PART 2 > IRISH NEWS ROUND-UP > http://irlnet.com/rmlist/ > > Wednesday/Thursday, 28/29 June, 2000 > ------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > >>>>>> Over 4,000 complaints against RUC > > > > A staggering 4,222 complaints were received against the RUC in > the year 1998/99, according to the latest Annual Report of the > Six-County Police Authority (PANI). Of these complaints, 1,778 > alone were for assault and a further 646 complaints were received > for what has been politely termed as "incivility" (that is, > sectarian abuse) by police officers. Neglect of duty accounted > for 508 complaints and "oppressive conduct and harassment" a > further 498. > > Astonishingly, the Police Authority views these figures as > something of a success, pointing to a 24% drop from a total of > 5,545 complaints received for the year 1997/98, citing the > "improved security situation" and, oddly, "better health and > safety standards". 1997/98 however, saw a particularly high level > of complaints against the police, whereas the latest results > conform more closely to a typical year. Further, in 1998/99 there > were 30 proven cases of "irregularity re evidence" and of > perjury, an increase on the previous year's total of 22. "Corrupt > practices" were also up, with the RUC admitting to six cases in > 1998/99 compared to four the previous year. > > The level of compensation to victims of police misconduct has > also risen steadily over the past three years, from #1,366,000 in > 1996/97, to #1,681,000 in 1997/98 to #2,423,000 for 1998/99. Of > this, the greatest amount - some #1,286,000 - was paid in 178 > out-of-court settlements, highlighting the difficulty in bringing > police officers to court to answer for their misdemeanours. A > total #983,000 was awarded in 318 successful claims against the > Chief Constable. The number of successful claims, as well as the > amount paid out, was also up on previous years. A further > #154,000 was paid in compensation for 203 claims for damage to > property. > > In respect of some of the most controversial issues surrounding > the activities of the RUC over the past 18 months, the Authority > criticises the UN Special Rapporteur, Dato Param Cumaraswamy, for > his report into the harassment and intimidation of solicitors by > the RUC. The Authority claims that Mr Cumaraswamy had "uncovered > little or no supporting evidence" for his statement that > solicitors were routinely harassed by the police and often > "identified with the cause of their clients". The report goes on > to congratulate the Chief Constable on his "bold, imaginative and > entirely novel actions" in conducting the inquiry into the murder > of Rosemary Nelson and also exonerates the RUC from any charges > of misconduct in the case of Robert Hamill. > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > >>>>>> Sligo set to elect Sinn Fein Mayor > > > Sligo Corporation is set to elect a Sinn Fein mayor at its AGM on > Monday when the present deputy mayor, Alderman Sean MacManus, > will be nominated for the position. If elected as expected, it > will be the first time that Sinn Fein has held the position of > mayor anywhere in the 26 Counties since 1967 when, ironically, > the late Councillor Norbert Ferguson was elected mayor of Sligo. > > This latest development follows the recent election of Councillor > Cathal Crumley as Mayor of Derry, the first Sinn Fein mayor in > the Six Counties since partition. Sean MacManus, a member of Sinn > Fein's ruling Ard Chomhairle and a senior member of the party's > negotiating team throughout the peace process, is a member of > both Sligo Corporation and Sligo County Council. He received over > 20,000 votes in last year's European elections in the > Connaught/Ulster constituency and has been selected as the Sinn > Fein candidate in Sligo/Leitrim for the next general election. > This is one of the key constituencies targeted by the party where > Sinn Fein believes it can win Dail seats this time around. > > MacManus said: "I am confident that Sinn Fein will be successful > in securing the position of Mayor of Sligo next Monday, 3 July. > As a Sinn Fein mayor, the people of Sligo will have a working man > representing the ordinary people of Sligo, providing the dynamic > for change and increased openness in local government. This > mayoral