IRA Easter Message

by juan pablo Tue Mar 29, 2005 17:13

..written by murderers,sorry for not being original in my criticism but the IRA are scum,no question

by jeff Tue Mar 29, 2005 19:05

"The IRA has spelt out its position in relation to the killing of Robert McCartney. It was wrong, it was murder, it was a crime. "

Well duh!

"But it was not carried out by the IRA, nor was it carried out on behalf of the IRA. The IRA moved quickly to deal with those involved. "

Yes, they offered to shoot them, thats great. That was after hiding them. It took a month to get this to the attention of the news.

"We have tried to assist in whatever way we can. Unfortunately, it would appear that no matter what we do it will never be enough for some."

Well, no, because youse are scumbags, liars, murderers, and cowards.

by o'cadhain Wed Mar 30, 2005 02:00

i didnt think they had the time to issue an easter statement this year. thought they were too busy with preparing to join the new style ruc police, bullying the very communities they say that they protect, getting ready for the next stormont and british elections, and turning in more weapons while telling everyone to just trust the leadership!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.

by barry Wed Mar 30, 2005 08:00

They are no longer a revolutionary body, with radical aims. they are simply a criminal gang. theres only oned IRA and itsthe real one.
brits out.

by Makhno Wed Mar 30, 2005 11:56

Quote: "They are no longer a revolutionary body, with radical aims. they are simply a criminal gang. theres only oned IRA and itsthe real one.
brits out."

What a bunch cretinous twits! How many Brits have you guys killed? Get a life. There is only one IRA- the one that fought the Brits for the last 30 years.

by Sean Og de Paor Wed Mar 30, 2005 12:49

IRA are thugs. They did not 'fight the British' for 30 years. They put bombs in pubs and town centres in Britian targetting working class British people. They killed innocent Protestents in NI simply because they were protestents. They terrorise political opponents in Catholic areas. These people are no "revolutionary army". They are a small unaccountable undemocratic groups using anti-working class terrorist tactics.

by Odd man out Wed Mar 30, 2005 12:55

Quote: "They killed innocent Protestents in NI simply because they were protestents."

That's absolute rubbish and well you know it. Even the brits and the UVF don't say that you fool. If the IRAanted to kill protestants they could have done so in the thousands so get you facts right. You are a clearly an imperialist dupe.

by Sean Og de Paor Wed Mar 30, 2005 13:04

They did kill protestents. In responce to many of the attrocities carried out by Loyalist scumbags the IRA killed protestents. Remember when they blew up 9 workers after taking them out of a bus they were in traveling to work. This is a FACT. If you want to go through th history of the Troubles I will. The fact is that the Provisional IRA played a big role in sectarianising the situation in this country. They did kill innocent working class people in Britian. British working class were targetted. The IRA did bomb pubs and shopping centres with the intention of killing British people. Justify this!

by Frank Teeling Wed Mar 30, 2005 13:34

Quote: "The fact is that the Provisional IRA played a big role in sectarianising the situation in this country. "

Well done Sean. Blame the oppressed for their own oppression! How do you think the Provos came into existance? The IRA was brought back into existance by the oppressed nationalist working class under attack from the Orange state and its facist militias in the B Specials and RUC. I suppose you will blame the ANC for introducing racisjm to South Africa and the PLO for inventing Zionism?

by o'cadhain Wed Mar 30, 2005 16:22

markhno, i used to believe and support your views...... but the ira USED to fight the brits until they gave up, divided in a small way their movement, took on the sdlp's policies (when i remember before sinn fein called them the stoop down low party), took title and paychecks from the british system they tried to destroy, criminalized current republican pow's, handed in weapons, agreed to the removal of articles 2 and 3, agreed to unionist consent, harrassed-blackballed- and sometimes even murdered republicans (including former pow's) who disagreeded with the leadership, a small few even bully the communities they have said they are there to protect, slowly getting ready to prepare the slow movement into joining the new ruc, and have the desire to be a mainstream political party by going to america to party with the rich and elite over there....... and i bet gerry armani would have even loved a photo of himself and george bush shaking hands on st pats if he was allowed inside this time. i dont have the solution, but it seems to me that they have painted themselves into a political corner, makes you wonder who really benefits from the gfa and what was really accomplished.

by Frank Teeling Wed Mar 30, 2005 18:04

Some people are just NOT revoluntionary a chara. And you are one of them. You cannot handle the complexitties involved in revolutionary organisations adapting to objective conditions, increasing support for their political project and moving closer to their objectives. Their is more support for Irish republicanism now than there has been in many decades. That is thanks to far seeing, flexible and yes ruthless when required revolutionary leadership. Fair play to Adams et al. Wake up & smell the coffee O Cadhain and live up to the legacy of your namesake.

