McDowell called the Belfast protesters IRA supporters!!!

by Davy Carlin - Chairperson - ARN Wed Apr 20, 2005 12:20

The protest was organised by the Anti Racism Network - A statement is being drawn up in relation to his remarks.

McDowell remarks - like many of his remarks and policies come from his own particular mindset.

Original ARN call attached

by Mark Grehan Wed Apr 20, 2005 12:51

Congratulations to Davy and all involved in the ARN protest. No matter where McDowell goes on this island he is met by protests.

by bambam Wed Apr 20, 2005 14:32

yes congratulations on the protests that make no sense what so ever

is it possible do you think we will have anti racism groups who actually fight issues where people are being genuinley persecuted. are we really that scared to enforce our laws on people just because they come from a different place ?

by Alf Wed Apr 20, 2005 14:33

Right, I get it. The extreme nationalists in your country are the ones who are opposed to deportations of non-nationals. That is certainly a welcome change to the way things are elsewhere.

by sudderner Wed Apr 20, 2005 14:44

the more visible opposition to this guy there is the bigger the hole he digs with his parsing untruthful mouth

by Sherlock Holmes Wed Apr 20, 2005 15:11

Bambam your ignorance is outstanding. Perhaps you should actually go and talk to some asylum seekers. Or perhaps you should meet up with Residents Against Racism they can give all the info and introduce you to asylum seekers. You can contact them on 087 7974622 or 087 6662060. If your based in the 6 counties you can contact Davy from the ARN on 00447774053223. I suggest you inform yourself better before peddling ridiculous assertions.

by Nordie Wed Apr 20, 2005 15:18

Could anyone post up the article which reports on McDowell branding the ARN IRA stooges? Cheers.

by Con Carroll Wed Apr 20, 2005 16:44

nice one to the peole who protested against Mc Dowell in Belfast
Let us remind mc dowell about the PD contacts they have
Justice Brian Curtain involved in down loading child pornography ex candidate for the PDs
Michael keating ex lord mayor of Dublin laundering money for drug baron Georgie Mitchell Ballyfermot now Amsterdam
The rascist scum ku klux klan who congratulated mc dowell for the racist referendum
Boby Molloy ex Dail Eireann Pd who denied a family member who was raped justice

by Davy Carlin - chairperson Anti Racism Network Wed Apr 20, 2005 18:09 carlindavid at hotmail dot com 0777 405 3223

Can the article be forwarded to myself of Dowell's extremely dangerous statement of associating the ARN with the IRA - and of stating that the IRA organised the ARN protest.

by eeekkkk Wed Apr 20, 2005 19:15

he'd sue you or deport you or lock you up on the word of a garda inspector at the drop of a hat

Think The IT article is in my gaff somewhere - will type in later if someone with an IT subscription does not get there first

by the dog Wed Apr 20, 2005 19:27

McDowell greeted by protesters on Belfast visit
Gerry Moriarty, Northern Editor



Minister for Justice Michael McDowell faced protests from anti-racism campaigners and Frank McBrearty junior when he arrived in South Belfast yesterday to speak to the SDLP.

Mr McDowell told reporters he was happy to support the SDLP and its South Belfast Westminster candidate Dr Alasdair McDonnell, despite Sinn Féin criticism that his presence at the meeting was "electorally driven".

Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams had earlier said that while the Minister was welcome in the North he queried why he hadn't also travelled North to support the nationalists of the Short Strand in Belfast and of Garvaghy Road when they were under sectarian pressure.

Sinn Féin Assembly member for South Belfast Alex Maskey said: "The presence of the most right wing, anti-republican politician on the island will do little to help the SDLP."

Mr McDowell said he noted some "partitionist" politicians opposed his presence in Belfast during the election but he was there as president of the PDs and an elected politician. He was honouring a long-standing arrangement to address the SDLP.

When asked was he not being partisan, he replied: "I stand shoulder with those who are shouldering the burden of standing up for democracy. I am very surprised by some who claim to be anti-partitionist who have some difficulty about me being here today. I am proud to be here in the company of Alasdair McDonnell. He is a good friend of mine and my family's. He is very brave and very forthright, and his politics and mine coincide. And I make no apologies to anybody for coming here to show that degree of solidarity in the context of an election or otherwise," said Mr McDowell.

"I am an Irish republican. I understand the meaning of the word republican. I am shocked by people throwing around the word racist in relation to me when their organisation segregated the Protestants and Catholics at Kingsmills and machine-gunned the Protestants.

"Those people are not in a position to lecture me on racism. Neither are people in a position to lecture me on deportation when their organisation is exiling people from Northern Ireland under threat of death if they return. That is very hypocritical indeed," added Mr McDowell.