term will be distinguished by its republican/labour > character and the fact that it will be a mayoralty of and for the > ordinary worker and local communities in Sligo." > > He added: "We will utilise the mayoralty to spearhead resistance > to the government's efforts to downgrade Sligo Corporation and to > secure City Borough status for Sligo. The people of Sligo will > have a strong voice to stand up for them, defend and promote > their interests and needs and provide effective and honest > leadership at a time when people are increasingly disillusioned > with the establishment parties. > > "We will ensure that the workings and decisions of the > Corporation will become increasingly open, accountable and > transparent." > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > >>>>>> 'Irish people deserve new political dispensation' > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------- > The following is the prepared text of the remarks by Sinn Fein TD > Caoimghin O Caolain in support of the Dail motion of no > confidence in the coalition government. > ------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > Ba mhaith liom tacu leis an run. Nil muinin agam sa rialtas seo. > Nil muinin ag an pobal iontu agus nil muinin fiu ag alan da > theachtai anseo, ce go mbeidh siad ag votail ar a son ag deireadh > an lae. > > > I support the motion. I have no confidence in this Fianna > Fail/Progressive Democrats government. > > I acknowledge that this administration has played a positive role > in the peace process. I must state, notwithstanding my > disappointments and continuing concerns, that the focused > approach of the Taoiseach and of the current Minister for Foreign > Affairs have been important in achieving progress. > > I voted for Deputy Bertie Ahern for Taoiseach in 1997 solely on > the basis of his and his party's inclusive approach to the peace > process. At that time we were seeking to rebuild a process that > had foundered on the rock of unionist and British government > intransigence. I believe that I made the correct decision at that > time. Through all our efforts the peace process has been rebuilt > and we can at last look forward with more confidence than ever to > the full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement. > > The peace process is bigger than any one leader or any one party. > Nor can it be dependent on the survival of any single > administration in this State. My party, Sinn Fein, is not a > single-issue party and no government can be a single-issue > government. Therefore I cannot vote confidence in this government > solely on the basis of the peace process. For Sinn Fein the aim > of the peace process is the achievement of true equality in Irish > society and it is that deep commitment to equality which makes > this TD so critical of the overall record of the Fianna > Fail/Progressive Democrats Coalition. > > This Coalition has done nothing to address the fundamental > inequalities which blight our society. In health, in education, > in the workplace, in the desperation of tens of thousands of our > people to put a roof over their heads, the inequalities are > glaring and the gap between those with excess wealth and those > without the basic necessities has grown wider. At the same time > the ordinary supporters of the two largest parties, but in > particular those of Fianna Fail, have been sickened by the > betrayal of their trust which they have seen exposed almost every > day. Those who posed as the party of the people were and are, in > reality, the party in the pocket of the privileged. > > REAL OPPOSITON GROWING > > During the course of this Dail I have refrained from the politics > of play-acting, of laying the blame for all ills at the door of > the government. In this Dail and at local authority level my > approach has been to eschew opposition for opposition's sake. I > have come to each issue constructively and with a will to work > with those of different political opinion in order to deliver for > the people. Again and again I have been disappointed and I have > had to make clear my opposition to the course followed by this > administration. They have no will to share the wealth in this > society. > > There is a real opposition in this Dail, but it is not on the > Fine Gael or Labour benches. Those parties