by o'cadhain Thu Mar 31, 2005 00:54

lets see, martin o'cadhain was jailed by the free state for being in the ira. until recently gerry armani was literally sipping tea with that system. i thought a revolution is there to destroy the system, not decide 25 years later to join that government and take their paycheck. the ira in the last ten years have killed, harrassed, beaten up more irishmen then british soliders!!!! sinn fein has gain so much more political support, but is it really the same republicism that they have been preaching all those years before where they are now? just trust the leadership, sounds like any other main stream political party to me. thanks for letting me express my view, i just dont trust them anymore.

by Michelle Clarke - Social Justice and Ethics Please Thu Mar 31, 2005 01:50

An interesting view.

I lived in Zimbabwe during the 1990's for 4 years. I left a country of scenic beauty; a colonised history similar to Ireland; and tribal discension with the impact of what the West decided was required. The World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the FAO, provided the funds and buildings were built by large Irish contractors and others.

Today we see 25% of a population facing starvation. The environment is unkind with drought affecting the south. Aids has made a ruthless impact on these people and their culture.

The two tribes exist still, Mugabe leading the Shona people and the Matebele led by Joshua Nkomo now dead.

Similar to Ireland, at the time of conflict between the British Colonial Power and the Zimbabwe people, the outcome was the Lancaster Agreement (1980) with a provision for the white colonaial farmers to remain in control of their estates for a period of 10 years.

Two words in the 1980's rang through yet again. We know them well from history - Divide and Conquer. Two tribes became pithed against each other in the newly founded country and there was civil war and death of innocents!

When will people learn about war; the human cost; the economic cost; the social cost..................

As long as there is a willingness to abuse an assigned power, there is eradication of vulnerability based on 'nature', the vulnerable suffer as always. When do we learn!!!!!!

Now I know all are saying - where am I on the page about the Easter Rising in Ireland.

I am putting forward a need for Inspiration; compassion and understanding.

By chance, I bought a bargain book and have had it for a while but took it out for a view this week!!

Hanged for Ireland 'The Forgotten Ten'
Executed 1920-1921.

This is not light reading but it does invoke a sense of what 1916 was about. It is a documentary History written by Tim Carey.

I would highly recommend it as an important of our history and that of countries like Zimbabwe. People fail to grasp the work of Irish missionaries in countries like Rhodesia, Zambia, Malawi etc.
I am sure most people are not aware that President Mugabe was in fact educated by Fr. O'Hea and that the Mashonaland Irish Association is over 100 years old and is one of the oldest 'white' only associations in the part of Africa. The Irish history and influence has had a strong input into their political dimension. We ought not to forget it.

Some Extracts:

10 men executed. Young men....

80 years, the families of these men executed in Mountjoy could only visit the grave of the executed person with prior permission from the Mountjoy Prison Authorities.

It was only on 14th October 2001 that the 10 were disinterred. One was buried in Ballylanders and the other nine in Glasnevin cemetry (where many other leading figures of Irish history are buried).

In 1961, President deValera unveiled the Memorial Cross in Mountjoy. It was the month of October.

Strong Factor to Comprehend; Value; Endorse.....and a myriad of words

These 10 Volunteers executed in Mountjoy 'died defending and upholding the independence proclaimed by Dail Eireann on 21st January 1919.

The British Government did not relinquish control of this part of Ireland until 1922. They sought control by occupation by force.

Erskine Childers (his only son later President) was charged with explaining the Irish case 'to a wider international audience, stated that Kevin Barry was doing precisely what Englishmen would be doing under the same circumstances and under the same provocation, and that what was involved was involved was a national rising, 'a collission between two governments, one resting on consent, and the other on force. It was my Grandfather, Michael Comyn KC who defended and sadly lost the case on behalf of Erskine Childers. Within family, it is said that his clients human rights were breached because her was shot while his case was still on appeal.

A Nation has a right to self-determination.

Let us recall that in the 1918 General Election, Irish Separtism saw Sinn Fein pary capturing 73 seats, 6 seats were won by the Uionists (largely6 concentrated in the North of Ireland).

A few words by Thomas Kettle; Irishman, Poet, Soldier

'Know that we the fools, now with the foolish dead,
Died not for flag, nor King, nor Emperor,
But for a dream, born in a herdsman's shed,
And for the scripture of the poor

Thomas Kettle died at the Battle of the Somme 1916

Good Night


Michelle Clarke

by Frank Teeling Thu Mar 31, 2005 11:47

Quote: "lets see, martin o'cadhain was jailed by the free state for being in the ira. until recently gerry armani was literally sipping tea with that system. i thought a revolution is there to destroy the system, not decide 25 years later to join that government and take their paycheck."

