1. Republican Sinn Féin oppose RUC/PSNI in Croke Park
2. Republican Sinn Féin Ard Fheis held in Dublin
3. An tAthair Ó Gríofa remembered in Galway
4. Frank Driver remembered
5. Kevin Barry commemorated in Rathvilly
6. Social welfare recipients suffer for Anglo Irish Bank bailout
7. Attack on Billy McKee condemned
8. Belfast family demand truth about British army murder
9. Ballymurphy families claim soldiers admitted to firing on civilians
10. Homeless services to be cut by 10%
11. Sleeping rough in Dublin increases by 45%
12. Retired gardai seek to honour RIC and Black-and-Tans
13. IAWM calls for censure on Israel
1. Republican Sinn Féin oppose RUC/PSNI in Croke Park
Following a meeting of the Ard Chomhairle of Republican Sinn Féin on November 19, the following statement was issued:
“The announcement on November 11 that the RUC/PSNI is to play in Croke Park on November 25 shows that the GAA is once again being used to normalise British Rule in Ireland.
“Bringing the British Colonial Police into Croke Park – like the visit by the Queen of England in May — contravenes the principles upon which the GAA was founded, namely the essential unity of Ireland as a nation.
“This principle is reflected in the fact that the GAA has never recognised the British-imposed border but has remained an All-Ireland Association. Faithful Irish Republicans, many of whom are members of the GAA, will oppose this visit and will use it to highlight the fact that British rule/occupation in Ireland is not or never will be normal or acceptable.
“Like James Connolly we say `England has no right in Ireland, never had any right in Ireland and never can have any right in Ireland´.
“Republican Sinn Féin will be holding a protest on Friday. We will assemble at Quinn´s Pub in Drumcondra at a time to be confirmed.”
2. Republican Sinn Féin Ard Fheis held in Dublin
ON Saturday and Sunday, November 12 and 13, delegates and visitors from Ireland and England attended the 107th Ard-Fheis of Sinn Féin in Dublin. Members of the International Affairs Bureau from Austria, Germany, Italy and France and the USA were also in attendance.
The Ard-Fheis began with a seminar entitled ‘Education within Sinn Féin, where we are coming from and where we are going’, which was chaired by Tomás Ó Clérigh and addressed by Fergal Moore, head of the Education Department.
The Ard-Fheis was addressed by representatives of CABHAIR, Irish Republican Prisoners Dependants Fund, Cumann na mBan and Na Fianna Éireann and all three organisation praised Republican Sinn Féin for its steadfastness during what was a very difficult year. Messages of support were also received from the Continuity IRA Republican POWs in Maghaberry and Portlaoise jails. A message of solidarity wishing the Ard Fheis a successful weekend was received from the leadership of the Continuity IRA.
Plenary sessions took place on Saturday afternoon and throughout Sunday but the highlight of the Ard-Fheis was the address by President Des Dalton.
A full report will be carried in the December edition of SAOIRSE.
3. An tAthair Ó Gríofa remembered in Galway
ON November 20 Republicans from all over the west gathered at Bearna school in County Galway for the annual Fr. Griffin commemoration.
The assembled crowd gathered behind the Tricolour and a piper and marched to the site of the monument at Cloch Scoilte. The event was chaired by member of the An Athair Uí Ghríofa Cumann in Galway city, Chris Kilcommins, who began by welcoming those assembled there.
The proceedings began by the laying of a wreath on behalf of the Republican Movement by Veteran Republican Brendan Madden from the Liam Mellows Cumann in Athenry. There was a minute’s silence followed by a decade of the Rosary as Gaeilge recited by Seán Mac an Iomaire from the An Athair Uí Ghríofa Cumann. The chairperson then introduced the speaker for the event, Diarmuid Mac Dúbhghlais, Treasurer of Sinn Féin Poblachtach, ó Baile Átha Cliath.
