge in > a friend's house after being pursued on the Glassdrummond Road > near Crossmaglen shortly after 5pm on Tuesday. > > "I was driving along the road when the helicopter started > following me - at one point I thought it was going to land in > front of the car," she said. > > "It was completely terrifying because it flew so close to the car > and the noise scared the life out of me. > > "I don't know what they were playing at but I had to pull into a > friend's house and it's left me totally shaken." > > The report sparked angry reaction from Sinn Fein assembly member > Conor Murphy who called on the army to cease helicopter activity > in South Armagh. > > "This is the latest in a series of these incidents and I am > calling on the British army to stop this intimidation and ground > all helicopters in south Armagh," he said. > > The call was repeated by the South Armagh Farmers and Residents > Committee which highlighted concerns over the Lynx helicopter's > safety record. > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > >>>>>> Bloody Sunday Soldier was told to lie > > > A soldier involved in the 1972 Bloody Sunday massacre was > instructed by military police to add evidence that he did not see > to his account of what happened, the new Bloody Sunday inquiry > has been told. > > In a statement made immediately following the killing of 14 civil > rights demonstrators, a soldier identified as Corporal 18 said > that he witnessed two other soldiers engaging a 'gunman' at > Rossville flats. > > But in a statement to the Saville inquiry, the soldier has now > admitted he was looking out of the back of an armoured car and > was not in a position to see whether or not there was a gunman. > > Corporal 18 said: "The RMP (military police officer) told me that > he needed to include this to substantiate the details that had > been provided by my colleagues to show that when they fired they > did not hit anybody." > > The soldier said he was led to believe the details about the > gunman in Rossville flats were true. He also heard shots being > fired but had not seen a gunman. > > One of the two British soldiers who the corporal heard firing may > have killed Gerard Donaghy. > > The soldier, identified as Private G at Widgery, was the only > soldier to admit firing into an alleyway leading to Abbey Park. > > A bullet subsequently taken from Gerard Donaghy's body matched > Private G's gun. > > Expressing surprise that no-one picked up on Soldier G's > admission at the Widgery inquiry, counsel to the Saville inquiry > Christopher Clarke QC said yesterday: "This is a very puzzling > piece of evidence in more than one respect." > > Mr Clarke said Private G's evidence also indicated more bullets > were fired in the Glenfada Park area on Bloody Sunday than > Widgery accounted for in his final report. > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > >>>>>> 'Tour of the North' rerouted > > > Nationalists in north Belfast last night welcomed the Parades > Commission decision to reroute a contentious loyalist parade away > from Catholic areas. > > Last night the commission ruled that the Tour of the North march > next Friday should follow the same route imposed two years ago. > > The parade has been prohibited from marching along Cliftonpark > Avenue beyond Alloa Street, and along Cliftonville Road, Antrim > Road and the section of Duncairn Gardens between Antrim Road and > Edingham Street. > > A statement from the Parades Commission said: "We note the > potential for public disorder associated with the parade and that > the consequences of the disorder four years ago have had > repercussions for both sides of the local community which have > continued to the present. > > "Above all, however, we have taken into account the complex > question of the impact of the parade on relationships within the > community. > > "We conclude that there would undoubtedly be a serious, adverse > impact on these relationships should the parade proceed as > notified." > > Encouraging efforts for dialogue, the commission pointed out that > the Orange Order has maintained its position of refusing to > engage in talks with residents or the commission. > > Manus Maguire, of the Cliftonville Joint Development Group, last > night welcomed the decision: "The last thing this community > needed was an Orange parade. We are still trying to pick up the > pieces from 1996 and we think we are making progress." > > Sinn Fein MLA for the area Gerry Kelly welcomed the decision. > > "I think what has to be pointed out is that there has been no > contact from the Orange side even though the residents have > always made it clear they wanted contact." > > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > >>>>>> New SF candidates in North Belfast > > > Sinn Fein has announced three new council candidates to replace > Bobby Lavery, Gerard Brophy and Mick Conlon in the Oldpark Ward. > > The new candidates are Cathy Stanton, Margaret McClenaghan and > Eoin O'Broin. Outgoing councillor Gerard Brophy said that the new > Sinn Fein team would combine a wealth of experience in party > political and community activity, with the energy and commitment > required to succeed in local politics. > > "As part of Sinn Fein's commitment to encouraging more women and > young people into political life, we have chosen a new team to > represent Oldpark. > > "Cathy, Margaret and Eoin have a proven track record as both > community workers and Sinn Fein activists. I have every > confidence that they will continue to serve the ward with the > excellence and determination which has characterised Sinn Fein in > the last number of years." > > Thirty five-year-old Cathy Stanton was born and bred in the New > Lodge and became in politics during the hunger strikes of the > early 1980s. She served a sentence for possession of explosives > during the mid-80s. > > Since her release from prison Cathy Stanton has been involved in > a number of community projects in the New Lodge including the > festival, young parents groups, drug awareness, Bridge's Women's > group and the Women into Politics initiative. > > The New Lodge candidate is currently a development worker with An > Loiste Uir and works on a voluntary basis with the New Lodge > Community Restorative Justice programme. > > Forty six-year-old Margaret McClenaghan was born and rared in > Ardoyne, where she currently lives. Margaret McClenaghan became > involved in politics following internment in the early 1970s. She > was imprisoned in Armagh Prison for five years until 1978. > > Since then she has been involved in