share in the > responsibility for the long-term failure of the political > establishment in this State to cherish all the children of the > nation equally. I have no confidence in them either. The deeply > flawed approach of Deputy Bruton to the peace process, which he > demonstrates almost on a weekly basis in this chamber, means that > his would be a most undesirable nomination for the position of > Taoiseach. As for social and economic policies the difference > between his party and the Taoiseach's is wafer thin. On key > issues they are at one and on a night of shame they stood > together here last October to bring this State into NATO's > Partnership for Peace in clear violation of the Taoiseach's > promise to the electorate. > > The real opposition is rising in the country. The development of > Sinn Fein on both sides of the Border is part of that movement. > So also is the growth in support for principled independent > candidates such as Deputy Healy and for the smaller parties. I > look forward to a general election when the change in the > political landscape which we have seen as a result of the peace > process will continue and when we can shape a new political > dispensation throughout this island. The Irish people deserve and > demand no less. > > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > >>>>>> Analysis: Red card looming for Ahern and Harney > > > BY ROBBIE MacGABHANN > > > > Some people think that sport and politics don't mix. Others argue > whether or not art mirrors nature, but what about when politics > mirrors sport? Strange as it may seem, the slow spiral of the > Dublin Government to a comfortable crash landing in the autumn > took on all the drama and spectacle of the Euro 2000 > championships this week. > > For example, Bertie Ahern is becoming more Keegan-like every day. > His hourlong radio interview last week on Today FM's Last Word > programme showed Ahern, like Keegan, a man clearly out of his > depth, with sad excuses for poor performance and absolutely no > concept of what went wrong and how to fix the obvious mistakes > being made. > > Worst still, like Kevin Keegan, Bertie Ahern has absolutely no > conception that as the Fianna Fail 'manager', he is ultimately > responsible for the party's mistakes, especially those that were > a direct result of decisions he took. > > Unfortunately, also like Keegan, there doesn't seem to be much > stomach within his own ranks to replace him just yet. Add to this > Mary 'Raul' Harney and you have the beginning of a clear trend. > > This week sees both Fianna Fail and the Progressive Democrats > riven with internal differences and wrangling over their > respective publicity debacles. > > Fianna Fail were still mopping up the O'Flaherty mess when the > twin incoming balls of another missing #100,000 donation and the > South Tipperary by election result hit the back of the net. > > Mary Harney, who is also still suffering from the O'Flaherty > debacle, had new problems this week. Now Harney has to contend > with a circuit court judgement that her comments about the > possibility of a Haughey conviction for obstructing the work of > the McCracken Tribunal have created a "real and substantial risk" > that he will not receive a fair trial. > > The Haughey judgement came as a cruel blow to the hapless Mary. > > Haughey has been the defining stamp on Mary Harney's political > career. She left Fianna Fail because of him and helped form the > PDs, the ashes of which she currently rakes over. > > The PDs, who secured Haughey's resignation from government in > 1992, surely should have been using the tribunals and the > accompanying court cases as grist to their mill. The whole slow > drip of Haughey's excess, the gifts of huge sums, the unpaid > taxes, the lavish lifestyle, the misappropriation of monies > donated for Brian Lenihan's medical costs as well as the Fianna > Fail leadership account should have been the time for Mary Harney > to shine > > Instead, a bit like Spain's Raul last Sunday, Harney missed the > open goal. > > Ahern was also raking over the ashes, not quite of a party in > collapse but one in obvious decline. The South Tipperary by > election showed that the Fianna Fail vote had effectively > collapsed, falling from 37.3% in 1997 to 22.8% last week. > > The election of Seamus Healy, described