Dúirt sé: “Is mór an ónóir dom a bheith anseo inniu so Gaeltacht ar a fhoghlaim mé mo chuid Gaeilge, chun ónóir is ómos a thúairt do ainm an tAthair Micheál Ó Gríofa. Dúnmhairigh é ceathar scór agus aon bliain déag ó shin nuair nach raibh sé ach 28 bhlian d’aois.
“It is a huge pleasure for me to be here to pay my respects to Father Micheal Ó Gríofa, who was murdered by forces of the British crown 91 years ago, his body was found on this spot. He himself was not a member of the Republican Movement but he was known to be sympathetic to Republicans, indeed in September 1920 an tAthair Ó Griófa gave the last rites to Séamus Quirke, an officer of the IRA, who was shot seven times while down at the city docks.
“It is a huge pleasure for me to be here to pay my respects to Father Micheal Ó Gríofa, who was murdered by forces of the British crown 91 years ago, his body was found on this spot. He himself was not a member of the Republican Movement but he was known to be sympathetic to Republicans, indeed in September 1920 an tAthair Ó Griófa gave the last rites to Séamus Quirke, an officer of the IRA, who was shot seven times while down at the city docks.
“In the same year Tomás Mac Curtáin was murdered in his home by the RIC, Terence MacSwiney died on hunger strike in Brixton prison after being arrested in Cork City Hall; and a few days before An t-Athair Ó Griófa was murdered, Kevin Barry a boy of 18 years was hanged in Mountjoy jail. Despite the obvious danger and threats to anyone who stood against the British Empire, he stood bravely with the oppressed people of Ireland and encouraged them to stand up for themselves against the imperial might of the British empire.
“Many people will say that the Ireland of 2011 is totally different to that of 1920, but sadly this is not true, the six north eastern counties of Ireland are still under the control of the British, houses there are still being raided on spurious grounds and people are being arrested and remanded just for speaking out against this occupation. In the past few weeks’ members of the RUC/PSNI stopped and harassed GAA members from Fermanagh who were returning by bus from a match, the same RUC/PSNI who will be playing in Pairc Ui Croacaigh against the 26-County police next Friday. In the past year the RUC/PSNI have arrested and charged both an t-Uachtaráin agus an Leas-Uachtaráin Sinn Féin for partaking in Easter commemorations and the Martin Corey protest march in the Occupied Six Counties.
“In the 26-Counties two members of Republican Sinn Féin along with many other Republicans, were arrested for opposing the visit of the queen of England. Millions were spent on this unwanted visit, at a time when ordinary people are deciding whether to buy food/pay household bills or pay the mortgage. Sovereignty in the 26-Counties has been sold out to Europe because of the greed of what are euphemistically called public representatives. These people have for many many years paid themselves vast wages and pretended to have your best interests at heart, while slowly selling off the assets of the country.
“That slow sale has now become a fire sale, where whatever is left will be sold to the highest bidder. They have already given away the oil/gas deposits off the Mayo coast, and will now sell our national airline, our forests, the ESB and anything else worth a few bob. To the people in the Shell to Sea campaign, I salute you; you are an inspiration to all Irish people, we must get involved in protecting what is belonging to us before it is either sold or given away, it is no use to say “I do not cut any turf ” so why should I care or “I have no forest” so it doesn’t matter to me. We must organise nationally and collectively to resist these sell-offs. As if to prove how little input we have in running our own country, this week saw the spectacle of Ministers in Leinster house saying no decisions have been made in regards to tax increases on the very same day as the German Bundestag were announcing a 2% increase in Irish tax, this begs the question, Who is running the country?
“Over the years we have seen the many splits within the movement, from the 20s, the 70s; 1986 and as recently as 2009, when, after the retirement of Ruairí Ó Brádaigh,
Des Dalton was decisively elected as Uachtaráin, Sinn Féin Poblachtach. The egos of some of those who disagreed with this decision led them to leave the Republican
Movement, but rather than being honest and admitting they left Republican Sinn Féin and the Republican Movement, they are now attempting to hi-jack the name of our
organisation. The same people who tried to wreck our Movement from within are now trying to do it from the outside – they will not succeed.
