‘Armoured cars and tanks and guns came to take away our sons’ — From the song ‘The Men Behind the Wire’

BY MÍCHEÁL Mac DONNCHA

» BY MÍCHEÁL Mac DONNCHA

NO single decision by the British Government in Ireland did more to violate human rights and to escalate the conflict than the decision to impose internment without trial in the Six Counties. Detention without charge was in force... Free article

Legal action launched against British Government for torture

THE 40th anniversary of the launch of internment without charge or trial by the Stormont unionist regime on 9th August 1971 was chosen to lodge a legal action with Secretary of State Owen Paterson on behalf of six former internees against the British Government for torture.
Just under 2,000 people were interned... Free article

The republican strategy is making progress

THE PRISON STRUGGLE, like the struggle outside the prisons, has been “a battle of wills”, Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams TD said at the national march and commemoration in Camlough, in South Armagh, on Sunday 14th August to mark the 30 anniversary of the 1981 Hunger Strike.
It was about the right of the Irish people to... Free article

Ballymurphy Massacre 40th anniversary call for international inquiry

AT AN EVENT in west Belfast on 7th August to mark the 40th anniversary of the Ballymurphy Massacre, Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams TD called for an independent international investigation into the killings by the British Army’s Parachute Regiment.
In August 1971, two days after internment on 9th August, 11... Free article

MARGARET RITCHIE FAILS TO WIN BACKING OF HER OWN ASSEMBLY MEMBERS | TALK OF THREE-WAY BATTLE AT THE TOP

» BY PEADAR WHELAN

» BY PEADAR WHELAN

IT WAS HARDLY a surprise when SDLP Deputy Leader Patsy McGlone announced via Twitter on Monday 1st August that he was to challenge Margaret Ritchie for the leadership of the SDLP.
There have been rumblings since May’s uninspiring election... Free article

AND on the seventh day, whilst God resteth, mischievous cherubs created the mass audience news media in TV, radio, print and Twitter, and they did seek out The Chosen One. They then doth anoint and smear and tarnish their Chosen One in an unending odyssey to obtain greater audiences and hence advertising revenue.
By the time you read this, the news and media-fuelled Irish... Free article

A Féile fáilte for unionists

» BY JIM GIBNEY

REPUBLICANS are often asked by supporters and opponents of a united Ireland what would life be like when it came about.
People are particularly concerned to know how unionists would fit into that scenario and what would relationships be like between them and the rest of the people of this country.
Well, inside the covers of this... Free article

‘Austerity’ and the meltdown in global markets

BY MICHAEL BURKE

» BY MICHAEL BURKE

THERE IS an old joke that Wall Street has predicted seven out of the last two recessions. It is true that many big falls in stock markets don’t lead to recessions, not least because the US Federal Reserve Bank routinely responds by cutting short-term interest rates.
But there are good reasons for... Free article

BY PEADAR WHELAN

» BY PEADAR WHELAN

IF THE SAVAGE attack on Paul McCauley tells us anything, it is that July and August, the height of the so-called Orange marching season in the Six Counties, could also be described as open season on Catholics.
The serious attack on a young Catholic in Antrim Town on Friday 5th August mirrors the assault on Paul McCauley in July 2006 and the... Free article

Plastic bullets are NEVER a solution

BY CLARA REILLY
Chairperson, Relatives for Justice and United Campaign Against Plastic Bullets

THE DEBATE following the riots in London and other cities in England has included a debate about possible weaponry that could be employed by police. The calls for the deployment of water cannon and plastic bullets have been loud and heated.
Muted... Free article