Memories of Kieran Doherty TD at Long Kesh

This week marks the 25th anniversary of the election to Leinster House of Hunger Striker Kieran Doherty, Teachta Dála for Counties Cavan and Monaghan. On Monday a delegation from Monaghan Sinn Féin visited Long Kesh, including the Cages, the H-Blocks and the Hospital wing where Kieran and his nine comrades died. The group visited Cell 2 (pictured) in the Hospital where Kieran died on 2 August 1981 after fasting for 73 days. He had been elected on 11 June. Among the visiting group were (left to right) Peter Smyth, former Long Kesh prisoner who participated in the burning of the Kesh in 1974, Castleblayney Sinn Féin Councillor Mariea Kelly and Sinn Féin Dáil leader Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin, TD for Cavan-Monaghan.

Belfast council to spend £100,000 on loyalist bonfires

Belfast City Council is to increase funding for loyalist bonfires. Loyalist bonfires have regularly been the scene of armed paramilitary displays. The council allocation of £2,500 has been slammed by Sinn Féin.

The bonfire programme includes 12 sites across Belfast.

Sinn Fein's Belfast City councillors fiercely opposed the programme but it was passed after SDLP councillors abstained.

DUP threaten SF councillor

Newly elected Down Council chairperson, Sinn Féin's Willie Clarke, has told An Phoblacht that after his installation DUP assembly member and councillor Jim Wells warned him to keep Sinn Féin's nose out of unionist areas.

Clarke is the first Sinn Féin Chair of Down District council. After the election Wells warned Clarke to stay out of places like Killyleagh and Saintfield as he would not be wanted.

Clarke said the DUP threat will not stop him from representing all the electorate of the area.

Orange Order links to UDA exposed

A member of the Orange Order was convicted of possessing UDA weapons when he appeared in a Scottish Court last week.

45-year-old Orangeman Stephen Moffett from East Fife in Scotland was convicted in a court in Edinburgh of UDA membership and the possession of weapons.

Sinn Féin assembly member John O'Dowd has said that serious questions now need to be asked of the Orange Order. "How can the Orange Order claim to be a religious organisation and claim to be committed to peaceful activity, yet time and time again they are caught out with individuals like Moffett in their ranks. This latest conviction raises very serious questions for the Orange Order and once again puts their links with violent, unionist paramilitaries places in the spotlight", said O'Dowd.

UVF flags erected outside Catholic school

Sinn Féin has called for the removal of unionist paramilitary flags from outside Our Lady of Mercy School in North Belfast. On Friday 26 May a number of UVF flags were attached to lampposts outside the secondary school on the Bilston Road in the loyalist Ballysillan area.

The school has been targeted by loyalists in the past. In 2004 a loyalist gang took over the school car park and set fire to a number of cars belonging to teachers as at least two gunmen stood guard at the school gates.

Another racist attack in Derry

In the last three weeks there have been four attacks on Polish immigrants in Derry City and county.

In the latest attack the young man was beaten as he walked along Coleraine Street in Kilrea at around 4pm Wednesday, 30 May. One of two occupants of a silver Fiat Cordoba approached the man and asked him where he was from before assaulting him.

Coleraine Sinn Féin councillor Billy Leonard said the young man should, like all other members of the community, be able to go about their business free from racist attacks.

Meanwhile over £1,000 was raised for a Polish family left homeless after their Emerson Street home the Waterside area of Derry was attacked by loyalist thugs two weeks ago.

On the run with An Cumann Cabhrach

Sixteen women took part in the Dublin City Womens' marathon last Bank Holiday Monday to raise funds for the Dublin branch of An Cumann Cabhrach.

An Cumann Cabhrach raises funds for the relief of republican prisioners and their dependents.