News in brief

Finucane family meet North's political leaders

The family of assassinated human rights' lawyer Pat Finucane last week met with PUP leader David Ervine and US Consul Dean Pittman to discuss their ongoing campaign for an independent inquiry into the solicitor's 1989 killing.

John Finucane described the meeting as positive saying they told Ervine that their main opposition to the tribunal set up under the Inquiry Act of 2005 was very simple. "It would remove the power of any inquiry from the tribunal and put it in the hands of a British Government Minister. This is unacceptable," said Mr Finucane.

The Finucane family are still seeking meetings with the other leaders of the North's political parties.

Nazi posters condemned

Sinn Féin's Philip McGuigan has condemned as "sickening" racist posters with Nazi overtures which pushed through letterboxes in Ballymena, County Antrim.

The posters showing a young girl with blue eyes and blond hair and with the words "Missing, a future for white children" were distributed in the loyalist Harryville area of the town.

The latest campaign is being orchestrated by the same people responsible for previous White Nationalist Party and British Nationalist Party propaganda around the Ballymena area.

McElduff slams Ahern

Sinn Féin's Barry McElduff is accusing the Dublin Government of ignoring the demands of northern nationalists for an Irish passport office to open in the Six Counties.

The West Tyrone MLA aired his criticism after it emerged that Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern had yet to talk to the British Government about establishing an Irish passport office in the North despite extensive lobbying by McElduff.

McElduff told An Phoblacht: "This Irish Government is neglecting the needs of Irish citizens in the North."

It is estimated that over 200,000 people living in the Six Counties hold Irish passports and in a bid to cope with demand the Irish Government set up a "Passport Express" service in over 40 Northern post offices.

Launching Ireland from Below

A new paper reporting on community struggles from around Ireland was launched on Wednesday 23 November in Dublin. Ireland from Below hopes to bring a voice to forgotten communities throughout the 32 Counties.

16 Days Action

Women's Aid will hold a rally outside Leinster House on Friday 25 November at 11am to highlight the issue of domestic violence. The rally kicks off the start of the group's 16 Days of Action, during which it is calling for people to take part in the 'Making Every Voice Heard' letter writing campaign. The campaign asks people to write to their local TDs about under-funding for dealing with domestic violence.