Author Archives: Kevin Meehan
Austerity Kills – my song and video about how the cuts agenda of the ConDem government costs lives
I wrote the following lyrics to an original Fruity Frank and the Frisky Freaks song called “Austerity Kills” in December 2013:
We need unity
Not austerity
No ifs, no buts
Stop all the cuts
Except Trident of course
And perhaps the armed forces
Increasing Demand in East Belfast for Irish
On February 1st the Belfast Grand Master of the Orange Order called on Protestants to refrain from learning the Irish language. In his comments, made at a loyalist march in north Belfast, George Chittick stated that the language was “part of the republican agenda” and that funding would be better spent elsewhere. His views were supported by the Orange Order’s director of services David Hume.
What both seem to have selectively forgotten, or remain ignorant of, is the historical links with Protestantism and the Irish language. During the plantations of Ulster in the 1600′s there was very little difference in the Scottish Gaelic spoken by the settlers and the Irish spoken by the people of Ulster. Thus, it was only a natural progression for these settlers to then master the native language of the land they had settled in. Indeed it is worth pointing out that Irish was the medium used by both the Presbyterian Church and The Church of Ireland, shortly after their inception in Ireland. Sermons were delivered and literature was produced to followers of both faiths in the very language Mr Chittick is today attempting to undermine.
At one stage in the 1800′s half of the Methodist missionaries in Ulster all spoke and preached in Irish. Clearly Mr Chittick and Mr Hume have never heard of the Irish Society for Promoting the Education of the Native Irish through the Medium of their Own Language (the Irish Society). It was founded in 1818 by members of the Church Of Ireland and remained in place right up until 1914. Irish as a language thrived amongst the Protestant community in Newry in the 1800’s. Protestants at the time viewed Irish as part of everyday life, and an understanding of the language was integral in going about their daily business.
masonic paedophiles in scotland
Long have I wondered about the existence of such things,the secret society of goatskin wearing satanic bloodloatches…is real in modern day scotland, and like any parasite it’s feeding of the vulnerable….
Family of murdered PIRA man in collusion claim
‘I have no doubt there was collusion. I don’t think there was a lot of investigating done into Gerard’s murder from the very beginning - Una Casey-Eakin.
THE family of an IRA man shot dead by loyalists using a gun linked to httphttp://i.ytimg.com/vi/-K_BNabqAjY/hqdefault.jpghttp://i.ytimg.com/vi/-K_BNabqAjY/hqdefault.jpg://i.ytimg.com/vi/-K_BNabqAjY/hqdefault.jpgish
army agent Brian Nelson believe there is clear evidence of collusion in the murder.
Father-of-three Gerard Casey was gunned down by the UDA/UFF as he slept beside his wife and baby daughter at their home near Rasharkin, Co Antrim in April 1989. It Gerard’srecently emerged that one of two weapons used to kill the 29-year-old was a Czechoslovakian-made VZ-58 assuault rifle. The same gun was used during the Rising Sun pub massacre which believed the lives of eight prople including the oldest man mudered during the troubles at Greysteel in Co Derry on Halloween night 1993. The weapon is one of several hundred bwithout d to have been smuggled into the north with the help of UDA member Brian Nelson, who was working for the British army’s Force Research Unit. The family’s solicitor, Fearghal Shiels, confirmed last night that he has written to the Ministry of D:-) ghter’ efence seeking compensation becaConstable, lson’s involvement. Relatives also want the case to be investiShield by the Police Ombudsman’s Office, which last montinterview ed officials ainvolvedng at the th:-) e Graysteel Massacre and murder oinconceivable Catholic workmen in Castlerock, Co Derry in march 1993. Four loyalists, Torrens Knight, Jeffery Deeny, Stephen Irwin and Brian McNeill, were convicted for their part in the Graysteel attack while Knight was also convicted in relation to Castlerock.
The Police Ombudmasman has confirmed it has “identified policing issues” in counties Derry and Antrim between 1988 and 1993. Mr Casey’s widow Una Casey-Eakin beleives security forces were involved in her former husband’s murder. She claims that while being questioned by police in Castlereagh several months eariler, he was told he would be shot and the killing blamed on loyalists. She also alleges that during an RUC raid on her home a legally-held shotgun was seized and a detailed sketch of the house was made. “I have no doubt there was collusion,” she said. “I don’t think there was a lot of investigating done into Gerard’s murder from the very beginning. “I was interveiewed on the night of his murder and several days later in Ballymoney and that was the last contact we had with them.” Mrs Casey-Eakin beleives up to nine people may have been involved in the murder, and it could be linked to other killings in the area at that time. Two people were arrested and later released wihout charge. “The same gun was used to shoot Gerard was used in Graysteel. Why were the people arrested for Graysteel not pulled for that?” In 2010 Attorney General John Larkin ordered a new inquest into Mr Casey’s death. The move came after his daughter Tara took the case against the Chief Constable, forcing police to disclose documents relevant to the case. Mr Shiels also raised questions about the RUC’s failure to interveiw some of those involved in the Graysteel about the Casey murder. “It is inconceivable that those persons could not be regarded as suspects, given their later possession of the actual murder weapon, and the failure to question those individuals is a matter which requires a rigorous independent investigation,” he said.