“Furthermore they have cast aspersions on Ruairi’s character. This man not only has the respect of all true Republicans but he has the grudging respect of the enemies of Republicanism whether here, in the Six Counties or further afield. Let me take this opportunity to reiterate that Des Dalton is Uachtaráin, Sinn Féin Poblachtach, with Ruairí Ó Brádaigh as our Patron.
“Today I call on those using the name of Republican Sinn Féin to desist. And from this platform I tell people that Republican Sinn Féin is not now, and never has been involved in gangesterism of any sort. We are a Movement of the people; we need the support of the people and as such would never involve ourselves in such activities.
“This year sees the 30th anniversary of the 1981 Hunger Strikes. A year when 10 brave men died and many more ruined their health in the struggle for political status. Sadly this was sold out by the Provos for personal gain. We now once again have the specter of men living in squalid, filthy, maggot infested cells while on 23/24-hour lock up in pursuit of political status.
“Chun deireadh a chuir le mo chuid íaraidh me oraibh, Chuimgigí go deo ar ár laochra; tá se tilte acu; and in the words of Pearse at the grave of O Donnavan Rossa; “as long as Ireland holds these graves- Ireland unfree shall never be at peace.
“An Phoblacht Abú.”
The commemoration was brought to an end by the playing of Amhrán na bhFiann by the piper.
4. Frank Driver remembered
ON Sunday, November 20 Kildare Republican Sinn Féin held its annual Frank Driver commemoration in Ballymore Eustace Co Kildare. Led by colour parties from Republican Sinn Féin and Na Fianna Éireann those taking part marched from Frank Driver’s cottage in Ballymore to his grave in St John’s cemetery.
The ceremony was addressed by Republican Sinn Féin President Des Dalton. A wreath was laid on behalf of the Republican Movement by Celia Conway, Kilcullen and a decade of the rosary was recited by Kitty Hawkins, Ballymore Eustace. Des reminded those present of the long life and service to the Republican cause of Frank Driver.
The parade then formed up and marched back to Ballymore Eustace.
5. Kevin Barry commemorated in Rathvilly
REPUBLICAN Sinn Féin marked the 91st anniversary of the death of Kevin Barry in Rathvilly Co Carlow on Sunday November 21. Republican Sinn Féin and Na Fianna Éireann colour parties led the parade to the Kevin Barry monument.
The ceremony was chaired by Jimmy Corcoran of the Myles Shevlin/Tony Ruane Cumann, Carlow. Wereaths were laid on behalf of the Republican Movement, Kildare Republican Sinn Féin and Wexford Republican Sinn Féin. Kitty Hawkins, Co Kildare recited a decade of the rosary. Jimmy then called for a minute’s silence and the dipping of the flags in memory of Kevin Barry and all who died for Irish Freedom.
The oration was given by Republican Sinn Féin President Des Dalton, who recounted the life and sacrifice of Kevin Barry and gave a most inspiring oration.
The commemoration was attended by members and supporters from Kildare, Carlow, Wexford and Dublin; local people also attended including Kevin Barry’s nephew, also called Kevin Barry.
6. Social welfare recipients suffer for Anglo Irish Bank bailout
GERALDINE McNamara, PRO, Republican Sinn Féin, said on November 19 that she is “appalled at the 26-County Administration’s decision to yet again bail out Anglo Irish Banks which are now known as Irish Bank Resolution Corporation to the tune of €715m.
“Anglo will receive a total of €34.7bn in State capital to cover losses. This last payment coincides with the announcement that those on social welfare should expect cuts in their payments to create a reduction of €730million.
“This shows just who are paying for the bank bailout; it is not the rich speculators or the financial advisors within the banking system. No, as in all ultra capitalist states the poor are expected to pay for the wrongdoings of the rich.
“The senior unsecured and un-guaranteed bondholders at Anglo Irish Bank can lavish in luxury as the poorest of the poor struggle to afford a Christmas dinner”, she stated.