by one Sunday newspaper > as a 'left-wing republican', showed where the real threat to > Ahern and Harney is coming from. > > Here the soccer analogy ends, because though Fine Gael wear blue > they are miles away from the class shown by Italy or France in > the Euro Championships. In fact they are a bit alike that other > team in blue - Yugoslavia. They too collapse under pressure. > > Ahern and Harney are in no hurry to go to the people; the toe in > the water in South Tipp showed just how cold things are. It is > strange though, that with such good economic figures and such > potential to achieve positive results, we have a government so > indecisive and just plain bad. > > Considering the crowing and publicity hype shown by this > government over the past three year it seems strange that the > chant from the terraces is "you're not singing any more". However > this is the truth, Fianna Fail and the PDS had the potential to > do something really special in terms of government. They have > clearly blown it. > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > >>>>>> Events in Ireland and Britain > > > SF FUNDRAISER: Featuring the Irish Brigade. 8pm Friday 30 June, > Willies Andies Bar, MITCHELSTOWN, County Cork. Taille #5 > > IRISH REBEL NIGHT: Featuring the Bard of Armagh. Friday 30 June, > Molly Nahuire's pub, BALLYCONNELL, County Cavan > > WELCOME-HOME FUNCTION: For ex-POW Denis Kinsella. 8.30pm Friday > 30 June, CPM Social Club, CLONDALKIN, Dublin. Taille #4. Ballads > by Celtic Mist > > IRISH NIGHT: Featuring Sean Nos. Friday 30 June, Hugh Byrne's, > Louth Village, DUNDALK, County Louth. > > REPUBLICAN FUNCTION: Featurng the Irish Brigade. 8pm Saturday 1 > July, CIE Club, Arcadia, CORK. Tickets #5, available from SF > office, Barrack St. Organised by the Cork Republican > Commemoration Committee > > ANTI-ORANGE PARADE PROTEST: The Springfield Road Residents Group > will hold protests against the Whiterock Orange parade, due to > march along the Springfield Road, at the end of June. Assemble > 4.30pm Lanark Way on Thursday and 1pm on Friday > > WELCOME-HOME FUNCTION: For Frankie Rafferty. 8pm Friday 7 July, > Mother Red Cap's, Christchurch, DUBLIN. Taille #5. Tickets usual > outlets or from Ken Fitzgerald on 086-8412880 > > SF FUNCTION: Featuring the Irish Brigade. 8.30pm Friday 7 July, > Blake's Tavern, BLANCHARDSTOWN, County Dublin. Raffle and spot > prizes on night. Taille #5 CANCELLED > > CSC FUNCTION: Featuring the Blaney Pilgrims. 9pm Friday 7 July, > Seapoint House, Ringsend, DUBLIN. Taille #8 (limited to 200 > tickets). Contact Noel on 086-8474841 > > VOLUNTEER COMMEMORATION: Annual Volunteer Jackie Griffith > commemoration. Assemble 2.30pm Saturday 8 July, Ringsend Village, > DUBLIN, and march to Holles Street. Prominent speaker. Organised > by the Jackie Griffith/Mairead Farrell Sinn Fein Cumann > > IRISH NIGHT: Featurng Charlie and the Bhoys. Saturday 8 July, > Caesar's Nite club, DUNDALK, County Louth > > COISTE NA NIARCHIMI LAUNCH: 26 Counties launch. 4pm Saturday 8 > July, Dominick Court Offices, 41A Lower Dominick Street, DUBLIN. > Guest spekaers: Brian Keenan, ex-POW and Mike Ritchie, Coiste > manager. Republican ex-prisoners and families welcome. Please > ring Coiste office to confirm attendance, Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, tel > 878-2301 > > PANA CONFERENCE: The Peace & Neutrality Alliance together with > The Irish Committee for UNICEF and the Irish United Nations > Association has organised The Transforming the United Nations > Conference, 9.45-5.30pm Saturday 8 July, the Royal College of > Surgeons, 123 St Stephens Green,DUBLIN. The fee to the attend the > Conference is #25 waged individual, #5 unwaged individual #50 for > rep from Organisation/Corporate. Buffet Lunch #16 Cheque/PO > payable to UN Conference Account send to UN Conference > Account,AFrI, Grand Canal House, Lower Rathmines Road, Dublin 6. > Tel 01-4968595, fax 01-4968592. Email; [EMAIL PROTECTED] PANA have > also produced attractive gold and green enamel PANA badges which > cost #2.50 each. Please send money payable to PANA and SEA to > PANA, 113 Springhill Park, Glenageary, Dublin. PANA have also > printed a Neutrality Amendment Bill which would enshrine > neutrality into the Constitution, and we hope to make it an issue > in the next election > > FUNCTION: Featuring the Irish Brigade. 