With many thanks to: Connla Young, The Irish News.
‘I was strip-searched 30 times. Held in the crucifix position and left lying debased and humiliated’
EIRIGI MAN TELLS HOW VISITS FROM SON (6) KEPT HIM GOING
REPUBLICAN ACTIVIST CLEARED AFTER 14 MONTHS
REPUBLICAN activist Stephen Murney says he endured repeated strip searches in a 14 month “living hell” behind bars.
In an exclusive interview with the Sunday World within days of walking free, after being cleared of a raft of terrorist charges, the Eirigi press officer lifted the lid on the brutal prison regime which he described as physical and mental torture. “I was forcibly strip searched about 20 to 30 times when I was in there (Maghaberry),” he said. “Just before the searches were about to happen, I was taken into a room and asked if I was going to comply with a search, I would make it known I wouldn’t. “Then I was left in a room for about 15 minutes, a reflection period they would call it (the prison officers), in a cell by yourself. “Basically this was to get you worried, as you know what’s going to happen to you. The cell then opens and half a dozen screws (prison officers), the Riot Squad (ninja’s) as they are known in jail, enter the room in black boiler suits with utility belts and batons. You are standing in the cell, they stand around you. “One in front, grabbed me by the face, each one to the side grabbed me by the arms, and hold you out like a crucifix position.
Pushing
“The others behind me force me on my knees then pushed my face literally into the ground. At that point you are fully clothed, then they start removing your clothing. I didn’t put up resistance. “They held me in arm locks and pressure points and then left me lying on the ground, degraded and feeling humiliated. “And they never tell you what they are looking for,” explained Murney. He said the strip searches were unnecessary as the prison is equipped with an electronic BOSS chair that can detect any foreign item in the body. In a frank and open interview the Newry republican spoke of his determination to continue to fight for his political goals yet publicly backed a non-combatant approach to achieving a United Ireland. “Eirigi is engaging publicly and privately in relation to the futility of armed actions. “There are people who agree and disagree with our analysis and that is a range of all people, but I would support the party’s position,” said Mr Murney. However the former republican prisoner stopped short of condemning acts of violence carried out by other members of his group and the acts of dissident republican terror groups, including the murders of Constable Kerr and prison officer David Black. “The politics of condemnation never worked for 40 years. I am not going to jump on the bandwagon of condemnation now, but what I can say is that I do support armed groups and their actions. “There is a mjor misconception dissident activity equates to armed actions. Remember the dissidents of the Soviet Union were the toast of the West. “There is a whole raft of republicans of different shades who disagree with the status quo who don’t go out there with armed actions on their minds. “Former members of Shame Fein and the PIRA are coming out saying where they stand. Being a dissident does not necessarily equate with being involved in armed activity and Eirigi’s position on armed activity is clear as it was to Judge Philpott who has totally vindicated me and my party,” he added. Last Monday, Corrine Philpott QC, acquitted the Eirigi spokesman after six of the charges including possession of BB guns and combat styled clothing were thrown out in a no bill application. The final charge of taking and publishing photographs of PSNI/RUC officers on his Facebook account from the 2012 Olympic Torch run were also thrown out of by the Diplock court judge. Defending solicitor Darragh Macklin has now confirmed that he will be pursuing civil action for damages for his client. Speaking to the Sunday World Murney revealed how he coped with ‘crucifix styled’ strip searches and ill treatment during his 14 months on remand. His health has suffered, the visible toll on his physique can be seen in his significant loss in weight. The 30-year-old admits he experience proved to be a mental as well as physical “torture” following repeated, forced strip searches, sometimes twice a day. Murney was arrested in November 2012. He was offered bail of £1,000 bail with the conditions that he stayed out of Newry. He rejected the terms and continued to decline the condititions for a further year. “I have no doubt if I had accepted the bail I would have ended up breaching them through no fault of my own, and be on further charges. “The whole experience was hard on family, especially my six-year-old son Rhys. “He knew where I was and why, he knew the police had been harassing me for months before the raid. He was there in the house when the armed police raided my house at six in the morning,” he recalled.