Oh come on O Cadhain. Martin McGuiness and Martin Ferris- two current SF leaders were also jailed by the Free State and a lot more recently than Mairtin O Cadhain my friend. the IRA has not been at war with the Free State since the '20's. Destroying the partition system is exactly what the provos are about but how do YOU propose to do it O Cadhain? Sinn Fein seem well on the way to building an alternative all-Ireland and socialist project which could, with mass support supplant the partition system. Or do you really propose that an armed assault on the Free State should be launched? Are you saying that a purely militaristic response to the British presence in the North is enough when armed struggle has already been deployed as a tactic there for thirty years or so? Only a united revolutionary movement that is flexible and uses all tactics at its disposal in pursuit of its objectives will succeed. The IRA remains undefeated, loyalism is in disarray and the SDLP are desperately attempting to portray themselves as republicans. Meanwhile SF support rises inexorably North & South and seems impervious to the worst attacks from the establishment media monopoly. Now O cadhain what exactly is YOUR political strategy for a United Socialist Ireland???? thanks for your views so far a chara but you have not proffered one original idea of your own.

by sean Thu Mar 31, 2005 16:06

"the ira in the last ten years have killed, harrassed, beaten up more irishmen then british soliders!!!! "

that o'cadin person had one thing that was very fucking right

by Reality Check Thu Mar 31, 2005 16:29

Sinn Fein/IRA also killed more Catholics than the loyalists and British forces combined during all the years of the Troubles. Check the numbers.

by Sherlock Holmes Thu Mar 31, 2005 17:44

Reality check, why don't you supply the figures for us please, or the sources you used. I don't believe people should focus on figures, it was a conflict that never should have been allowed to happen and no figures will do anything to change that. The challenge now is how to bring about conflict resolution rather than trying to blame one side or the other.

by o'cadhain Fri Apr 01, 2005 00:44

I never said that I had the solution to the problem. I was just ranting and raving and wanted to express my disappointment for a party that I have supported for almost 20 years. Tom Barry is very right, Sinn Fein has changed very much since then. I was only expressing my personal view, mainly that I am done with them and dont trust them anymore. Thanks for the debate, it is important to be allowed to have and to express our different viewpoints.

by sean Sat Apr 02, 2005 00:01

Republican Sinn Féin (RSF) last night (Wednesday) accused the Provisional IRA of mounting a campaign of intimidation against its members in Co Armagh.

The party, which split from Sinn Féin in 1986, claimed two of its associates have been attacked in Lurgan in recent days and threats have been made against their lives.

A spokesman for RSF, Seamus Gillespie, claimed the intimidation was part of an attempt to stop the party from forming a cumann in the area.

He said the Provisional IRA had stepped up their campaign over the Easter weekend.

Mr Gillespie claimed that one man was so badly beaten that he spent three nights in hospital.

"He received a badly fractured arm that is still swollen and scarred and stitches to his head," he said.

"Since his release he has been visited by the RUC/PSNI who informed him of a threat to his life by the Provos."

He also claimed that members of the Provisional IRA had attacked another man selling Easter Lillies on Thursday.

Mr Gillespie said that wreaths left by RSF at the republican plot in St Coleman's cemetery on Easter Sunday were ripped up and dumped.

"So much for people who portray themselves as republicans. They are thugs and true republicans will not be cowed or intimidated by their tactics," he said.

Sinn Féin assembly member for the area, John O'Dowd, said he had "no evidence" to suggest that any republican was involved in the alleged attacks.

"Sinn Féin would not be in favour of the intimidation of anyone," he said.

"I have no evidence that this alleged intimidation is on-going and I was not even aware that Republican Sinn Féin had formed a cumann in Lurgan.

"I can assure people that no republicans attending the Easter Sunday commemorations ripped up any wreaths. There was no-one engaging in any such activity."

April 1, 2005

by barry Sat Apr 02, 2005 03:02

I wonder who it was who sabotaged the republican monument on Easter Sunday night, removing ropes so no flag could be raised in honour of Irish martyrs by true republicans. The generator was vandalised also, in an attempt to silence republicans who still oppose British occupation.

Of course, as their denials absolutely prove, it wasnt the shinners. In fact their secret police were so determined to track down the culprits they were lurking about the cemetery the next day videotaping and photographing the 32csm commemoration. Working on the theory that the perpetrator always returns to the scene of the crime....mmmm ?