local politics and worked in > Sinn Fein advice centres for more than 20 years. > > Over the years Margaret McClenaghan has been involved in > residents groups, worked on housing and social welfare campaigns. > > Twenty eight-year-old Eoin O'Broin hails from Dublin but has > lived in the New Lodge for the last five years. > > O'Broin has been a full-time Sinn Fein activist since his arrival > in Belfast, first as a reporter with An Phoblacht and then as > National organiser for Sinn Fein Youth. More recently Eoin > O'Broin has worked in the Sinn Fein Press Office and currently > holds the position of Belfast Organiser. > > "My main concerns are unemployment, social and economic > deprivation, the lack of adequate youth and leisure provision and > the growing alienation of young people in our community. > > "I am keenly aware of the impact that Orange marches continue to > have on the nationalist communities of North Belfast whether it > is in the New Lodge, Oldpark, Whitewell or Bawnmore." > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > >>>>>> German store sacks five over union membership > > > Five members of the MANDATE union were sacked by management at > the Aldi store in Dublin as a dispute over union recognition > intensified this week. Union members placed pickets on the > supermarket following the refusal of Aldi management to recognise > the union at the supermarket store. > > Workers had sought to negotiate with management on promised bonus > payments and other issues. Aldi refused to negotiate and then > when the workers joined MANDATE, the company refused to recognise > the union. > > The company recognises and negotiates with unions in Germany and > Denmark, where it has a substantial presence in the retail > market. However in Ireland, Aldi has so far been able to take > advantage of our lax laws on union recognition. > > Sinn Fein Dublin City Councillor Nicky Kehoe said in a statement: > "It is ironic that in the same week the EU is trying to promote a > charter of rights that includes the right to join a trade union > and have it recognised by employers, those very rights are being > shamefully abused by a German company based in Dublin." > > Aldi is a low price high volume retailer and depends on high > customer numbers to make profits. The strike is clearly affecting > business in the store. > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > >>>>>> Review: The Songs of Elizabeth Cronin, Irish Trad. Singer > > Book and 2 CDs > Edited by Daibhi O Croinin > Four Courts Press > #24.95 > > > > Over a period of a few short years in the 1940s and 1950s, a > handful of collectors travelled Ireland and saved from complete > extinction a wealth of songs, music and stories in Irish and > English. Ironically the new recording technology which made it > possible to capture these traditional art forms was itself a part > of the massive social change which obliterated the context in > which this culture had thrived for countless generations. > > The term folk culture has gone out of fashion but it describes > traditional, popular and predominantly rural life throughout the > world, a life that remains only in isolated and threatened > communities. The heart of this culture was the oral tradition by > which the accumulated unwritten lore of centuries was passed on. > Ireland was fortunate in that much of that > > tradition survived to be recorded and preserved and to provide > inspiration and a rich vein of material for those later in the > 20th century who revived the music and song. > > It could not have been done without collectors such as the great > Seamus Ennis, and without the generosity of people like Bess > Cronin of Baile Mhuirne, West Cork. Like so many of the singers > and musicians recorded at that time, Bess emphasised that the > scores of songs she had were but a fraction of what her elders > had known. The collectors were conscious of their responsibility > to save what remained. Their achievement and that of the people > they recorded is in the living tradition of today and in > publications such as this. > > This is a superb collection of over 80 songs recorded from Bess > Cronin. They are presented in two CDs and in a beautifully > arranged and scholarly book with all the song words and music and > copious notes. While Bess has been a source of songs for many > contemporary singers and her reputation has become legendary, the > recordings were never before available to the general public. > Here they are now and all credit to Bess?s grandson Daibhi O > Croinin for this excellent production. > > I can't finish this review without quoting from Bold Jack > Donohue, both a 'United man' and a 'Fenian Boy' in Bess's > version: > > 'To resign to you, you cowardly dog, is something I ne'er shall > do! > > I'd rather fight with all my might!' said famed Jack Donohue; > > 'I'll range those woods and valleys like a wolf or a kangaroo, > > Before I'd work for governments!' said famed Jack Donohue. > > BY MICHEAL MacDONNCHA > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > >>>>>> Feature: Putting equality centre stage > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------- > Una Gillespie is the Director of the West Belfast Economic Forum > and a former Sinn Fein councillor. During a period of > consultation, in which groups and agencies will be sending > submissions to the Equality Commission, Una addresses the > equality agenda. > ---------------------------------------------------------------- > > > Equality was enshrined at the heart of the Good Friday Agreement. > For the first time, it was acknowledged by the British government > that systematic discrimination against Catholics, which has been > endemic in this state, must now be dealt with in a structured > fashion. > > Under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement, enshrined in > legislation in the Northern Ireland Act 1998, public bodies are > now required to design and implement equality schemes. > > The statutory duty requires public bodies to produce schemes to > ensure promotion of equality of opportunity between different > groups specified as: > > Persons of different religious belief and political opinion; > racial groups, age, marital status, sexual orientation, men and > women generally, persons with a disability and those without; > persons with dependants and those without. > > The consultation period for the draft equality schemes closes on > 30 June, by which date all public bodies must have submitted > their equality schemes to the equality commission for approval. > > These