The President of Republican Sinn Fein Des Dalton said that the Irish people “are to be sacrificed so that the undemocratic and unaccountable EU superstate can be kept afloat, confirming Republican Sinn Féin’s consistent analysis of the threat the EU posed not only to Ireland but also to the political and economic sovereignty of all small nations.
“The most vulnerable and marginalised in society are in the sights of this political and economic elite not just in Ireland but also across Europe. The old, the young, the unemployed and those with special needs are to be the fodder used to bolster up a failed currency and the failed political project that is the EU.”
Geraldine McNamara concluded “that the working classes whether employed in the private or public sector or unemployed, whether native Irish or immigrant worker, have to stand as one and not be divided by the elite in society who would have workers pitted against each other while they, the elite, reap the rewards.
“All should unite for justice and call for an end to the bank bailout and a return to decision making by the people.”
7. Attack on Billy McKee condemned
IN A statement on November 16 the MeKelvey/Steele Cumann, Republican Sinn Féin, Belfast condemned the brutal attack on 90-year-old Veteran Republican Billy McKee, a vulnerable elderly man attacked and held in a room while thugs ransacked his home.
The statement continued: “During a time when the RUC/PSNI would have people believe that anti-social behaviour is decreasing, and our communities are safer, our elderly neighbours are being subjected to such ordeals by thugs.
“Due to this, we would ask everyone to be vigilant and watch out for the vulnerable members of our community. Our thought’s and prayers are with Billy and his family.
8. Belfast family demand truth about British army murder
ON November 16 a west Belfast family appealed for help from the local community as they seek the truth about the killing of their brother during the 1970s at the hands of the British army.
James ‘Jimmy’ Bonner (19), a lorry driver from Iveagh Street, was shot by British soldiers on June 25, 1972, when the car he was driving failed to stop at a road-block on the Whiterock Road.
Jimmy was the third oldest in a family of seven and his sister Eileen is hoping that an appeal might persuade possible witnesses to come forward to local victims’ group Relatives for Justice (RFJ), with whom the family are working closely.
“I was only 11 years old when Jimmy was shot dead,” said Eileen. “It was awful for our family. Jimmy was such an outgoing person and he was single and had no ties, he was just out living his life.”
“What happened to our brother was murder,” said his brother Charlie. “He was an innocent victim and we as a family want justice for him. The Historical Enquiries Team have been in contact with our family but we are hoping that there could be some witnesses out there that can help our case.”
The Bonner family believe the reason that Jimmy failed to stop was because the car he was driving was uninsured. The young local man paid a shocking price for that decision. “My brother ended up with 28 bullet wounds to his body,” said Charlie. “I know as I had to identify him – our father just couldn’t bring himself to do it.”
“It would mean so much to our family to get justice for Jimmy,” said Eileen. “We want an acknowledgement and an admission that he was murdered by British soldiers and we are hoping, even though it might be a long shot, that someone out there can remember the events of that day and come forward to the RFJ offices.”
9. Ballymurphy families claim soldiers admitted to firing on civilians
IT was reported on November 15 that statements have been uncovered from British army paratroopers admitting they fired up to 30 shots into civilians during the killing of 10 people in west Belfast..
Relatives and campaigners for 10 people the British Parachute Regiment killed seven months before the 1972 Bloody Sunday killings said they had uncovered soldiers’ testimony that called into question the army’s official version.
The British army has always maintained the troops opened fire after coming under attack with gunfire and petrol bombs in the Ballymurphy estate in August 1971. However, families of the dead, who included a mother of eight and a Catholic priest, have maintained their loved ones’ innocence.
The British attorney general in the Six Counties on November 15 ordered that 10 new inquests must be held in connection with the army shootings. Families of the victims said the decision by John Larkin was an important step to obtain justice.
John Teggart, whose father was shot dead by the paratroopers, said the Larkin’s decision was “yet another milestone on the road to a full international inquiry into the massacre”.
He said in the course of their campaign they received statements from the troops, which were later redacted by the British Ministry of Defence. “The original statements show among other things that one victim was hit with 30 rounds. We are delighted that there will be new inquests as the original ones were flawed back in 1972,” Teggart said.
