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Sinn Féin Assembly member for North Antrim Daithi McKay has said that the overnight attacks on three Catholic churches in Ballymena were motivated by the same anti-Catholic sentiment articulated by the Culture Minister Nelson McCausland when he publicly states that he will not take part in events in Catholic churches.
Mr McKay said: “Since he came into office less than a week ago Nelson McCausland has engaged in a media campaign attacking the GAA, the Irish Language and now the Catholic Church. The sectarianism which underpins his politics is exactly then same as that which motivated the overnight attacks on the three Catholic Churches in the Ballymena area.
“It is no good for individual DUP members to condemn sectarian attacks when one of the people selected by their party leader to serve as a Minister in the Executive is directly helping to create the conditions within which sectarianism is justified and motivation is provided for disgraceful attacks like we witnessed last night.
“Once again a senior figure in the DUP has failed the test of political leadership when it comes to confronting sectarianism. We recently saw a similar abdication of leadership from Gregory Campbell in the wake of the brutal murder of Kevin McDaid in Coleraine.
“When sectarian attacks emanate from within the nationalist community I have no problem condemning them and no problem confronting those responsible or those attempting to create the conditions within which sectarianism can flourish. Indeed I see that as a key part of the work of any elected representative.” CRÍOCH
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Sinn Féin Assembly member Martina Anderson has branded a statement from the UPRG in Derry and Coleraine withdrawing support from the PSNI and the political institutions as ‘a pathetic whinge on behalf of a discredited criminal gang’.
Ms Anderson said: “It has been well known for sometime that there are ongoing tensions within the UDA. This statement certainly confirms that. However the vast majority of people, myself included, were completely unaware that the UDA, who are engaged in drug dealing as well as racist and sectarian attacks, were ever supporters of either the PSNI or the political institutions. In that context their rather grand announcement of a withdrawal of support will have little real impact.
“In many ways this statement represents a significant challenge for unionist political leaders. This criminal gang is very clear that it has no intention of going anywhere. Their defence of the murder of Kevin McDaid is telling. I have to say this statement is little more than a pathetic whinge on behalf of a discredited criminal gang.” CRÍOCH
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Coleraine Sinn Féin councillor Billy Leonard has said that “there will be even greater community concerns and tensions” in the Coleraine area because of the UPRG’s statement which claimed that they were withdrawing their support for the police and political institutions.
He said: “Republican, nationalists and even some unionists have always believed that loyalists in Coleraine ran their semi-independent little empire. Therefore in one way there won’t be any surprise at the statement.
“However, there will be great community concern as the implications of their approach are thought through and perhaps witnessed as tensions around Kevin McDaid’s murder and the marches in the area continue.
“It has been claimed in court that the UDA was involved in Kevin’s murder. How then can the UPRG blame everyone else in their statement as if they were the injured party? How can they make outlandish accusations when the dogs in the street know what happened and what has happened in this area over many years?
“If they were even concerned about all drug dealers in the area and how they feed off each other and all cases of intimidation that at least would be a small step.
“It is now definitely time for Unionist politicians to play their part. They have been semi-detached on many issues. They cannot allow the UDA / UPRG to, as I said only last week dictate the agenda around this area.” ENDS
http://www.sinnfein.ie
Sinn Féin had a capacity crowd in San Francisco on Saturday, 27 June at the second of its two major US Forums on the theme of a United Ireland and the role of Irish America in helping to achieve it -- and a euphoric Gerry Adams sat in a San Francisco pub -- Fiddlers Green -- and watched Antrim win an Ulster senior football semi final while sitting among a crowd of Tyrone supporters.
San Francisco was also celebrating gay pride weekend and was alive with colour, music and throngs of visitors from all parts of the world.
The Forum had seating for 600 seats but it was standing room only as Gerry Adams entered St. Anne's Hall. The smile on his face told the story of a very happy Antrim supporter buoyed up by the success of his county team. The Sinn Féin President sang the praises of Antrim and threw down the gauntlet to all the Tyrone supporters in the hall -- 'We're coming for you on July 19th in Clones!'