Indymedia readers might be wondering exactly why members of this totally peaceful, non-facist , "radical republican" party are actively gathering intelligence on those who are attending republican commemorations. Im sure the Sinn Fein commentators here will point this out to them, helpfully and courteously.

Of course the fact they are on the verge of joining up with the British police has nothing to do with it. Francie Mackeys oration, in which he predicted the PSNIs new masters in nationalist areas will be actively persuing the likes of ourselves and jailing us under British laws is, obviously, paranoia.

There are other, perfectly reasonable, explanations as to why Sinn Fein is video taping, photographing, abducting and assaulting people attending republican commemorations and who dissent from accepting British rule on this island.

Anyone who says they are a bunch of facist collaborators, controlled by...facist collaborating control freaks, is just aiding and abetting the enemy !!! (who exactly IS the enemy according to $£ these days ????)

by Steaknife HaHaHa Sat Apr 02, 2005 16:14

The leadership of Sinn Fein have lost sight of the noble goals of truth and justice on which the Republican Movement was founded. With the advent of the 1986 takeover by Gerry Adams and McGuiness, instead of cementing the community together, the movement itself has turned into an instrument wielded by the rich and powerful; trickery and deceit have become survival skills, and the end justifies the means. Since the signing of the GFA the military wing of the Provisional Sinn Fein, the IRA has been an army in waiting; an impossible situation to maintain control over.

In its resolution of events, the current situation can be read as a social or political allegory addressing the question of how to renew the Republican Movement, which was a genuine problem at the time the GFA was signed ten years ago. Today with the implosion of the Provos, it is crystal clear that Republican ideals have been absolutely (not forgotten), but systematically replaced by Gerry Adams for a British agenda written in London.

by Pat Quirke Mon Apr 04, 2005 21:40

Again, I must refer to the inaccuracies in this statement.

As well as just about everything else, Óglaigh na hÉireann refers to the Irish Defence Forces
See
www.military.ie

I Don't think the Irish Defence Forces condone the above statement!

by Barry Tue Apr 05, 2005 12:29

The free state army only "defend" the 26 county state, not Ireland. That is the job of Ogliagh na hEireann . As Fred Holroyd, a former British intelligence operative has pointed out, they are directed by British military intelligence in matters of internal state security.

Indeed the first military operation they ever carried out was on the orders of the British govt in order to destroy Irish sovereignty and safeguard British rule. With British supplied weapons and artillery of course.

Please stop being silly.

by Devil Dog Tue Apr 05, 2005 13:22

"The free state army only "defend" the 26 county state, not Ireland. That is the job of Ogliagh na hEireann . As Fred Holroyd, a former British intelligence operative has pointed out, they are directed by British military intelligence in matters of internal state security."

Hold on Bazza...I thought they were under the control of M15..or was it M16??? Now, apparently, it's "Military Intelligence", whatever that is...the bureaucratic struggles between all of these UK agencies over which one of them actually runs the Irish Security Forces must be really something. And if the Army was directed by UK forces, then they didn't do a very good job as the Provos enjoyed a safe operational hinterland along the border.

"Indeed the first military operation they ever carried out was on the orders of the British govt in order to destroy Irish sovereignty and safeguard British rule. With British supplied weapons and artillery of course."

No Barry, it was to crush a rebellion of those who refused to accept the democratic will of the people and who sought, in the words of Rory O'Connor, to establish a "military dictatorship".

"Please stop being silly"

Pot...kettle...black.

by barry Tue Apr 05, 2005 13:40

British military intelligence IS MI5/6.
Thats what the letters MI stand for.
As for the will of the people , that was clearly set forth in 1918. Sovereignty was established. Its subsequent overthrow was illegal.

by Devil Dog Tue Apr 05, 2005 13:51

The MI in MI5 & 6 has bugger all to do with @military" in the sense of the UK military; They're more properly known as the SIS & SS....and please, no remarks about Nazis, Gestapo, etc and referring tp them collectively as "military intelligence" is incorrect.

I see, we're all doing the time warp, are we, stuck in 1918 because that's the last election Republicans can use to back up their doo-lally theories? Even then, it's shoddy ground, as 1918 conferred no mandate for the War of Independence.

by Sherlock Holmes Tue Apr 05, 2005 15:08

What mandate do you or your group have Devil Dog? Why do you consistently ignore questions put to you? Why are you an apologist for State Terror? What have you done to work for an end to violence up North?

by Devil Dog Tue Apr 05, 2005 15:20

"What mandate do you or your group have Devil Dog? Why do you consistently ignore questions put to you? Why are you an apologist for State Terror? What have you done to work for an end to violence up North?"

Individuals don't have mandates. What group are you talking about?

What question have I ignored in this thread?

