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. Free article

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. Free article

24 June 2004 Free article

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. Free article

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. Free article

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. Free article

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. Free article

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. Free article

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. Free article

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. Free article