As in New York two weeks ago a distinguished panel addressed the theme of a United Ireland. They included Professor Ruán O Donnell, Head of the History Department at Limerick University, internationally acclaimed actress Fionnuala Flanagan, renowned Irish artist Robert Ballagh and John L Burton, Chairman of the California Democratic Party.
Gerry Adams told those present that the US conferences are only the beginning of a new phase in the struggle to achieve Irish reunification.
The efforts of Irish Americans had in the past he said made an enormous difference, for example in raising awareness through the MacBride Principles campaign, on the issue of discrimination in employment, and forcing a reluctant British government to introduce tougher anti-discrimination legislation.
"A united Ireland can only be achieved by the people who live on the island of Ireland. However, as the Peace Process has shown the Irish diaspora, and particularly Irish America, has the ability and the political influence to significantly advance the goal of Irish reunification", he said.
Over two dozen speakers from the audience representing a wide range of Irish American organisations also addressed the hall.
There was an enthusiastic welcome for the conference and an eagerness on the part of all of the speakers to begin this new phase of struggle. The ideas mirrored those made at the New York conference -- lobbying state and national legislators and legislative bodies; proposing resolutions for city and municipal and community organisations; securing the support of other Irish American organisations; e-mailing campaigns; letter writing; holding other similar type conferences and much more. Making maximum use of social networking sites like Youtube and Facebook was a constant theme.
One speaker was applauded when he suggested that an effort should be made to co-ordinate all of the St. Patrick's Day events in the USA and to ensure that they adopt the united Ireland theme. Another spoke of the support which the Irish struggle had won over the years from other ethnic groups and that a real effort should be made to win support for a united Ireland from them.
Concluding the Forum Gerry Adams said: "The breadth of representation from Irish America at the two conferences is evidence of how much Irish America cares about what is happening in Ireland and of the desire to achieve a united Ireland.
Irish freedom and independence has been a dream of Irish people for many centuries. We have the ability to do more than dream. We can be the generation that can actually achieve. Let's go and do it."
http://www.sinnfein.ie
The weapons decommissioning body has confirmed it has witnessed a "major decommissioning event, involving arms, ammunition, explosives and explosive devices" belonging to the Ulster Volunteer Force and the Red Hand Commando.
In a statement released last Sunday, the commission (IICD) said the leadership of both organisations had advised them that the weapons and materials put beyond use in their presence "included all the arms under their control".
The commission is scheduled to give a written report to the Irish and British governments at the end of August, the current deadline ending the role of the decommissioning commission. The issue of loyalist and other paramilitary weaponry is scheduled to revert to the criminal justice system after August.
Earlier, General John de Chastelain, head of the commission, had confirmed that he had also witnessed a "significant act of decommissioning by the UDA/UFF". However, the UDA/UFF had so far failed to destroy all its weaponry, said de Chastelain but added:
"This is a significant move and we look forward to completing the process of putting all UDA/UFF arms beyond use at an early opportunity."
Previously, British Secretary of State Shaun Woodward had warned that he would pull the plug on special legislation if there had not been "significant progress" on the loyalist arms issue.
"This is the final opportunity to join the rest of society in building a shared future or face the consequences," Woodward had said. It is currently unclear if the UDA's actions warrant the "progress" cited by the British minister but a likely extension of the August deadline has already been mooted within the media.
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AN ongoing campaign to intimidate witnesses to the sectarian murder of Coleraine Catholic Kevin McDaid has been confirmed by the High Court in Belfast after lawyers disclosed that ten people were now under threat. The information emerged as one of the men accused of the killing was refused bail.
Opposing the bail application of 48-year-old David Cochrane, who is accused of causing an affray, Prosecution barrister Peter Coll said the defendant had been part of a group shouting sectarian abuse when Kevin McDaid was attacked close to his home.
A second man, Damian Fleming, was critically injured by a sectarian mob, who targeted both men because they were Catholics. Kicked unconscious and on life support for days, Damian was not expected to live but miraculously survived. He has been able to name members of the gang that carried out the attack but now lives in fear for his life.