As he was speaking to reporters one of about a dozen members of the South Belfast Anti-Racism Network attempted to confront Mr McDowell but was prevented from doing so by an SDLP activist. There was some shouting, pushing and heaving and a "Wanted" poster of Mr McDowell was torn.

Mr McDowell spoke to Mr McBrearty junior, who turned up in Belfast to confront the Minister on his family's campaign to have their legal bills paid in the Morris tribunal.

Mr McDowell later confirmed that he had agreed to meet Mr Frank McBrearty senior next week.

by eeekkkk Wed Apr 20, 2005 19:38

"I am an Irish Republican. I understand the meaning of the Word Republican. I am shocked by people throwing around the word racist in relation to me when their organisation segregated the protestants and catholics at Kingsmills and machine gunned the protestants. Those people are not in a position to lecture me about racism. Neither are people in a position to lecture me on deportation when their organisation is exiling people from Northern ireland under threat of death if they return. That is very hypocritical indeed" added McDowell.

As he was speaking to reporters one member of south belfast Anti racism network attempted to confront Mr McDowell bit was prevented from doing so by a SDLP activist.

(So the tactic is clear No - McDowell is not facing opposition everywhere he goes because of his deportations etc but because it is the same small bunch of Provisional IRA People turning up everywhere because he is in mortal combat for the soul of the republic with them)

Liberte - Mcdowell Wants More Bigger Jails and wants fathers of irish Citizens under geographical confinement away from their families

Equalite - On record as saying inequality is good for the economy.

Fraternite - he is Minister for Justice and not a single tiny peep out of him about the way the GAMA and Port Tunnel heads have ridden roughshod over Equality legislation. No denial yet that he told Ivana bachik that the basic purpose of the Referendum on Citizenship was to get the nigerians out. No brotherhood there. His only 'brothers' are in IBEC and various Chambers of Commerce.

'Chuckies in the Mountains' as Jinksy lennon would roar in alarm.

by eeekkkk Wed Apr 20, 2005 19:39

.

by the dog Wed Apr 20, 2005 19:47

free irish times when you are freeloading student scum like me. now for some 50 cent pints of piss to quench my thirst after all that cuttin and payshtin.

by pope benidect xvi Thu Apr 21, 2005 00:08

-enough is enough- of the ego michael mcdowell, your belief in free market economics, and liberalism coupled with your incessant self-angrandisement, is in error. your attempt to shift blame by accusing others is to be loathed, what exactly is the moral or ethical worth of the republic you _*value*_ ?
You may be a minister of "justice" but that doesn't mean you are just. Forget about your enemies a while and ponder the message of resurrected christ, like pope benedict xvi told you to, or you'll end like berlusconi - hiding the wrinkes and double pharasaic chin in a gluttonous appeal to the common denominator of divisive materialist bases values.
Your place is not to judge, do not forget that, your place is to awake your sleeper self from ignorance. = Say sorry, and resign now.
Let the professionals with the new magic powers and the coolest reading pass you ever "didn't dream of", deal with the judger-ing.
.:. + * % € $
we have won big swinging mickey.
we now hold the Holy See.
& you are excommunicated.
we talk to the SF/IRA in their language.
& you don't get to know if they're excommunicated or not. its like thats your choice = have you earned your hocus pocus?

by W. Gallagher Thu Apr 21, 2005 08:32

Sorry for going off the topic but it is related to McDowell’s trip to Belfast and a strange comment he made.

Do the SDLP honestly want to hold on to any seats after May 5th? The PD minister said that he wanted a united Ireland “by consensus” not “by census” (wonder what focus group thought that one up, Michael, eh?) I assume this is a rejection of the old ‘50+ 1’ being enough for reunification scenario. Now, didn’t the SDLP say just a couple of weeks back that the ‘threshold for Irish unity could not be any higher than the threshold for staying within the UK’? Isn’t there a contradiction here?

I’m not a northern nationalist but if I was one (particularly one in the rapidly depleting SDLP) I would certainly not invite the most reactionary politician in Dail Eireann up to Belfast to tell other nationalists that even if they vote for a united Ireland they won’t be getting it because the people who disagree with it, well, disagree with it. Does that mean if Michael Howard is elected on May 5th I can ask to have him and his band of eejits kept out of government because I and several million others disagree with the Tories. It’s preposterous! Or maybe I don’t understand the (sectarian) ‘spirit of the Agreement’.

Anyhow, congratulations to the ARN. It looked to be getting a wee bit rough on the news on Tuesday morning. I reckon Davy could take McDowell in a fight!

by Davy Carlin - Chairperson ARN Thu Apr 21, 2005 12:07

Thanks for the information, Cheers Davy Carlin