Part 1
IRISH NEWS ROUND-UP
http://irlnet.com/rmlist/
Tuesday/Wednesday, 1/2 August, 2000
1. DUBLIN BLASTED FOR DOUBLE STANDARDS
2. Bloody Sunday judge to be replaced
3. RUC attempt to provoke Derry nationalists
4. Derry's last POW comes home
5. Dreams destroyed by loyalist neighbours
6. New Ross shows way forward on 'social housing'
7. Scottish nationalists consider new leader, new tactics
8. Analysis: Release the Castlerea Five
9. Events in Ireland and Britain
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>>>>>> DUBLIN BLASTED FOR DOUBLE STANDARDS
The 26-County government has been accused of hypocrisy in their
attitude towards the release of republican prisoners this week.
Their claims that they had told Sinn Fein during the negotiation
of the Good Friday Agreement that those convicted in relation to
an raid on a post office van would not be released under its
terms have been rejected. Five men -- Gerry Sheehy, Pearse
McCauley, Mick O'Neill, Kevin Walsh, and John Quinn -- were
jailed for their part in the 1996 'fund raising' ambush in Adare,
which resulted in the death of Detective Garda Jerry McCabe.
When questioned on the claims this week, Sinn Fein President
Gerry Adams stated that "the government didn't and couldn't have"
made such a demand. "These people weren't convicted at the time,
but I made it clear that if they were convicted that they would
be qualifying prisoners, if members of the IRA, under the terms
of the Good Friday Agreement, for early release along with all
the other prisoners.
"There is nothing written down anywhere which says that these men
are not qualifying prisoners," Adams said.
Responding to Mr Adams, the Irish Prime Minister, Taoiseach
Bertie Ahern rejected this and said there would be no movement on
the issue.
"There has been no change in the legal position and that is the
final matter," he said.
Progressive Democrats chairperson, John Minihan had earlier
lambasted the republican POWs who still remain in Castlerea as "a
criminal gang, engaged in a criminal purpose and who committed a
criminal act". He went on to claim that Sinn Fein's call for the
release of all IRA prisoners is "callous political opportunism".
Republicans have accused the PD chair of the same offence and of
creating a sensationalist media focus for his floundering
political party.
Michael Kirby, a member of the National Council of the Garda
Representative Association (GRA), claimed to have received
assurances that these prisoners would not be released, and went
on to oppose the release of any prisoners.
When asked by newscaster Brian Dobson if this stance was not
forgetful of the pain which is shared by other victims of the
conflict and against the terms of the Good Friday Agreement, he
washed his hands of any responsibility for anybody except the
GRA: "We never supported the early release of these prisoners...
We have absolute sympathy with the RUC members and their families
who suffer grievance in this way."
The 26-County government may be hoping to avoid any
responsibility for the release of the remaining prisoners by
forcing a legal challenge to the decision not to release the
Castlerea men.
Legal analysts have suggested that a court challenge would have a
high probability of success.
But Sinn Fein's Gerry Kelly said the government's position "flies
in the face of the letter and the spirit of the Good Friday
agreement and the whole ethos of conflict resolution".
"There can't be a two-tier system on this," he added.
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>>>>>> Bloody Sunday judge to be replaced
The Bloody Sunday inquiry may have to start again after one of
the three presiding judges quit for personal reasons.
Sir Edward Somers, a 72-year-old former Appeal Court judge from
New Zealand, said the tribunal was eating into his family life
and he could no longer tolerate the 24-hour plane journey between
London and his home on South Island.
The British government wants to replace Sir Edward with another
former judge from the British Commonwealth. But the tribunal may
have to start again because a new judge may be legally obliged to
hear all the evidence and may hold a different view on key
decisions, particularly on the anonymity already granted to
British soldiers.
One legal source said: "The tribunal is insisting that things
should just carry on but we have to look into the legal standing
of just replacing a judge. It might not be as simple as that."
Sir Edward was one of three judges appointed by British Prime
Minister Tony Blair in April 1998 to investigate the massacre in
Derry of 14 civil rights demonstrators by British troops in
January 1972. So far only the opening statement has been
completed. It was due to reconvene on September to begin hearing
evidenc, but that date may now be put back.
Patricia McBride, of the Bloody Sunday Trust, which represents
many of the victims' families, said a successor should be
appointed without delay. She added: "This inquiry is an extremely
traumatic time for the families of those who were killed and the
individuals who were wounded, and any delay in the proceedings
can only make the situation more difficult."