According to the prosecution, the PSNI have issued official warnings of death threats to six witnesses to the incident, advising them that their lives are now in danger. A further four witnesses have made complaints to the PSNI that they have been personally threatened, told to leave Coleraine and warned against giving statements to the police.
UDA INVOLVED IN MURDER
"It is further the police view that UDA members were involved in the murder of Mr McDaid, the attempted murder of Mr Flemming and the wider incident," said Coll.
The barrister highlighted "widespread fear in the local area" and witnesses "fearful for their lives and the lives of family members" and reiterated the belief that members of the UDA were involved in the killing.
Refusing the bail application, presiding Judge Hart accepted as "significant" that a number of witnesses believe they are at risk and have received notification of threats against their lives.
"The extent of the events themselves and the nature of the threats to so many people all suggest there are a number of people who may well be determined to intimidate actual or prospective witnesses," said Hart.
ORANGE MARCH
Orange Order march is scheduled to pass close to where Kevin McDaid was murdered. This will be the second march held by unionists since the killing. A few days after McDaid died and during a time when the body was still being waked at his family home, a loyalist band, one of whose members has been implicated in the murder, brought around 2,000 supporters onto the streets.
Prior to the band parade, hate crime messages were posted on a loyalist website, urging the band to play "loud so they can hear you over the river", and afterwards celebrated the fact that "the McDaid family could hear you loud and clear as the coffin returned home".
In the run up to the second parade, this time by the Orange Order and possibly accompanied by the same loyalist 'Pride of the Bann' band, loyalists attempted to erect flags in the Heights area close to where Kevin McDaid was murdered.
LOYALIST FLAGS ERECTED AT MURDER SCENE
Loyalists entered the area around 6pm last Friday, 26 June and began putting up flags and taunting nationalist residents. Several flags were placed on a lamppost directly at the scene of the killing. Children in Catholic school uniforms were told to "fuck off home".
A relative of Kevin McDaid was injured after he became caught up in a skirmish close to the scene where his cousin had died. He was arrested by PSNI officers at the scene and is currently facing charges of behaviour likely to incite hatred.
Anti-Irish racism and anti-Catholic sectarianism is often so ingrained in the North that the officers who arrested and charged the murder victim's cousin are probably unaware of the hypocrisy of their actions.
ROLE OF UNIONIST POLITICIANS AND MEDIA
In the immediate aftermath of the McDaid murder, unionist politicians and the media attempted to justify the actions of the loyalist killers by identifying the flying of a flag supporting a Catholic football team in a nearby nationalist area as so provocative that it could provide some sort of explanation.
Local nationalists had already made an agreement to remove the allegedly 'offensive' flag the following day after the conclusion of the Scottish football tournament. But that was insufficient to mollify the sectarian hatred of loyalists who still believe croppies should lie down, and be seen to lie down.
It was an action of pure provocation by loyalists to return to the scene of a despicable sectarian murder and attempt to erect flags. But the provocation was apparently invisible to the PSNI officers at the scene who made no attempt to deter loyalists putting up flags.
Subsequently the Orange Order, fearing their proposed march might risk being banned, removed the flags and voluntarily rerouted their parade away from the actual street where the McDaid family live and Kevin McDaid died.
The officers and brethren of the Coleraine lodge expressed "a great deal of sadness and indeed no small amount of anger". But they weren't sad on behalf of the McDaid family or angry at the loyalist flagsters.
"They resent the way in which they have become embroiled in a controversy," reported the Newsletter, and they feel concerned that attempts to deny them their traditional route are being motivated by "certain party political agendas coupled with a reluctance to understand the significance, nature and culture of the event in question".
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RESIDENTS in the Springfield Road area of west Belfast have called on the Orange Order to "get real" after another Orange parade was pushed through the nationalist area without their consent.
Despite hoax bomb alerts and some stone-throwing from a small number of youths, Saturday's controversial Whiterock Orange Parade passed off peacefully but, as a spokesperson for local people pointed out, not without considerable distress and disruption to residents living in the area.