draft quality schemes should be important tools for > implementing the equality agenda. However, like other fundamental > aspects of the Agreement, the equality agenda and provisions for > its implementation have been subject both to interference from > the British government and from civil servants within the various > departments who do not want to see equality as central to the > functions and policy development of departments and related > bodies. > > We are in real danger of seeing the equality agenda buried in > paperwork and bureaucracy rather than prioritised as a live issue > with the potential to make a real impact on the quality of life > for people living in areas that have borne the brunt of the > conflict and of discrimination by the British government. > > While groups have been inundated with 120 draft schemes from > various bodies, the ones that are not yet designated are equally > important. Some of the worst offenders in relation to employment > of Catholics are not yet required to produce equality schemes. > These include the RUC, Queens University and the University of > Ulster. > > Other organisations within departments with a large chunk of > public money at their disposal are not producing their own > equality schemes. Therefore, organisations with a dismal > performance in the promotion of employment opportunities in > Catholic areas, such as the IDB, are effectively off the hook and > can continue in their discriminatory fashion. > > Peter Mandelson's failure to issue a designation order is making > a joke of the equality agenda by leaving it to public bodies > themselves to decide whether or not to develop an equality > scheme. These public bodies will, therefore, be required to do > nothing to redress the inequalities between the two communities > and the British government have once again failed in their > responsibilities under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement. > > Added to these shortcomings is an Equality Commission which to > date appears to have extreme difficulty acknowledging that there > is religious discrimination against Catholics. Members of their > staff have told us that they prefer to talk about social and > economic disadvantage and will be applying that across the board > in the two communities. > > The Equality Commission has also recently announced grants to > groups in defined categories under section 75 of the NI Act. They > have, however, chosen to exclude groups working in the area of > religious belief and political opinion. We have been told that > their staff will work with groups on this issue. Such > discrimination is unacceptable and will be challenged. > > For nationalist communities throughout the Six Counties, this > means that they will be denied access to funding to enable them > to facilitate discussion on and to monitor the impact of the > equality schemes on the religious differentials in employment in > their areas. > > The legacy of inequality and discrimination experienced by the > Catholic community runs through all aspects of life in this > state, from employment and education to use of public space and > provision of amenities. > > The reality of economic discrimination means that Catholic men > remain three times more likely to be unemployed than their > Protestant counterparts. If equality between all of the people of > the north of Ireland is to be achieved, then discrimination must > be challenged and brought to an end. > > The letter delivered to the political parties by Bertie Ahern and > Tony Blair clearly spoke of the significance of section 75 in > working towards equality and the eradication of discrimination. > To date, the British government and the Equality Commission are > proving that they are not up to that challenge. It is up to us to > make sure that they face their responsibilities. > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > >>>>>> Analysis: Heroin deaths and political corruption > > > The recent spate of deaths among heroin addicts in Dublin due to > a 'mysterious illness' has prompted a great deal of media > attention and claims from many quarters of a heroin crisis. > > Speculation over the causes of the eight dead heroin addicts > include the increasing availability of cheaper and purer heroin, > some newly emerged illness, or a form of bacterium that becomes > volatile in the absence of oxygen. > > Now the Dublin government, the Eastern Regional Health Authority, > as well as elements in the media and the political establishment, > are calling the heroin situation a crisis - only now. If this all > seems like deja vu, it is because some of those who died in > recent weeks were only toddlers when heroin began to scourge > working-class communities around Dublin. These communities have > in the last 20 years seen the growth in the use of this drug and > the damage it has caused to the fabric of community life, > especially among young people. > > It is hugely frustrating to all those touched by the devastation > and death that only now are people in positions of power waking > up to the reality of the situation and that by tomorrow, they > will probably have buried their heads in the sand yet again. > > The talents, hopes and futures of many Irish people have been > lost because the establishment is apathetic when it comes to > those who live on the margins of society. 'Mystery illness' or > not, there is no real mystery as to the root cause of the disease > and death associated with heroin abuse. > > The cause is perfectly clear - a rotten system run by rotten and > corrupt politicians who care more about lining their own pockets > than tackling the deprivation and ghettoisation of whole sections > of society. > > Jail sentences for drug dealers are far from enough, and despite > the demise of one dealer in death, Derek Dunne, there are always > more bottom feeders ready to exploit society's misery. What is > required is a comprehensive drugs policy encompassing > prevention, treatment, and after care. This can only work, > however, in the context of a broader approach of radical social > and economic change. > > > > > > > c. RM Distribution and others. Articles may be reprinted with credit. > > =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= > RM Distribution > Irish Republican News and Information > http://irlnet.com/rmlist/ > > PO Box 160, Galway, Ireland Phone/Fax: (353)1-6335113 > PO Box 8630, Austin TX 78713, USA mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > > =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= > > > RMD1000610133537p3 >
