In Briefs

Vol. Martin Doherty remembered

Speaking at the Martin 'Doco' Doherty commemoration in Dublin on Sunday 21 May, Sinn Féin TD for Louth Arthur Morgan said it was time the Irish government supported demands for truth from the families of those killed in the 26 Counties as a result of collusion between British forces and unionist paramilitaries.

IRA Volunteer Martin Doherty was killed by unionist paramilitaries in an attempted bomb attack on the Widow Scallon's pub on Dublin's Pearse Street on the 21 May 1994. His courage, in confronting the UVF death squad saved countless lives.

Morgan said there remained unanswered questions around Doherty's murder- questions for the Gardaí, 26-County state and the British, with lingering suspicions that the UVF, who claimed responsibility did not act alone.

The commemoration for Martin Doherty also remembered IRA Volunteer Raymond McCreesh and INLA Volunteer Patsy O'Hara who died after 61 days on Hunger Strike on 21 May 1981.

Protest at Howard visit

Sinn Féin TD's Martin Ferris and Arthur Morgan are joined by Dublin South candidate Shaun Tracey at a Peace and Neutrality Alliance protest against the war in Iraq last Tuesday. The protest coincided with Australian Prime Minister John Howard's address to the Dáil after which Sinn Féin Dáil leader Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin handed him a letter outlining Sinn Féin's opposition to Australia's participation in the invasion and occupation of Iraq

Murphy dismisses PSNI claims

Sinn Féin Newry/Armagh MP Conor Murphy has dismissed claims made by the PSNI that a number of PSNI members were attacked in a stone throwing incident during the commemoration.

Murphy described the PSNI claims as, "fiction", and went on to say that Sunday's parade, "was a well stewarded and dignified parade", and that the PSNI was attempting to, "besmirch the memory of Raymond McCreesh and the other H-Block Martyrs as well as the republican community in South Armagh.

"There was no need for the PSNI to be near the march yet they have manufactured a story which is grounded in fiction".

PSNI look on as Hunger Strike murals are attacked

Sinn Féin MLA Geraldine Dougan has hit out at loyalists who attempted to destroy two murals commemorating the 1981 Hunger Strike at the weekend.

The murals in Bellaghy and Slaughter-neil in County Derry were attacked. One was burnt and the other paint bombed.

Dougan said the PSNI watched the attacks take place.

She said this was not the first time the murals were attacked, adding that recent outbursts by Unionist politicians contributed to such attacks.

Cross Border GP projects

Sinn Féin's Barry McElduff MLA says Sinn Féin will monitor progress on the establishment of two pilot projects aimed at removing barriers to GP access in border areas.

The projects will be initiated in the Derry/Inishowen and Keady/Castleblaney areas. This follows a high level meeting with the Health Departments of the Six and 26 Counties and a Senior Sinn Fein delegation comprising McElduff, Caoimhghin O Caolain TD, John O'Dowd MLA, Councillor Tony McDaid and the Party's All Ireland Co-ordinator Seán Oilibhear.

The meeting in Monaghan, concentrated on removing departmental regulations delaying the establishment of pilot schemes for people living in border areas to access the nearest GP Out of Hours arrangement when it is located in the other state.'