The families have carried out a long-running campaign for an independent inquiry into the killings. They have called for any inquiry to explore the possibility that some of the soldiers responsible for firing on their loved ones in Belfast were part of the same unit that later carried out the Bloody Sunday killings in Derry.
The Ballymurphy campaigners point to the evidence of Soldier A, who during testimony to the Saville inquiry said that prior to Bloody Sunday he had been in Ballymurphy around August 1971 on deployment.
Ten people were shot dead during the shootings and another man died from what the families claim was a related incident. During the killings troops are alleged to have fired on the funeral party of a man who had accidentally drowned a few days earlier near the district. It is also alleged that members of the loyalist Ulster Volunteer Force joined in the fighting on the side of the army, firing on the nationalist area from the nearby Protestant Springmartin housing estate.
The British Northern Ireland Office has ruled out any public inquiry into the killings, which would be similar to the Bloody Sunday tribunal. The families say an international-based inquiry would not last as long or be as costly as the multimillion-pound Bloody Sunday inquiry, which was the longest in British legal history.
10. Homeless services to be cut by 10%
HEALTH authorities are cutting funding for homeless services in parts of the capital by up to 10 per cent over the coming winter months, despite growing pressure on services, it was reported on October 27, 2011.
Service providers say the cuts will impact heavily on their ability to provide shelter and support to homeless people at a time when they are under strain.
The Health Service Executive (HSE) – one of the main funders of homeless services – told providers last week it is cutting between 5 per cent and 10 per cent of grants which were due to be paid between October and December of this year.
However, homeless charities say they have recorded increases in demand for services of between 20 and 40 per cent over the past year. Services say they are continuing to give out sleeping bags at night-time due to ongoing shortages of emergency beds.
Dublin Simon’s chief executive Sam McGuinness said: “With the harsh winter already upon us and demand for homeless accommodation stretching all service providers to the limit, it is unacceptable for the most vulnerable and destitute to suffer further HSE year-end panic cuts because of their spending excesses.”
Focus Ireland’s chief executive Joyce Loughnan said if deeper cuts were to be made at this late stage in the year, it would hit its ability to provide “vital lifeline services” to homeless people.
The funding cuts were confirmed this week by the Dublin Region Homeless Executive – a partnership run by the city’s four local authorities – which is in charge of organising homeless services in the capital.
The two main areas affected are Dublin south-west – which includes Tallaght, Clondalkin and Kildare – and Dublin south-central, which includes much of the inner city.
These areas are due to receive cuts of between 5 per cent and 10 per cent respectively, on top of cuts of 5 per cent earlier this year.
In a letter to one service provider dated October 13th, the HSE said: “It is recognised that maintaining services will require significant levels of change, flexibility and creativity.
“Therefore, you will need to make the savings to remain within the budget through value-for-money initiatives and other administrative efficiencies in order to achieve a break-even financial position by year’s end.”
In a statement, the Dublin Region Homeless Executive said the overall implication and impact of the cuts had been “fully considered” by the HSE.
It added there had not been a reduction in funding from the Department of the Environment, the other main source of public funding for homeless organisations.
In the meantime, the Dublin Region Homeless Executive has been working to secure longer-term beds for dozens of people in emergency accommodation to help alleviate pressure on services.
11. Sleeping rough in Dublin increases by 45%
THE NUMBER of homeless people sleeping rough in Dublin has jumped by 45 per cent in just over six months, according to unpublished figures.
In addition, emergency accommodation providers are resorting to using mattresses to cope with rising demand for shelter.
A preliminary rough sleeper count which took place earlier this month found that 87 people were sleeping rough, up from 60 during the last count in April of this year.
The figure is not official until it has been verified by a partnership body known as the Dublin Joint Homelessness Consultative Forum. This is scheduled to occur later this week.
In response to a query from The Irish Times, the Dublin Region Homeless Executive – the State’s body for dealing with homelessness in the capital – said it was important to note that rough sleeping was “dynamic and can change on a daily basis”.
