Features

Opinion: Policing debate another historic milestone in evolution of republican strategy

On Sunday delegates to the Special Árd Fhéis will vote on the one motion before them, the outcome of which will decide how republicans engage with policing and judicial processes in the North. The event marks another historic day in a string of such days over the past 13 years. Those mandated to vote will represent cumainn from all parts of the country but there are many other republicans, outside of the party, who have an equally keen interest in the outcome.

Photo: Critical engagement could more quickly uncover the RUC’s collusion with unionist paramilitaries

Policing debate: Youth wing comes up with its own policing model

Ógra Shinn Féin National Congress held an extraordinary meeting last weekend to discuss the Sinn Féin Ard Chomhairle initiative on policing. The Congress passed a motion setting out a new model of policing with changes in structure and practice and called on Ógra members to vote against the Ard Chomhairle motion at the Extraordinary Ard Fheis this Sunday. The Congress urged republicans to remain united and said that they will respect whatever decision is taken by the party's Ard Fheis next weekend.

Photo: Head of Ógra Shinn Féin Barry McColgan

Intense internal and public debate

In the almost 40-year history of this phase of the struggle for a united Ireland there has never been a period of such intense internal and public debate involving republicans all over this country.

The Mary Nelis Column

In 1999, the RUC sent 60 of their 'seasoned' officers to Kosovo to help establish rudimentary civil administration and policing. Shortly after their arrival, in the embattled Serbian Province, Orange tee shirts appeared on vendor's stalls with the logo 'I No Catholik, Donut Shut'. On the reverse side was a crude bulls eye with a red diagonal 'No' stripe, emphasising the fears of the people, the majority of whom are Muslims that the new 'peace-keepers', might mistakenly identify them as Catholics and shoot them.

Photo: Mary Nelis

Dáil general election profile: Maurice Quinlivan, Limerick East

Sinn Féin general election candidate MAURICE QUINLIVAN (40) is from Ballynanty Beg, a council housing estate in Limerick City. Here he talks to ELLA O'DWYER about his republican background, his political journey, the challenges relevant to his urban constituency of Limerick East, and the value he places on unity within the republican family.

Photo: Maurice Quinlivan

Collusion: Kilkenny republicans view presentation on Truth

On Friday last, prior to the launch of PSNI Ombudsman Nuala O'Loan's report into the activities of Special Branch agent Mark Haddock, a large number of republicans came together in Urlingford, Co Kilkenny. They were there to view a Truth and Collusion presentation, delivered by Bernice Swift, and to hear a daughter of collusion victim Eddie Fullerton talk of the family's firsthand experience.

Photo: Amanda and Anita Fullerton at the meeting in Urlingford, Co Kilkenny

Cúlchaint le Seán ó Donaile

Tá áthas orm nach bhfuil mé i mo chónaí sa Rúis - bheadh do theanga greamaithe le sconsa iarrainn leis an fhuacht agus níl aon Pot Noodles acu.

The Matt Treacy Column

Part of Richard Murphy's poem the Battle of Aughrim - concerning the famous battle at Aughrim in Galway in 1691 not the Wicklow Aughrim - contains the lines: "Through centuries of penal gale Hedge-scholars sheltered where it fell." Even the cutest hedge scholar - cute as in Kerry farmer cute not California Valley Girl cute or even Alexandra Florence Kramer cute - might have been hard put to find shelter in Aughrim last Saturday.

Remembering the Past

Following the split in the Republican Movement in January 1970, one of the urgent tasks facing the leadership was producing a new republican newspaper. The first issue of the monthly paper, An Phoblacht, under the editorship of Seán Ó Brádaigh, appeared on 31 January 1970.

Cúba ag Crosbhealach

Níl aon amhras ann ach go bhfuil tréimhse shuimiúil i ndán do Chúba amach anseo, tír bheag le 11 milliún saoránach atá suite idir an Atlanach agus Muir Chairib. Tá an-chuid ceisteanna á gcur i láthair na huaire maidir le cén treo polaitiúil a chasfaidh Cúba tar éis deartháracha Castro a bheith imithe i dtreo a bhfírinne - tá Fidel 80 bliain d'aois agus a dheartháir Raúl cúig bliana níos óige. Tar éis gur fógraíodh tinneas Fidel Castro go poiblí, sheas sé síos as a bheith ina cheann stáit ab fhada i gcumhacht le linn an Fhichiú Aoise, ó threoraigh sé Réabhlóid Chúba chun bua sa bhliain 1959, agus tá na cumhachtaí feidhme imithe chuig a dheartháir, Raúl.

Media View

I must confess that a week ago I had never heard of Jade Goody. While the average punter might have thought that what a British racist said and did was of marginal significance, it dominated the airwaves and the print media alike. No less a personage than Fintan O'Toole, Ireland's resident intellectual and last arbiter of appropriate public discourse, entered the fray with some esoteric waffle that the "issue" wasn't really about race but about class.

Fifth Column

An Phoblacht's famous weekly satirical column.

Letter to the Taoiseach By Barry McElduff

Philip McGuigan (a GAA man) was a bit miffed at Dermot, your Ministerial colleague, during the week. He reckons that it is all very well calling for an all-Ireland soccer team when Dermot has no real power to do anything about it. But why does he not act on matters over which he has some degree of competence and a real say. Like helping to set up that ever-elusive Joint Committee of the Oireachtas on the question of Irish Unity.

Photo: Barry McElduff

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