The Bloody Sunday families are demanding a non-Commonwealth judge
be appointed to add an indepedent, international aspect to the
tribunal.
John Kelly, a brother of victim Michael, said: "There is now an
opportunity to appoint a non-Commonwealth judge, preferably from
America or Ireland."
He suggested the Dublin government might also take the case up
with their London counterparts. He was supported by Tony Doherty,
whose father Patrick was also shot dead.
Mr Doherty said: "This is an opportunity to look at the panel and
to underline its independence. We have already seen how it can be
interfered with (through appeals to British courts).
"We believe it would be a benefit in terms of the independence of
the inquiry to appoint a non-Commonwealth judge."
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>>>>>> RUC attempt to provoke Derry nationalists
The RUC has been accused of deliberately trying to raise tensions
in Derry ahead of next week's parade in the city by the
Protestant Apprentice Boys organisation.
A heavy RUC presence in the nationalist Bogside yesterday
afternoon appeared deliberately provocative as tension ratchet up
in advance of the contentious march.
Sinn Fein councillor Peter Anderson said: "Dozens of heavily
armed RUC personnel swamped the Brandywell and Bogside areas of
the town creating an intimidatory presence for the many young
children who were out playing."
RUC members taunted and provoked children in the build-up to a
major Apprentice Boys march on August 12.
Meanwhile, the Bogside Residents Group and Apprentice Boys
remained locked in talks late last night over the march.
While the parade has sparked violence in the past in recent years
it has been relatively peaceful.
The biggest issue to be resolved is the 111 feeder parades which
accompany the Derry march, some of which are even more
controversial than the main march, such as the lower Ormeau Road
feeder parade in Belfast.
The residents of the nationalist lower Ormeau area today make
their feelings on loyal order marches known in a poll of local
opinion.
Last night LOCC spokesman Gerard Rice called for public support
for the poll.
"We have found an almost unbelievable unwillingness on the part
of the loyal orders to accept that our community is opposed to
parades through the area," he said.
"[Today's] vote gives residents the opportunity to clearly and
freely express their views on the marches in a way that will
oblige everyone to take notice."
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>>>>>> Derry's last POW comes home
Free Derry Wall has been a gathering point for Derry republicans
throughout this struggle. It is the place where so many historic
events have taken place and is synonymous with the civil rights
struggle. It is where we witnessed 14 of our friends, neighbours
and family members gunned down by British paratroopers on Bloody
Sunday. It is where we stood our ground in the "Battle of the
Bogside". And so it is fitting that Derry republicans gathered
again at the wall to witness yet another historic event unfold,
this time a joyous one.
The release and homecoming of Tony Doherty from Long Kesh is
significant for two reasons. First it signals the imminent
closing of Long Kesh, secondly Tony's release is special because
he is Derry's last POW to be released and returned home.
Among the hundreds who turned up were Derry's new Sinn Fein
mayor, Cathal Crumley, along with Mitchel McLaughlin, Bairbre de
Brun, the city's Sinn Fein councillors and many of Derry's former
POWs. A short time later, the sound of car horns in the distance
signaled Tony's arrival and the crowd began to cheer and move
onto the street surrounding his car. Tony emerged to the cheers
of his friends, comrades, neighbours and family. He appeared
overwhelmed at the big Derry welcome. After a few private hugs
and tears, he was taken to the base of Free Derry Wall for a
special commemoration presentation and speech in honour of the
occasion.
Derry's Martina Anderson knows only too well what Tony must have
been feeling, as she herself was only released just over a year
ago. Her speech captured the emotion of the day. We were
reminded of the history of Long Kesh and the huge part it played
in our lives for so many years.
Martina spoke of the many battles which epitomise Irish
republicans' refusal to allow our struggle to be criminalised by
the British and she named those struggles as we each recalled
them in our own memories.
Speaking as a former POW herself and on behalf of the Derry POWs,
she thanked the people of Derry for their support along with the
Prisoners Dependants Fund, which made precious visits possible.
She reminded those gathered that this struggle is not and was not
about prisoner releases, that the goal of Irish unity is still
the centre of the republican struggle, and while we are grateful
for the release of our comrades, we are still faced with much of
the same injustices which took our people to those jails.