Seán Murray of the Springfield Residents' Action Group said:
"There were some aspects of the parade that were inflammatory, including the participation of well-known UVF and UDA bands. For those who have lost loved ones to loyalist violence, that is highly insensitive.
"We respect everyone's right to practice their culture but are loyalist bands part of Orange culture? I've spoken to Orangemen who insist they aren't, so why are they still being invited to parade?
"The Order has to recognise the rights of people living along the Springfield Road. They want a resolution, they deserve a resolution. It isn't enough to manage a bad situation from year to year.
"It's incumbent on the loyal orders to get real and work out a meaningful resolution with local residents. And there is a straightforward solution, a win-win scenario which would see the entire Orange parade go through Mackies and avoiding the nonsense of opening gates at Workman's Avenue solely to allow Orangemen to march where they're not wanted."
The residents' spokesperson said he believes that, out of a number of ongoing controversial Orange Order parades, this one is one of the easiest to resolve if the will exists to negotiate.
"There is going to be pain for both communities in reaching a resolution but it's possible and all it requires is leadership and resolve. We are prepared to give leadership to our community but, unfortunately, it hasn't been forthcoming on the other side."
Murray condemned the action of 'dissident' micro groups who added to the tension, delaying the parade for an hour until their telephone warnings were exposed as an elaborate hoax.
"These people don't act in the interests of our community; they don't have our support. They only fuel tensions and we are totally against what they did."
http://www.relativesforjustice.com
Pat Quinn, the brother of Frank Quinn, and John Taggert, the son of Danny Taggert, two of the 11 people murdered by the British Parachute Regiment in Ballymurphy on August 9th 1971 during internment, this morning held a one hour meeting with several key member of the US Congress currently visiting the North. Mark Thompson the Director of Relatives for Justice also attended the meeting.
The Congressional Delegation included veteran human rights campaigners Congressman Ritchie Neal, and Congressman Donald Payne. Other members of Congress included Congressman Mike Doyle, Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez, Congressman Tim Holden.
Speaking after the meeting Pat Quinn said: "This was an important meeting in terms of being able to directly brief the Congressional delegation on the key issues and demands of our campaign and in providing updates on a series of meetings we have had over this past year with the Irish and British Governments and all the main political parties.
'Obviously the delegation were aware of the Ballymurphy Massacre but were clearly shocked at the factual detail we were able to provide surrounding the deliberate killings. They were equally shocked on learning that there has never been an proper investigation into the massacre other than the Royal Military Police 'investigation' at the time which sought to vilify our loved ones labeling them as gunmen and gunwomen. The fact that this same regiment, including some of the same Para's, went on to murder 14 more unarmed civilians in Derry the following January was not lost on the Congressional delegation who drew comparisons.
'We focused on the need for a complete and unqualified retraction by the British Prime Minister Gordon Brown of the lies and misinformation propagated at the time about our dead relatives and for their names to be immediately cleared. We stressed need for the truth and that this could only be achieved via an international independent investigation into the massacre.
John Taggert added: 'We are very pleased at the outcome of our meeting in which the members of Congress saw the Ballymurphy Massacre as a watershed case that must be addressed, and committed their total support and assistance to us in taking forward our campaign for the truth to be finally told.
'Congressman Neal told us that yesterday the delegation met with the British Secretary of State and had raised the Ballymurphy Massacre with him along with a number of other key cases. In response the British government raised the cost of inquiries and investigations to which we replied that the true nature of the cost is in concealing the truth - truth costs nothing, cover-ups cost millions. We asked that they continue to raise the key issues and demands of the families with the British Government - a commitment that they gladly gave.
Concluding Mark Thompson said: Throughout the years the US Congress has played an important and pivotal role in raising human rights violations by the British government in Ireland not least through Congressional Hearings. We discussed how this Congressional work should continue and the broader issues of an independent international truth commission in which numerous other families from across the community can also obtain truth, the Eames/Bradley recommendations, specifically the proposed Legacy Commission, and the recently announced consultation by Shaun Woodward MP into the 31 recommendations.