When have I apologised for "state terror"? If by that you mean I support rigorous security policies including internment and execution of terrorists, you would be correct and I make no apology for it.

As for your last question, the best way of doing that is steadfast opposition to the Provos and their threat to Irish democracy.

by Sherlock Holmes Tue Apr 05, 2005 15:33

Another stunning contribution from someone who has no concept of the reality of life in the North (or anywhere on this island). Enjoy your PD conference this weekend!

by barry Tue Apr 05, 2005 17:17

the election result of 1918, and the subsequent Declaration of Idependence established the Irish nation as a sovereign entity. That was the issue people voted for - IRISH SOVEREIGNTY.
Devil Dog is correct at least in saying that the 1918 election wasnt for war. The mandate for war came from Britains illegal occupation. That is the only mandate one needs when your countrys sovereignty is violated.

Similarly, the 1922 election wasnt for civil war, yet the free state army set out to destroy irish sovereignty anyway , on the orders of and with the active assistance of the British establishment.

Simply because Britain wouldnt accept the result of the election they turned Irishmen against one another yet again and called it democracy. In fact it is illegal activity under international law , as is their ongoing occupation. And whats more they are well aware of the fact - hence their need to portray us as savages and themselves as noble peacekeepers.

And by the way , claiming there is actually no such thing as mi5/6 sounds just as bad as adams claiming he wasnt in the ra.

Hell be denying having anything to do with Brit intelligence next..

by Pat Quirke Tue Apr 05, 2005 17:39

"The free state army only "defend" the 26 county state, not Ireland. That is the job of Ogliagh na hEireann . "

Ahhh Barry, the Free State ceased to exist in 1938. The job of Óglaigh na hÉireann is multifaceted. For a complete list see
http://www.military.ie/introduction/index.html
However the main one is to "defend the State against armed aggression", the state being the Republic of Ireland..... the 26 Counties. Get your facts right!!!

"As Fred Holroyd, a former British intelligence operative has pointed out, they are directed by British military intelligence in matters of internal state security."

Who are? Who the F*&k is Fred Holroyd??? What are you on about??? What are you on???

"Indeed the first military operation they ever carried out was on the orders of the British govt in order to destroy Irish sovereignty and safeguard British rule."

I assume you are talking about the Free State army of 1922 with was made up of the IRA/Irish volunteers. Technically the first military operation of the Free State army was to occupy British Army Barracks across Ireland. I don't see how that destroyed Irish Sovereignity! If you are referring to the shelling of the Four Courts, then I suggest you check your facts with any good reputable historian. Destroy Irish sovereignity and safeguard British rule.... come on. Enough of the propaganda tripe. Stick to the facts!

"With British supplied weapons and artillery of course."

So what? Where else were they expected to get weapons?

"The mandate for war came from Britains illegal occupation. That is the only mandate one needs when your countrys sovereignty is violated."

Incorrect. Any politics student can see the inconsistencies behind that statement. A mandate refers to an electoral mandate. If a representative is elected, he/she has a mandate. In Irish politics, a Govt is selected by the representative that are elected.... which is fairly standard across Europe. That Govt then has an electoral mandate to do what it needs to do within the constitution and laws of the state. If a states sovereignity is violated, it is the mandate of the state, given to it by the people, to react in accordance with the law. Democratic politics 101

Irish law stems from the constitution. I suggest you read it.

by Barry Tue Apr 05, 2005 20:49

Therefore the free state / 26 cos army is NOT Ogliagh na hEireann.

The force you are referring to was British created and equipped with only one purpose in mind - to protect British interests in Ireland.

And what a grand job of it they have done too.

by Thanks Gerry Wed Apr 06, 2005 02:15

Required Articles 2 and 3 of the Irish Constitution to be re-worded, REMOVING Ireland’s claim to the Northern Six Counties.


Solidified the artificial and illegal BORDER dividing Ireland.


Revived a hated STORMONT Government– nothing more than a puppet seat of British Government in Ireland.


Paid former Republicans to administer British rule in Ireland.


Guaranteed a Loyalist VETO to any decisions made by these new British ministers in Stormont.


Created a new paramilitary PROVO POLICE FORCE to assault and murder republicans who continue to speak out against British occupation in Ireland.


Ushered in draconian legislation-- condemned internationally by human rights organizations-- making the word of a SINGLE police officer sufficient evidence to convict someone.


Revoked POLITICAL STATUS, hard-won in 1981 Hunger Strikes, for Republican POWs in Maghaberry Prison, Occupied Six Counties; and re-enforced CRIMINAL-IZATION policies against Republican POWs in Portlaoise Prison in the Free State.