Nevertheless, all indicators are that homeless services are under growing pressure.
All the major homeless charities say they have recorded increases in demand for services of between 20 and 40 per cent over the past year.
Some services say they are continuing to give out sleeping bags at night-time due to ongoing shortages of emergency beds.
In addition, it emerged last month that health authorities are cutting funding for homeless services in parts of the capital by up to 10 per cent over the coming winter months in order to stem their losses.
In response to the rising demand for beds, the executive has supplied an addition 80 emergency beds since mid-September and is planning to provide even more over the coming months to keep pace with demand.
As part of its cold weather initiative, it says there are mattresses being made available in temporary accommodation providers, if required.
“Accommodation capacity is monitored on a daily basis, with adequate provision in place for people who are rough sleeping,” the executive said in a statement.
“The cold weather period provides different opportunities for engaging with entrenched rough sleepers and hard-to-reach groups and increased support needs to be available.”
It says it has given priority to a minimum of an additional 20 beds across homeless services, aimed at people who are entrenched in rough sleeping. This will include adequate provision for single men, single women and couples, the executive added.
The executive said the provision of extra emergency beds was a temporary response and that authorities needed access to additional long-term accommodation to properly address the issue.
“We need access to housing and would again urge property owners across Dublin to avail of the schemes that are in place with the Dublin local authorities, such as the rental accommodation scheme and enhanced leasing scheme,” it said.
The 26-County Administration is also keen to move away from a model where homeless people drift in and out of crisis accommodation towards the greater use of longer-term beds in the private rented sector.
The number of additional so-called “move-on” units which are due to come on-stream this year in the capital is 438.
However, this is a slight reduction on the number of units made available last year.
The rising demand for homeless services is threatening to undo some of the progress made by authorities in tackling homelessness in recent years.
Over recent years, they succeeded in dramatically reducing the numbers of people sleeping rough and helped to increase the provision of long-term accommodation and support.
12. Retired gardai seek to honour RIC and Black-andTans
IT was reported on November 20 that retired members of the 26-County police are seeking permission from the Dublin Administration to erect a monument in Glasnevin Cemetery to 500 members of the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC), including the Black and Tans, who were killed by the IRA in the War of Independence.
The Garda Siochána Retired Members Association wrote to Enda Kenny and Alan Shatter seeking the go-ahead to erect a monument in an existing plot in the cemetery, which is famous for its links to 1916 and the War of Independence.
The 100-foot long plot contains the remains of 102 RIC men who died of natural causes. The association backed a motion at its annual conference in August to support and pay for the erection of a memorial to the RIC and the Dublin Metropolitan Police (DMP), including the names of all those killed.
The retired gardaí propose to erect commemorative marble headstones bearing the names of 514 RIC, including members of the infamous Black-and-Tans, who were responsible for outrages against the civilian population during the War of Independence, including the burning of Cork city, Balbriggan and other towns throughout the country and the murder of many Irish people.
The Black and Tans – so called because of their uniform – were created by Winston Churchill and other ministers as the war of Independence intensified in 1920. With the IRA inflicting heavy casualties on the Royal Irish Constabulary, killing more than 50 of its officers, the British government created new forces to cope with Republican resistance. They were part of a hurriedly-constructed counter-insurgency apparatus which included the existing police force, the regular army, secret service detachments and two completely new forces, the Auxiliaries and the Black and Tans.
Most of them were WWI veterans who answered an advertising campaign in Britain for men willing to face “a rough and dangerous task”. There was no shortage of recruits as the pay was well over normal, 10 shillings a day plus board and lodging – compared to pay for a British army private soldier which was little more than a shilling a day.
The recruits, many hardened by trench warfare, were given only a few months’ training before being dispatched to Ireland, supposedly to act as policemen but in fact to provide military steel, and were in reality given a free hand. In Ireland, they faced a very different type of war. The IRA waged guerrilla warfare, with hit-and-run tactics, attacks on isolated police barracks and deadly ambushes in territory which was unfamiliar to the Tans. The British forces found this an extremely frustrating type of war but the Tans in particular quickly abandoned the normal rules and conduct of war.