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>>>>>> Dreams destroyed by loyalist neighbours
There's a row of newly built terrace houses, literally just a
stone's throw away from the loyalist Tiger's Bay area in North
Belfast. For the families who moved in just before last
Christmas, it was like a dream come true.
"We'd been waiting to be rehoused for so long," says Belinda.
"The houses were brand new, and for many of us, it was the first
time in our lives that we had a separate bedroom for each of our
children."
"And a garden for playing," chips in Teresa. But just eight
months later and some of the residents would "move out tomorrow,
if we had the chance". Along North Queen Street, this modest row
of no more than 20 houses stands on what was once waste ground on
the edge of the nationalist New Lodge.
"We expected some tensions," says Mary, "but with the signing of
the Good Friday Agreement we hoped we'd be living in peace if not
in harmony with our neighbours in Tiger's Bay."
But it was a hope soon to be shattered. Belinda suffers with a
chronic medical condition and requires regular medication. A few
weeks after moving into her new home, Belinda sent her 13-
year-old son to collect a prescription from the local chemist,
just across the road.
"He was confronted by three men," says Belinda. "One grabbed him
and put his arm around his neck." Questioned, the child told them
he was going to the chemist. "No you're not, you fenian bastard,"
came the reply. The boy was trailed into Tigers Bay before
managing to escape.
The intimidation of nationalists crossing the road to attend the
local health centre or leave a prescription at the chemist is now
a regular feature of life along the row. Last week, an elderly
man was confronted as he left early morning surgery. A loyalist
tapped him on the shoulder and told him "not to come fucking
back".
Shopping in the nearby Tesco store or Yorkgate complex can also
be an ordeal. Recently, a nationalist teenager was badly beaten
by a gang of loyalists after he was spotted coming out of the
Yorkgate Moviehouse.
Last month, Belinda was attacked by four men outside her own
front door. "It was 9am on a Sunday morning," says Belinda. "One
of them hit me on the back of the head with a beer can and I was
knocked to the ground. He called me a fenian bastard."
Sectarian intimidation during the day is accompanied by loyalist
incursions by night. After persistent bombardment with bottles
and bricks, a 30-foot-high iron fence was erected in front of the
houses nearest to Tiger's Bay. But the attacks have continued.
"I rarely sleep well," says Belinda. "The attacks can occur at
any time, before midnight, after two, even four or five in the
morning. Windows are smashed, paint bombs are thrown.
"My son was so happy with his new bedroom but now he's too afraid
to sleep in it."
"It's paint bombs now," says Mary, "but who's to say when it'll
be petrol?" Residents have been repeatedly threatened by
loyalists , who claim "we'll be back to burn you out".
One resident was so afraid for the safety of her family that
during the Twelfth she pitched a tent at the back of her house
for her children to sleep in."Nobody gets much sleep around
here," says Teresa.
During the most serious incident, a stone-throwing loyalist mob
of around a hundred attacked residents and pounded their homes
with bottles and bricks. The attack began at about 9pm last
Saturday evening 29 July and continued for over two hours.
At one point, hand-to-hand fighting broke out as residents
desperately fought back to keep the mob at bay. A 13-year-old
boy, Kieran, standing in his own front garden, suffered a head
wound when he was hit by a rock thrown by the mob.
Three residents who arrived home in a taxi were attacked and
beaten by loyalists. When Bobby saw his two companions being
beaten and kicked to the ground he went over to intervene, only
to become the mob's next victim.
"I was punched and kicked and hit in the eye with a brick," he
says. "There was a big crowd of them, mostly adults. I thought we
were going to be killed." Bobby sustained a fractured cheekbone,
severe bruising and double vision in one eye.
Bobby and his two companions escaped from the mob only to be
confronted by riot clad RUC squads who had just arrived at the
scene. "I ran away from the mob," says John, "and into a line of
RUC officers. One officer lifted his baton and struck me across
the back of the arm."
A second man escaping from attack by the loyalist mob was also
batoned by the RUC. He sustained serious bruising and required
hospital treatment for an injury to his back. "It took the RUC
over an hour to arrive," says a resident, "and then they turned
on us. Loyalists continued to stone us over the RUC's jeeps."
There are 18 children living in this tiny row of houses. Their
families hoped they were moving to a better life, decent housing
and green space to play, but now they're "prisoners in their own
homes," says Mary. "I thought the Good Friday Agreement
guaranteed the right to live free from sectarian harassment. I
thought it signalled a new beginning, but nothing has changed
here."
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