Top Issue 1-2024

4 May 2006 Edition

Remembering 1981: Shock, outrage as final manouvres fail to prevent death

4 May 2006

On 5 May 1981 IRA Volunteer, Hunger Striker and Fermanagh South/Tyrone MP Bobby Sands died in the H-Block prison hospital at Long Kesh. He had endured 65 days without food, and had spent his last two days in a coma. Sands' emaciated body, lying in state at his home in Belfast's Twinbrook estate, told the story of the torment and suffering which he had endured. Free article

Remembering 1981: Former Hunger Striker Laurence McKeown's story

4 May 2006

25 years ago this week Bobby Sands died after 66 days on Hunger Strike. Laurence McKeown also took part in the 1981 Hunger Strike, going for 70 days without food. Here, he talks to An Phoblacht's ELLA O'DWYER about his own background, jail experience, his impressions of Bobby Sands and the affects of a prolonged encounter with death at such an early age. Free article

Health policy: Alternative to two-tier system launched

4 May 2006

Speaking at the launch of Sinn Féin's All Ireland healthcare policy on Wednesday 3 May, the party's spokesperson on Health Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin TD rejected the "grossly unequal, unfair and inefficient two tier, public-private health system" in the 26 Counties and described the Sinn Féin's policy as a "programme for fundamental change and a call to action," saying "it is a campaigning document that we will be bringing to communities the length and breadth of this island". The central demand he argued was the "right to healthcare in an Ireland of Equals." Free article

Collusion: Further revelations expose British terrorism

4 May 2006

In a week where further revelations have been made about the involvement of British forces in the systematic murder of citizens, and as the families of those killed through this policy launch a new website, Sinn Féin's MARTIN McGUINNESS, writing for An Phoblacht says that the truth about collusion will expose the terrorism of the British state in Ireland. Free article

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An Fhirinne launch website

4 May 2006

An Fhirinne, the group campaigning to highlight collusion between the British crown forces and unionist paramilitaries, launched a new website listing details of over 1,000 people killed by pro-British death squads on Tuesday, 2 May 2006. Free article

Nuacht na nOibrithe

4 May 2006

Partnership pay talks, SIPTU and ATGWU Co-operation Agreement, Workers' Memorial Day, Work to rule at FÁS, Harney snubs nurses and May Day Free article

Market rights must be saved

4 May 2006

Upholding 400-year-old British laws might not seem the stuff of revolution but it is and over the last week, particularly over the bank holiday weekend literally hundreds of people in small towns around the 26 Counties have been taking to the streets in a campaign to save the right to have street markets and fairs. Free article


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