Promised “PEACE” to Nationalist residents of the North of Ireland; who instead have got, since “Peace” was imposed in April 1998:

Over 1000 Loyalist pipebomb attacks on Nationalist homes;


The brutal assassination of civil rights attorney Rosemary Nelson, murdered
with blatant collusion of British security forces;


Continued racist, and often violent, Orange Order marches being forced through
Nationalist neighborhoods; where they are not wanted;


Introduction of a new and more lethal plastic bullet in Spring 2001;


Ongoing campaign of assault and murder upon outspoken republicans who oppose
this sham PACIFICATION PROCESS.

by Pat Quirke Thu Apr 07, 2005 16:04

"Therefore the free state / 26 cos army is NOT Ogliagh na hEireann.

The force you are referring to was British created and equipped with only one purpose in mind - to protect British interests in Ireland."

I don't see you logic here. Óglaigh na hÉireann is the Irish Defence Forces which are the army of the Republic of Ireland - the 26 counties as you call it.
For a better understanding of what Óglaigh na hÉireann is, refer to
http://www.military.ie/introduction/history.htm

The Free State ceased to exist in 1937. Again I refer you to any reputable History book so that maybe you will understand the History of Ireland better.

Second comment. The force I am referring to is Óglaigh na hÉireann - The Irish Defence forces which traces its history and heritage from the Irish Volunteers which was set up in 1913. The Irish Volunteers was not a british creation I can assure you and did not set out to protect british interests in Ireland. Again please PLEASE refer to a reputable history of Ireland before making any further comments which demonstrate you lack of knowledge.

by Barry Thu Apr 07, 2005 19:35

Membership of this organisation is illegal north and south of the border, . It is specified as a subversive organisation by both states.

Britain was faced with a legal quandary recently when it found it could not sentence people for membership of the "real IRA" because there was no such thing. The real IRA tag was simply a media invention and not the groups title.

The name of the organisation was/is Ogliagh na hEireann, and is specified as such under law.

The free state army simply misappropriated the title in a bid for legitimacy in order to deflect attention away from being a British created and armed structure.

by Pat Quirke Thu Apr 07, 2005 20:49

"Membership of this organisation is illegal north and south of the border, . It is specified as a subversive organisation by both states."

Membership of the Irish Defence Forces is not illegal north or south of the border. In fact 30,000 people are in the Irish Defence Forces also known as Óglaigh na hÉireann.

Maybe you are referring to the O/P/R/C/I can't believe it's not-IRA which have incorrectly and misleadingly given themselves the name, hence the misuse of the term in the above IRA statement.

Again look in any reputable history book. Óglaigh na hÉireann is the name adopted by the Irish Volunteers and continued to be used by the Old-IRA, and Irish Defence Forces. They are Óglaigh na hÉireann. Noone else. That is the point I am making. And the statement by whatever-IRA above incorrectly uses the name.

by Barry Thu Apr 07, 2005 22:19

Both the Irish and British governments have declared, in law, that what the media refer to as the "real IRA", are in fact Ogliagh na hEireann , an organisation based in the entire 32 counties of Ireland, who can trace their lineage right back to 1916. Since then they have consistently opposed British occupation of the Irish nation.

The free - state army/ IDF have only ever collaborated with it. Unsurprising as they are a British created institution.

by Al Fri Apr 08, 2005 00:50

The force you are referring to was British created and equipped with only one purpose in mind - to protect British interests in Ireland.

Actually the equipment including uniforms was supplied by Germany. Weaponry that was left behind by the British was used but new equipment came from Germany. Havent you seen a picture of a guard or soldier from that time? German. This was done purposely as increasing ties with Germany was seen as a slap in the face for Britain.
Ira = minority
"Free state bastards' = majority

I cant make the sum any easier.

by Pat Quirke Tue Apr 12, 2005 15:57

"Both the Irish and British governments have declared, in law, that what the media refer to as the "real IRA", are in fact Ogliagh na hEireann , an organisation based in the entire 32 counties of Ireland, who can trace their lineage right back to 1916. Since then they have consistently opposed British occupation of the Irish nation."

No actually, they have referred to it as "the organisation calling itself Óglaigh na hÉireann" or something similiar.

As for the Real IRA being able to trace linage, just because you say it enough times doesn't make it true. Again PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE read a reputable history of Ireland before you go making up any more stories.