They were explicitly instructed to step outside the law, one police divisional commander instructing his men in a speech: “If a police barracks is burnt then the best house in the locality is to be commandeered, the occupants thrown into the gutter. Let them die there; the more the merrier.”
He instructed them to shout “Hands up” at civilians, and to shoot anyone who did not immediately obey and added: “Innocent persons may be shot, but that cannot be helped, and you are bound to get the right parties some time. The more you shoot, the better I will like you, and I assure you no policeman will get into trouble for shooting any man.”
Tans were reportedly among those who took part in Bloody Sunday massacre at Croke Park in Dublin, an incident which followed the assassinations of a large number of members of the British secret service in Dublin. Hours after these killings, British Crown Forces opened fire at a Gaelic football match in Croke Park, causing 12 deaths and wounding scores.
In the summer of 1920, the Black-and-Tans burned and sacked many small towns and villages in Ireland, beginning with Tuam, Co Galway in July 1920. Trim, Co Meath, Balbriggan, Co Dublin, Knockcroghery, Thurles and Templemore Co Tipperary all suffered the same fate.
In November 1920, the Tans besieged Tralee in revenge for the IRA abduction and killing of two local RIC men. They closed all the businesses in the town and let no food in for a week. In addition they shot dead three local people. On November 14, the Tans abducted and murdered Fr Michael Griffin, a Catholic priest in Galway. His body was found in a bog in Barna a week later, (see report of commemoration above).
Finally, the Black-and-Tans sacked Cork city on the night of December 11, 1920. The flames could be seen for miles as the centre of the city was completely wiped out. The City hall and the Carnegie Library were also torched but the British government claimed they caught fire from the city centre although they were more than a mile away.
In other cases, homes and businesses, particularly creameries, were burnt by the Tans.
There were hundreds of reports of savage attacks all over the country, including murder. The late Lord Longford wrote of Tans torturing captured Republicans, “cutting out the tongue of one, the nose of another, the heart of another and battering in the skull of a fourth”.
The British government turned a blind eye to such incidents. But such was the mayhem and murder that pressure mounted on the British government to end the activities. Later, Churchill openly acknowledged the excesses of the Black and Tans, but excusing their activities by stating in the House of Commons: “It was quite impossible to prevent the police and military making reprisals on their own account.”
It was easily preventable, but it was easier to turn a blind eye.
13. IAWM calls for censure on Israel
IN A statement released on November 9, the Irish Anti War Movement drew attention to the distressing new Press Release from Irish Ship to Gaza (ISTG) copied below.
The IAWM statement expressed solidarity with the 14 Irish passengers of the MV Saoirse currently held in an Israeli prison and with their families and supporters here in Ireland. It called for them to be released immediately and also called on the Irish Government, particularly Eamon Gilmore Minister for Foreign Affairs, to stand up to this outrageous attack on Irish citizens by Israel and its open disregard of international law.
Jim Roche, PRO of the IAWM, and a member of the ISTG Steering Committe who was a passenger on the MV Saoirse in June, said:
“I am truly appalled at this outrageous violent attack on these committed and peaceful activists. It is now clear from the descriptions emerging from released journalists that the assault by the Israeli Navy was really quite violent and dangerous and could have resulted in the MV Saoirse sinking. It also occurred in international waters making it even more outrageous. What does Israel need to do to Irish Citizens before our Government, and the Irish media, will sit up and take notice? It is truly shocking what has happened and the way these 14 people are being treated.”
“I now call on the Irish Government to demand the immediate release of all 14 passengers and to censure Israel in some form. It should expell the Israeli Ambassador and call for the cessation of the Euro Med agreement that gives favourable trading rights to Israel. It needs to stop treating this terror, apartheid state with kid gloves.”
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Published on behalf of : by Rsf Cork on Monday, 21 November 2011 at 21:12
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