Other News

The old and the new faces of the struggle for independence linked together through continuity of service were very much on display last Sunday afternoon in Belfast's Short Strand area. The occasion was a party organised by the people of the Short Strand to celebrate the election of Joe O'Donnell, Sinn Féin councillor for the area, as Deputy Mayor of Belfast.

Photo: Joe O'Donnell and Short Strand residents celebrate his election as Deputy Mayor of Belfast

Cashing in on Death - European morality and arms dealing (Part I)

Some Europeans have taken the high moral ground when comparing European foreign policy to that of United States and highlighting the major role of European states as peace brokers, human rights defenders and conflict resolution masters.

Cormac

24 June 2004

Minister accepts that medical card income guidelines "too low"

The Minister for Health and Children has admitted that income thresholds for Medical Card qualification are too low. He was replying to a Dáil Question from Sinn Féin Health spokesperson Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin, who challenged the Minister to act on his statement and extend medical card qualification to all under 18 during the lifetime of this Government.

Relief as Springfield Road Orange march is re-routed

Nationalist residents of the Springfield Road breathed a huge sigh of relief after the Parades Commission banned a controversial Orange Order parade from the area this Saturday. The annual Whiterock parade was banned by the Parades Commission from crossing the West Belfast peaceline onto the nationalist Springfield Road, to the relief of nationalists who have, over the years, been put under siege by hundreds of crown forces personnel.

Photo: Banned paramilitary flags on last year's parade

Loyalist hospital rampage after 'Tour of the North' parade

Doctors and nurses had to lock patients and their families in treatment rooms as up to 40 UDA supporters ran amok in the Mater Hospital after the Tour of the North Orange Order parade on Friday 18 June. Mater Hospital Chief Executive Seán Donaghy said staff were forced to move 20 patients and their families shortly after 10pm when the loyalist gang tried to force their way into the hospital's Accident and Emergency Unit.

Tyrone inquests resume

As inquests into the deaths of ten people killed in Tyrone by the crown forces, including pensioner Roseanne Mallon, resumed on Tuesday, Sinn Féin MP Michelle Gildernew said there is a growing belief amongst the families that the only avenue which will deliver the truth will be a public inquiry.

Photo: Roseanne Mallon

Adams meets John Stevens over collusion

Gerry Adams on Tuesday night met with the Metropolitan Police Commissioner John Stevens in London to discuss the Stevens investigation into the killing of Pat Finucane and the wider issue of collusion. The Sinn Féin President told Stevens that it is the party's view that the British Government is using his inquiry and the trial of Ken Barrett (who is facing charges relating to the case) as excuses to obstruct the establishment of a Public Inquiry into Pat Finucane's death as demanded by the Finucane family and Judge Cory.

Photo: Pat Finucane

British Government under pressure over Cory

As the families of Rosemary Nelson, Robert Hamill and Billy Wright are accusing the British Government of stalling over the establishment of public inquiries into the three killings, it has emerged that US Democratic Presidential hopeful John Kerry has signed a letter calling on the British to establish an inquiry into the killing of solicitor Pat Finucane.

Sinn Féin excluded as six cities elect chairs

After the exhilaration, the headlines, the amazing first count victories of Sinn Féin topping many polls across constituencies of the 26 Counties, inaugural AGMs of city councils brought a hard dose of reality. The squalid undemocratic power grubbing that characterises local authority politics resumed, as if there had been no election at all. The business in hand at these inaugural meetings was to elect a chairperson who doubles in the lucrative position of Mayor, and a deputy to go with him. And 'him' of course it was in the cities of Dublin, Limerick, Waterford, Sligo, Kilkenny and Drogheda, which all elected their mayors earlier this week. And without exception, parties gathered together to ensure that Sinn Féin, and the people who had voted for them, were excluded.

Photo: Dublin City SF Councillors

Publish details of Sligo pact - MacManus

The outgoing Mayor of Sligo, Cllr Seán MacManus, has called on the Fianna Fáil/Labour Coalition on Sligo Borough Council to publicise details of the written agreement reached between both parties, which includes their sharing the Mayoralty and domination of most other committees of the new Council.

Photo: SF Councillor Seán MacManus

SF councillor suspended

Media speculation abounded this week over news that Sinn Féin Councillor Martin Christie, who was elected in Blanchardstown, Dublin, to Fingal County Council, had been suspended without prejudice from the party. On Tuesday, Christie confirmed this to be true.

Europe tops Ard Chomhairle agenda

Sinn Féin General Secretary Robbie Smyth said the Sinn Féin Ard Chomhairle, which met in Dublin on Saturday, engaged in extensive discussions relating to the role of the party's new MEPs both in the European Parliament and in Ireland. Smyth said that the party's national executive had discussed "our future engagement within the EU Parliament, including the party's options in terms of the various Parliamentary groupings".

Lisburn unionists under scrutiny

The behaviour of unionist councillors at the AGM of Lisburn City Council on Thursday 24 June will be observed by a Dublin Government observer and a Sinn Féin delegation, led by former Mayor of Belfast Alex Maskey. The AGM is due to elect the mayor and deputy mayor of the council and fill the senior posts on the council's committees. Last year's Lisburn Council AGM led to a year of controversy after the DUP and UUP colluded to fill the chair and deputy chair positions on all of the council's committees to the exclusion of Sinn Féin, the SDLP and Alliance parties.

Photo: Sinn Féin Councillor Paul Butler

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