5 March 1998 Edition
Editor's desk
Much has been made in recent weeks about the credibility of the Parade's Commission because of its pro-Unionist bias.
But it has now emerged that it is also incompetent.
At the request of the Commission, two functionaries met with Sinn Féin in Downpatrick last week. The Orange Order has signalled its intention to march in the predominantly nationalist town this July.
The Commissioners themselves will visit Downpatrick on 9 and 10 March to take submissions.
Councillor Paddy McGreevy said that Sinn Féin was meeting them out of courtesy but emphasised that the party had no faith in the body.
He then asked them what purpose the meeting had when the Commissioners themselves were coming to take submissions in two weeks time as advertised in the local press.
``What?'' the Commission women answered. They had not even been informed by their own organisation of its plans to visit the County Down town.
Keeping up the best traditions of a fine body of men is Robert Sloan (24). The RIR man has just been charged in Belfast with one of the biggest seizures of Ecstasy tablets in the North this year.
Sloan, a member of the 8th Battalion, RIR, was charged in Belfast on 28 February in connection with possession of £200,000 worth of the drug, with intent to supply.
Sinn Féin demonstrations in the 26 Counties always have two or three sinister figures lurking about on the edges. Tough looking (some would say ugly) men, faces swollen from drink and good living, they wear standard issue trench coats or anoraks. These are the strong silent types without which no demonstration is complete.
They are, of course, members of the Garda Special Branch. Notoriously camera-shy, they hide at the sight of a lens. But an intrepid photographer at SF's 1798 commemoration at Enniscorthy managed to take these rare pictures of the Bashful Branchmen (Branchicus Lieaboutus).
First the three large, shy creatures in the background bury their heads at the sight of the camera. Then, seconds later, they attempt to hide, much to the amusement of the assembled branch-spotters.
You could spend hours observing their habits.
Cairde Sinn Féin's annual Night at the Dogs in Shelbourne Park, Dublin, was a roaring (or is it howling?) success last weekend. The Friends of Sinn Féin crowded the Greyhound Stadium, making organiser Joe Reilly a happy man. The night was not without headaches, though, for the Navan Councillor who is the financial brain behind CSF. Gardai said they had intelligence that loyalists were planning an attackin the capital that day and security was tight around Shelbourne.
Thankfully, nothing untoward occurred but there was some amusement at the name of the dog in Trap 3 in the Paul Donnelly (North Dublin SF candidate) Race. The dog was called Ring the Police. Also heavily backed by the republican punters was the eventual winner of the Ray McCreesh 525 for the John McDonnell Trophy, sponsored by Sportslocker, Maynooth. It was called Real Branch.
But it has now emerged that it is also incompetent.
At the request of the Commission, two functionaries met with Sinn Féin in Downpatrick last week. The Orange Order has signalled its intention to march in the predominantly nationalist town this July.
The Commissioners themselves will visit Downpatrick on 9 and 10 March to take submissions.
Councillor Paddy McGreevy said that Sinn Féin was meeting them out of courtesy but emphasised that the party had no faith in the body.
He then asked them what purpose the meeting had when the Commissioners themselves were coming to take submissions in two weeks time as advertised in the local press.
``What?'' the Commission women answered. They had not even been informed by their own organisation of its plans to visit the County Down town.
Keeping up the best traditions of a fine body of men is Robert Sloan (24). The RIR man has just been charged in Belfast with one of the biggest seizures of Ecstasy tablets in the North this year.
Sloan, a member of the 8th Battalion, RIR, was charged in Belfast on 28 February in connection with possession of £200,000 worth of the drug, with intent to supply.
Sinn Féin demonstrations in the 26 Counties always have two or three sinister figures lurking about on the edges. Tough looking (some would say ugly) men, faces swollen from drink and good living, they wear standard issue trench coats or anoraks. These are the strong silent types without which no demonstration is complete.
They are, of course, members of the Garda Special Branch. Notoriously camera-shy, they hide at the sight of a lens. But an intrepid photographer at SF's 1798 commemoration at Enniscorthy managed to take these rare pictures of the Bashful Branchmen (Branchicus Lieaboutus).
First the three large, shy creatures in the background bury their heads at the sight of the camera. Then, seconds later, they attempt to hide, much to the amusement of the assembled branch-spotters.
You could spend hours observing their habits.
Cairde Sinn Féin's annual Night at the Dogs in Shelbourne Park, Dublin, was a roaring (or is it howling?) success last weekend. The Friends of Sinn Féin crowded the Greyhound Stadium, making organiser Joe Reilly a happy man. The night was not without headaches, though, for the Navan Councillor who is the financial brain behind CSF. Gardai said they had intelligence that loyalists were planning an attackin the capital that day and security was tight around Shelbourne.
Thankfully, nothing untoward occurred but there was some amusement at the name of the dog in Trap 3 in the Paul Donnelly (North Dublin SF candidate) Race. The dog was called Ring the Police. Also heavily backed by the republican punters was the eventual winner of the Ray McCreesh 525 for the John McDonnell Trophy, sponsored by Sportslocker, Maynooth. It was called Real Branch.