BY LAURENCE McKEOWN

Laurence McKeown was a republican prisoner for 16 years in Long Kesh and spent 70 days on the 1981 Hunger Strike. He is the author of a doctoral thesis, co-author of the feature film H3 and the plays The Laughter of Our Children and A Cold House.

IN THIS YEAR, the 30th anniversary of the 1981 Hunger Strike, there will be many talks, debates, exhibitions, and... Free article

Independent International truth commission

THE LEGACY OF THE PAST is one of the big issues that remains to be resolved in the outworking of the peace process. This includes the truth about formal and informal collusion and the wider desire of many victims and families for an effective truth recovery process.
Ten years ago, in 2001, the British and Irish Governments committed, at... Free article

JUNE is the month when republicans honour ‘The Father of Irish Republicanism’, Wolfe Tone, where he is buried in Bodenstown, County Kildare.
Tone’s ideal was:
“To subvert the tyranny of our execrable government, to break the connection with England, the never-failing source of all our political evils, and to assert the independence of my country — these were my objects.
“To unite... Free article

THE AGREEMENT reached between prisoners and the prison administration at Maghaberry last August should be implemented in full as a matter of urgency, Raymond McCartney, the Sinn Féin Vice-Chair of the Assembly Justice Committee has told An Phoblacht.
Speaking to An Phoblacht just before we went to press, the Foyle MLA said:
“There are continuing concerns about the treatment of... Free article

Former IRA members met the Smithwick Tribunal

IT has been confirmed that three former members of the Irish Republican Army had a face-to-face meeting with lawyers acting for the Smithwick Tribunal investigating the IRA assassination of two high-ranking RUC officers in 1989. The tribunal has been told the former IRA members gave detailed accounts and replied to questions from... Free article

Paul Maskey elected as new Sinn Féin MP for West Belfast

PAUL MASKEY celebrated his 44th birthday on Thursday 9th June by being elected the new Sinn Féin MP for West Belfast and comfortably winning the seat held by Gerry Adams until his election to the Dáil in February.
Paul’s election win continues the momentum of Sinn Féin successes as a growing political force throughout the... Free article

THE SDLP campaign focused on Sinn Féin not taking its seats in Westminster.
SDLP candidate and Environment Minister Alex Attwood’s flyer featured the slogan “West Belfast needs a strong leader . . . not an empty seat.”
The voters chose a strong leader — Paul Maskey.
Paul said later:
“The people of West Belfast aren’t stupid. They’re astute individuals and have sent a clear message... Free article

ON May 21st 1981, Fianna Fáil Taoiseach Charles Haughey called a general election, the first since he took over as leader of Fianna Fáil and Taoiseach in 1979. The election was overshadowed by the H-Block crisis.
On the very day the general election was called, Raymond McCreesh and Patsy O’Hara died after 61 days on hunger strike.
Bobby Sands and Francis Hughes had died on May... Free article

BOOK REVIEW
BY MARK MOLONEY

‘PAWNS IN THE GAME’,
BY BARRY FLYNN
(COLLINS PRESS €13/£12)

THIS YEAR being the 30th anniversary of the 1981 Hunger Strike, it’s no surprise that some writers outside republicanism are looking at this historic period and one of the more interesting publications is without doubt Barry Flynn’s Pawns in the Game.
And don’t be put off by the title. I had... Free article

BY JUNE 1981, four prisoners — Bobby Sands, Francis Hughes, Raymond McCreesh and Patsy O’Hara — had died on hunger strike and four more — Joe McDonnell, Kieran Doherty, Kevin Lynch and Martin Hurson — had joined the fast.
Outside the jails, IRA Volunteers George McBrearty and Charles ‘Pop’ Maguire had been killed in action in an ambush by British forces in Derry City in the last... Free article