8pm Saturday 8 July, the > Noggin Inn, SALLYNOGGIN, County Dublin. Organised by michael > Dwyer CSC. Taille #5 > > REPUBLICAN FUNCTION: Featuring the Wolfe Tones. 8pm Saturday 8 > July, CIE Club, Arcadia, CORK. Taille #12 from SF office, Barrack > St. Organised by the Cork Republican Commemoration Committee > > PROTEST AGAINST ORANGE MARCHES: Remember Robert Hamill ~ Justice > Now! 4-6pm Wednesday 5 July, Chamberlain Square; 4-6pm Wed 12 > July, The Clock High Street, BIRMINGHAM, England. Organised by > TOM > > MARTIN HURSON MEMORIAL CUP: Incorporating the Tyrone Volunteers > Day. Sunday 9 July. Mens football commences at 11.30am. Ladies > 4.30pm and mans' final at GALBALLY GAA GROUNDS. Parade will > leave Galbally GAA grounds at 7pm. Prominent speaker. Function to > follow with music from Celtic Rogue. Taille #5 > > SF FUNCTION: Featuring the Irish Brigade. 8.30pm Sunday 9 July, > Penthouse pub, Ballymun, DUBLIN. Taille #5. Organised by Dublin > Northwest Sinn Fein > > VOLUNTEER COMMEMORATION: 24th Annual Volunteer Patrick Cannon > commemoration. Assemble 2pm Saturday 15 July, Darndale > Roundabout, DUBLIN and march to Balgriffin Cemetery. Speaker: > Martin Ferris. Any bands wishing to participate should contact > Mark at 8722609 > > TOM DELEGATION TO BELFAST: Thursday 10 - Monday 14 August. > Delegation Costs: #45 unwaged; #55 Waged; #80 High waged. The > price includes food & accommodation. It does NOT include travel > costs to Belfast. Troops Out Movement PO Box 1032 Birmingham B12 > 8BZ Tel: 0121 643 7542. Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > OGRA SHINN FEIN announces that their Special Six-County > conference is to be postponed until further notice. The Orange > Order last week announced that they intend to intensify their > campaign to force their way down the Garvaghy Rd this Summer. > They have already applied to march through the isolated > nationalist area of Portadown on both the 2 and 9 July. Following > this the organisers of the OSF conference have decided to keep > these two dates free in case the Garvaghy Road Residents > Association request support from the wider nationalist community > on these days. A meeting of OSF activists in the Six Counties > will take place in Belfast on Saturday 1 July and all those > interested in the republican youth wing are invited and urged to > attend. More details shortly > > OGRA SHINN FEIN Baile Atha Cliath is looking for new members. > Anybody wishing to join or seeking further information is asked > to contact Brian O'Neill at 44 Parnell Square, Dublin 1, Tel: > 8726100 > > A REPUBLICAN drum and flute band is being formed in Kerry and we > are looking for members, particularly young people. Interested ? > Contact Gerry @ 087-6423775 or Tralee Sinn Fein @ 066-7129545 > > SF IRISH NIGHT in CUSHENDALL, County Antrim. For further > information phone Catherine O'Hagan 0771 805 4876 > > THE CABRA Sinn Fein Cumann in Dublin is currently reorganising > and is actively seeking new members. Anybody in the Cabra, > Glasnevin or Drumcondra areas wishing to join or help out, please > contact 086-889 5195 > > NEW DUBLIN CUMAINN: A new Sinn Fein cumann is being set up in > Dublin catering for the > Drimnagh/Inchicore/Kilmainham/Bluebell/Walkinstown/Perrystown > areas. We are actively seeking new members. If you are interested > in joining, please contact the Joe Clarke Shop, 8 Thomas Street, > Dublin 8, the Sinn Fein offices at 108 Cork Street, Dublin 8, or > Sinn Fein Head Office, 44 Parnell Square, Dublin 1. Tel (01) > 8726100; A new Sinn Fein cumann is being set up in Dublin > catering for the Terenure/Kimmage/Rathgar areas. We are actively > seeking new members. If you are interested in joining, please > contact the Joe Clarke Shop, 8 Thomas Street, Dublin 8, the Sinn > Fein offices at 108 Cork Street, Dublin 8, or Sinn Fein Head > Office, 44 Parnell Square, Dublin 1. Tel (01) 8726100 > > BAND MEMBERS REQUIRED: Spirit of Freedom RFB require new members > to join the band. No experience is necessary, but would be > helpful. Anyone interested in the Greencastle area of North > Belfast or further afield call Bernard 02890 288452 > > > > > > > > > > > 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] > > =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= > > > RMD1000630100117p3 >