See www.military.ie

by Tat Sat May 21, 2005 14:26

Most of those organisations are more or less linked back to the volunteers one way or another. The most important is what they are standing and fighting for, rather than licking briton shoes. Of course that is my personal opinion.

by Al Sun May 22, 2005 04:58

Im sorry but they are all criminals and murderers. The IRA have not been a force for the Irish since decades ago.
As for teh above statement, its NOT the version that was read out on March 17th in Dublin.

by Emer Sun May 22, 2005 15:07 Tyrone

This thread has become part of a reoccurring theme.demonstrated on other threads i.e. Independent Irish republicans etc,

O cadhain is asked what exactly is YOUR political strategy for a United Socialist Ireland????

I would argue The IRA and Sinn Fein way and just like O cadhain I would suggest that SF are not trustworthy.

My alternative, is fundamentally based on The Proclamation, the first dail and the wisdom passed down to Irish Republicans from our forefathers and mothers.

I would also argue that SF under the current leadership does not adhere in any manner (sorry there is some exceptional rare lip service ) to establishing a 32 county democratic socialist Irish republic.

SF does not currently practice socialism within its own movement so how can they be trusted on a nod and a wink that if they fool everybody i.e the Brits, FF, FG, SDLP, DUP, UUP, by their populist policies and issues. and seize absolute power in Ireland. That SF will establish the following day a Socialist Democratic Republic. Or That this new political and dominating power in SF will declare their true (no longer the nod and wink socialist credentials) but hidden socialist values and immediately set out to establish A socialist economic system. A system that will also enable and encourage an ethos of altruistic values which will permeate all institutions, statutory bodies, schools and indeed the entire Government. appartus including th police, Army and all Civil Servants.

The arguments against O Cadhain and barry that crop up say SF will undoubtedly do all the above and more. The fact remains that there is a growing distrust for this among Irish Republicans, former SF members, former volunteers, hunger strikers and POW's. This is never taken into acount by SF except to smear the individuals or their political movement.

Barry and O Cadhain have demonstrated their willingness to debte and if not verbalised they have implied a debate without fear. There is fear of the Provisonals. This fear is real and it comes from the new axis adopted by SF when crushing dissent from their blinkered and absolute view.

Irish Republican Free thinkers and critics of SF are obliterated by party mantra rather than pause and reflection. This was the case with Martin Cunningham on previous posts and moreso in the press against IRA POW and Former H-Block Blanketman, Anthony Mc Intyre.

There is an unhealthy air surrounding SF which seems to thrive on the notion that SF is never wrong and any Irish republican who dares utter an iota of such accusation is branded a tout, disgruntled, careerist or God forbid, not an Irish Republican but anti Irish Republican.

Sinn Fein have been wrong in the past but the party would seek open discussion with its vote base. Today, a few cheerleaders are consulted with. Maybe it is time for SF to dump the cheerleaders and get back to basics - Socialism. of the people, with the people and by the people.

I want debate and I would desperately love to be brought in from the cold by SF. However, I would rather stay in the cold than implement a strategy of self hypnosis and self decit which I believe is being employed by SF . A deceit that amounts to members and supporters must pretend they are not socilaists until the time is right. The right time for me is now and everyday. I do not want to pretend I am anything other than what I am to Rich Irish Americans, hate filled Unionists and imperialist supremists among the brit establishment.

As an irish Republicansocialist I can hold my head high anywhere and I can clearly articulate my vision for a socilaist democratic Ireland. It is a vision that I live everyday. A vision where all of the children will be cherished equally and old vision that has with-stood the test of time and space. The Proclamation of Ireland.

Sovereignty of the people comes from the people and belongs to the people. The Irish Republican Army comes from the people and belongs to the people. The destiny of our people is their vision. Sf leaders are behaving like they have the monopoly on the peoples' possessions. They are behaving in a unilateral manner without the people. In Socialism the people come first and first and lastly first. There are no leaders just grateful servants. SF are not behaving as grateful servants.

Power to the Irish People.

by reprint Sat Nov 25, 2006 16:01

10 FACTS about the “charmed existence” enjoyed by Martin McGuinness.

There are several reasons for suspicion falling on Martin McGuinness for he survived when those around him have been shot or jailed. Derry IRA informants coughed up more secrets, leading to more arms finds, than any other part of the IRA.

HE SHOULD HAVE WORE A MASK

1.
The first and biggest find of arms imported from Libya in the mid 1980s - 100 AK47 and five medium machineguns - were found at Five Fingers Strand in north Donegal, and the information came via an RUC informant in Derry.

2.
The IRA's powerful M60 machinegun, imported from the United States in the early 1980s, was recovered by the RUC in the city in 1982. The weapon had been used to kill eight soldiers and policemen in other parts of the province and was intended to wreak havoc in Derry. Instead, it was never fired and recovered in a community hall in the Bogside.