Family
Viva la Palastine
It was the visits from his much loved son and the support of his family that kept him going through his darkest of hours. “As you can imagine I always looked forward to his visits. It was really difficult to say no to bail, but I had the support of my family. “My mother, Martina wrote to the Attorney General John Larkin, the NI Human Rights Commission, and the director of prosecutions to examine my case. So there was a campaign going on all the time. “We were being heard before I was arrested and we are continuing to be heard and that is what the British state tried to put a stop to by locking me away,” said Mr Murney. The position of the press officer is to continue his work with the political group in establishing a new electoral campaign North and South of the border. The socialist republican does say that a United Ireland is possible in his lifetime, but has said the Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness is living in “Cloud Cookoo Land”. “Martin McGuinness’ vision of a United Ireland by 2016 is just two years away, and in my opinion it is just not going to happen. “I would like to see it happen in my lifetime. Ireland has a wealth of natural reserves that is yet to be taped into, and just like Scotland voting on independence, it can happen here too. “We have already chosen candidates for the upcoming local council elections with two in Belfast and seven in the South. And we will be considering potentially sitting in the new Super Council of Newry, Mourne and Down. “Don’t forget I am an innocent man, and I intend to pursue my political beliefs despite all that happened to me, said Mr Murney. In the same week as the Newry man walked out of Laganside courts to greet his party supporters, four fellow Eirigi members were sentenced to six years in jail at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin for possession of firearms and handguns. Trinity PhD student Ursula Shannon (30) of Clonsilla, Dublin and her co-accused John McGreal (37), from Rush, and Colin Brady (24), of Kinsealy, both Co. Dublin, were found guilty of the offences after a short trial. A fourth co-accused, John Troy (34) of Cabra, Dublin had pleaded guilty to the unlawful possecession of the same Taurus pistol, magazine, Walther P5 pistol and one ZGJY branded combined stun gun and flashlight on the same date. Stephen Murney stated it was not his place to condemn the actions of any republican.
With many thanks to: Paula Mackin, the Sunday World.
Email address: paula.mackin@nth.sundayworld.com
An English Ireland Fears An Irish Ireland
Tá An Réabhlóid Ag Teacht!
For over two-and-a-half years An Sionnach Fionn has been reporting on the rising levels of public antipathy towards Irish-speaking citizens in Ireland and the heightened culture of discrimination within the country’s departments of government. Since 2011 we’ve examined the reduction or blocking of services through the Irish language by large sections of the state, even within legally-recognised Irish-speaking communities or Gaeltachtaí. We’ve seen how the deliberate avoidance or breaking of regulations laid down by the Official Languages Act of 2003 by English-speaking civil servants and their political masters has created a culture of consequence-free prejudice that now pervades every aspect of Ireland’s dealings with its Hibernophone citizenry. To many observers both at home and abroad traditional Irish-speaking communities are being targeted for extinction by the very state which claims their allegiance through the erosion of their special legal and cultural status as the heartlands of a distinctive Irish Ireland. Now Irish-speakers can arrested by the Gardaí or police for answering in Irish to questions put to them in English (and treated, in the words of the arresting officers, as “foreigners”). Meanwhile the Supreme Court of Ireland has ruled that Irish-speaking defendants can be legally denied trial by those who speak the Irish language while English-speaking defendants are legally guaranteed trial by those who speak the English language.
Into this culture of Hibernophone mania comes this interjection by the Irish journalist and broadcaster Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh who two years ago rightly identified the bigotry towards Irish-speakers in Ireland as “racism”. In yesterday’s Sunday Independent newspaper she highlights the increasingly desperate plight of a minority population under linguistic siege from a majority where those with the loudest voices and the greatest influence are the most bigoted:
Ukraine: Putin backs down after Cameron threatens to watch Strictly instead of Paralympics
(satire?)
The Russian president, Vladimir Putin, has hurriedly agreed to pull back his forces stationed in the Ukrainian Black Sea peninsula of Crimea after British Prime Minister David Cameron said on Sunday he will be staying away from the Paralympics in Sochi and not even watching it on telly in protest at Moscow’s moves to annex the peninsula in all but name.
Despite Ukraine mobilising for war and Washington threatening to isolate Russia economically, President Vladimir Putin only showed signs of nervousness and agreed to loosen his iron grip on Crimea after Mr Cameron announced he would also be instructing other UK government ministers to watch old episodes of Strictly Come Dancing instead of the Paralympics if Moscow refused to back down.
Hundreds of Thousands of Ultra-Orthodox Jews Protest the Military Draft Bill in Jerusalem
Now, THAT is a PROTEST—and lamestream covered it! ~ BP
Ultra-Orthodox Rally in Israel Against Military Draft Bill
ATOS denies in public it is ATOS
(not satire – it’s ATOS!)
Government statistics reveal that between January 2010 and January 2011, 10,600 sick and disabled people people died within six weeks of their benefits having been ended after being wrongly assessed as fit for work by ATOS.
As an example of how toxic the name ATOS has become even to itself – ATOS recently changed its name in the UK to OH Assist as an attempt to distance itself from the scandal.