'Relatives for Justice also emphasised the need for the British Government not to control or drive any truth process but rather be subject to it. We noted the positive role of Irish America and the Congress in the past in ensuring processes of impartiality concerning these issues, not least the chairing of the political talks by Senator George Mitchell, and encouraged ongoing input around securing independence in dealing with the past.
'Relatives for Justice agreed to continue to liaise with the Congressional delegation with a view to exploring the how best Congress can advance all the issues discussed and of how they can play a more focused role in supporting the Ballymurphy Massacre Campaign.' ENDS
http://www.relativesforjustice.com
June 26, 2009 - Speaking at the vigil Mark Thompson of Relatives for Justice said: 'It is important that we gather here today in a dignified way to remember our loved ones who were murdered by the British army, those who were injured, interned without trial, those brutalised and tortured - in our own country.
'Of course tomorrow the City Hall will fly a flag to the British armed forces as part of an 'Armed Forces Day'. Under unionist domination the council has bestowed the freedom of the city on various regiments and individual members of the British army and the RUC. Within City Hall and other civic spaces throughout our city there exists numerous commemorative plaques, art, dedicated windows, and commissioned sculptures to the British armed forces. All this has been created without any recognition of the impact, illegality and impunity of the violence perpetrated by British armed forces.
'The only people not officially commemorated within civic spaces are those citizens of Belfast affected by the actions of British armed forces.
'In this context the flying of the flag is insensitive and provocative and we must make our voice heard in a positive, constructive and inclusive way - which we always do.
'The stark reality is that unionism refuses to acknowledge our experience instead preferring to vilify us. Of course this is something that, as a section of people who have suffered disproportionately, we have never did nor wish to do on any other section of our society. We acknowledge all those who have been affected by the conflict no matter their circumstances, religion or politics. Inclusive and equal recognition is the only way forward. That is our strength.
'Yesterday we led a delegation of people bereaved by the British State violence to meet with Belfast Mayor Naomi Long. We conveyed the deep sense of exclusion of our experience within civic spaces including City Hall.
'Belfast must reflect equally the breadth of experience of the conflict of all of its citizens.
'We are hopeful that over the coming months ahead that the process of change in terms of our experience being officially recognised within our city can begin.
'At today's vigil over 70 black balloons were released by children who had relatives killed by the British armed forces in Ireland. Each balloon representing a life taken by these same forces.
'This experience cannot be airbrushed out of our history. It must and will be reflected.'ENDS
http://www.relativesforjustice.com
June 25, 2009 - Following their meeting with Belfast Mayor Naomi Long the relatives for people killed by State forces have released the following statement through Relatives for Justice;
Speaking after the meeting Relatives for Justice Chairperson Clara Reilly said:
''This was an important and constructive meeting which we very much welcome and whereby the Mayor listened fully to the views expressed by the delegation of relatives and understood fully the exclusion of people affected by State violence in civic spaces from across the community.
'We believe that today has begun a dialogue whereby the Mayor, the Council and the Good relations Unit within it, can begin a positive dialogue aimed at addressing the issues we raised around equality of recognition, memorialisation and importantly addressing the deficit in terms of our particular experience being actively excluded.
Concluding Pat Quinn, whose 19 year-old brother Frank Quinn was murdered on August 9th 1971 along with 10 other civilians, added;
'There was agreement that City Hall and other civic spaces need to more accurately reflect the breadth of experience of the citizens of Belfast affected by the conflict rather than being a cold house for the bereaved and injured of British army and State violence. The task now is about taking that work forward to conclusion.' ENDS
Editors Notes: Belfast Mayor receiving a letter on behalf of Jean McBride, mother of Peter McBride murdered by the British army, and of delegation who met the Mayor including Cllr. Paul Maskey who facilitated the meeting with Belfast's Deputy Mayor Cllr. Danny Lavery.
A copy of the letter from Jean McBride can be obtained via the Pat Finucane Centre Derry.
Updated: 11/1/2009
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