3.
The Derry IRA was harder hit by the 'supergrass' phenomenon that any other IRA 'brigade'. About 80 of its members were before the courts at one point in 1982-1983, though McGuinness, as the local 'officer commanding,' was never arrested. In the aftermath of the supergrass period the IRA in Derry went into very noticeable decline.

It was responsible for killing nine members of the security forces in 1982, but by the following year it was responsible for only three murders - a Protestant businessman, a soldier and a policeman.

4.
Elsewhere in Northern Ireland, IRA units were responsible for 47 murders, mostly off-duty police and Ulster Defence Regiment members. This trend continued throughout the 1980s with the exception of the Patsy Gillespie human bomb in 1990, in which five soldiers died. In 1987 - the year of the Enniskillen Cenotaph bomb - a total of 45 people, security forces and civilians were murdered by the IRA, but there were no killings in Derry (though two IRA men blew themselves up while making bombs).

5.
The following year, the only people to die at the hands of the IRA in Derry were three Catholics killed in a booby trap bomb while trying to help a neighbour. While the IRA units in Tyrone, Fermanagh, Armagh and Down were engaged in a vicious, bloody onslaught against security force members, Derry was inactive and dysfunctional.

6.
There are strong suspicions among police on both sides of the border that the killing of the two soldiers, Gunner Miles Amos and Lance-Bombardier Stephen Cummins, was an event which was 'allowed' to happen to cover the tracks of a highly placed intelligence sources inside the Derry IRA. Well-placed sources say there was a near breakdown in relations between the Army and police in Derry after this event, with the Army blaming the police, who they knew to have well-placed informants in the local IRA, for failing to stop the attack.

While police insisted they knew nothing of the attack, the Army remained unconvinced. A short while later, the Army set up an under-cover operation to thwart an IRA bomb attack on the city centre. The route of the bomb-run was changed and the head bomber escaped under the noses of waiting SAS members. ??????????

MI5 SPY

7.
In 1979 Brian Keenan, who was running a ruthless bombing campaign in Britain and Northern Ireland, was arrested after being flagged down by McGuinness on the roadway where they had a brief conversation. When he was in jail Keenan asked that McGuinness be investigated by the IRA, but he did not pursue the matter after he was released.

8.

In November 1994 a police investigation, Operation Taurus, found three witnesses to implicate McGuinness in directing terrorism. It was halted with the appearance of a letter asking prosecutors to bear in mind that McGuinness would shortly be in talks with the government about the future of Northern Ireland. His political value, underlined by his hotline to a senior MI6 officer, may be sufficient to explain why McGuinness has often seemed a protected species.

9.
No members of the security forces were killed in 1991 or 1992. Then a young Constable, Michael Ferguson, was shot dead outside the Richmond Centre in January 1993, and an RIR member, Christopher Wren, was killed in May the same year.

10.
In the blizzard of violence that stemmed from the north Belfast IRA's bombing of Frizzell's fish shop on the Shankill Road, the IRA in Derry remained silent. There were no IRA killings in Derry in 1994. Ironically, in the run-up to the 1994 IRA ceasefire, journalists were briefed that one of the main impediments to Gerry Adams' 'peace' plans were 'hardliners' like Martin McGuinness - then holding the title of IRA chief of staff.

What is clear is that the Special Branch, Army or Intelligence Services had deeply infiltrated the IRA in Derry from around the early to mid 1980s.

As the IRA moved towards ceasefire in the early 1990s, Derry seemed to lead the way in running down its operations.

All over Northern Ireland people are reassessing McGuinness’s career in the wake of newspaper claims by Martin Ingram, a former military intelligence officer, that the man once regarded as an IRA hawk had been controlled by MI6 for at least two decades. A retired RUC special branch officer believes McGuinness was the MI5 agent code-named “Fisherman”.

Republican veterans point to the “charmed existence” enjoyed by McGuinness. He has held every senior position in the Provisional IRA since its inception, but has never been shot or injured nor served a serious prison sentence in the UK.

During the internment swoops he managed to avoid detention and travelled freely back and forth from Londonderry to his granny’s house in Donegal where he was nominally “on the run”. Statements by another supergrass, Robert Quigley, implicated McGuinness in organising IRA activity, but he was never charged.

While McGuinness remained beyond the law, his followers were jailed and killed.

Now he has a holiday home in Donegal, he and Gerry Adams are both millionaires, and Martin writes poetry and enjoys fly-fishing.

The facts speak for themselves, make your own mind up.

by Appreciator of fiction Sat Nov 25, 2006 16:21

Well done Re-print. That was one excellent piece of fiction. When is your next novel being published? More fantasy I presume?

by Ting Sat Nov 25, 2006 18:48

Hmmm, maybe thats why he's so keen to join his friends in the police?