Friday, January 12, 2007
Standing Against Sinn Fein
Paul McGlinchey, who will be standing against Martin McGuinness in Mid-Ulster, has given an interview to the Ulster Herald. His nephew, Dominic Og McGlinchey, has not ruled out standing as a candidate in West Tyrone. Gerry McGeough is standing against Sinn Fein in Fermanagh/South Tyrone. And the IRSP is set to endorse a candidate from Strabane at their Ard Comhairle this weekend. Willie Gallagher spoke to the Strabane Chronicle about the upcoming election and Concerned Republicans. Both interviews follow the jump.
Ex-members set to challenge Sinn Féin
BY RONAN McSHERRYTENSIONS within Sinn Féin over the policing issue are threatening to bring major electoral challenges across Tyrone constituencies. Members of the staunchly Republican family, the McGlincheys of South Derry, are set to challenge their previous comrades in West Tyrone and Mid-Ulster. Gerry McGeogh, a former IRA activist from Killeeshil, is also set to stand against Sinn Féin for Fermanagh-South Tyrone inthe Assembly election on March 7.
Speaking to the Ulsterherald, life-long republican activist Paul McGlinchey confirmed he will stand as an Independent candidate in Mid- Ulster if Sinn Féin endorse policing and take their seats on the policing board. McGlinchey is a former blanket man and brother of the murdered INLA leader Dominic McGlinchey. His entry into the election race would put him in direct opposition to Sinn Féin’s chief negotiator Martin McGuinness.
McGlinchey said, “I will be running in Mid-Ulster providing the assembly elections go ahead. I was a member of Sinn Féin until last month and resigned because of their current policing strategy. Once SF endorses policing and the judiciary, whatever way they package it and sell it, they are copper-fastening the six county state within the United Kingdom. I am not anti-policing per se, and we need law and order, but I would want an all-Ireland police force.”
The decision to put up candidates was taken at a meeting of “Concerned Republicans” held in Toomebridge at the weekend.
“I have yet to speak to any Republican, including ex-prisoners, that is endorsing this pro-PSNI agenda,” said Mr McGlinchey. “None of them are for it. I also know a lot of people in the party who are hanging on to see what happens at the Ard Fhéis and that will probably tell a tale.”
Mr McGlinchey served 15 years in prison for paramilitary activity.
“I personally have invested too much of my life in all of this just to turn my back on it and stay at home,” said Mr McGlinchey. “I kept putting my argument within the party but was getting nowhere with them. I realised the direction they were going and could not be a part of it. It runs against every vein in my body.”
Paul’s nephew, Dominic Óg McGlinchey has not ruled out the rumour that he is considering going forward on an anti-policing ticket in West Tyrone. Also speaking to the Ulsterherald, he said, “Numerous people have approached me to run. I am totally against the Sinn Féin stance on policing.
“Some people talk of being ‘sold out’ but I see it as being ‘sold short.’ There is a big difference between the two.”
The son of the former INLA chief-of -staff, Dominic McGlinchey emphasised that if he were to throw his cap in the ring come election time, “it would not be just to stop Sinn Féin getting a seat.”
He added, “I have left-wing values and would bring those with me too. I left Sinn Féin a number of years ago because of the direction they have taken and their acceptance of Stormont rule and the British iron hand still in force.”
Gerry McGeogh who previously served jail sentences in Germany and the US for IRA activity has also voiced his intention of standing in Fermanagh-South Tyrone. A former Sinn Féin ard comhairle member, he accused the party leadership of “having shown no backbone”.
“Sinn Féin are making embarrassing fools of themselves. This grovelling nonsense must stop.”
Strabane man to stand on anti-policing ticket
BY MICHELE CANNING SMITHWITH West Tyrone already a hotbed of controversy on the ‘will they, won’t they’ March Assembly elections, it has emerged that an independent Republican candidate may well throw his hat into the lion’s den in this constituency. That’s the word on the ground from the Irish Republican Socialist Party, who revealed to the Strabane Chronicle yesterday that a Strabane man has put his name forward for contention.
Endorsement for the Independent Republican candidacy will go to an IRSP Ard Comhairle meeting at the weekend.
Moves have been afoot by the Concerned Republican group - a coalition of what many regard as disaffected Republicans - to infiltrate Nationalist strongholds in a bid to challenge Sinn Féin on its policing agenda.
Already, members of the staunchly Republican McGlincheys of South Derry, are set to challenge former comrades in Tyrone and Mid-Ulster. Paul McGlinchey, a member of SF until last month, says he will enter into the election race in direct opposition to party chief, Martin McGuinness.
Gerry McGeogh, a former IRA man from Kileshil, is also set to stand against Sinn Féin in Fermanagh/South Tyrone.
The Chronicle this week spoke with Willie Gallagher, a leading member of the IRSP, on his party’s position, and how a series of meetings has led to a political attack on mainstream republicanism. Those meetings, which began in August last year, came as result of a call by a local man, Eddie McGarrigle, at a commemoration in Derry calling for a healing process within the diversity of Republicans.
That initial call has culminated in a decision by a group of Republicans to stand for election. They include disaffected Sinn Féin members, the IRSP, the 32 County Sovereignty Committee and independent republicans, all opposing the Good Friday Agreement.
During a series of meetings, the hugely contentious issue of policing was the ‘political thing in town’ and proved to be a gathering force for the group.
“There was unanimous support within the grouping that there should be public opposition to any endorsement of the policing and judicial system.
“The policing issue really was when Republicans had to wake up and smell the coffee.
“Republicans that I have spoken with, who once supported the Good Friday Agreement, now reject it. One said he deeply regrets endorsing it.
“As far as we are concerned, the Good Friday Agreement is a pacification process to give up Republicanism.
“The IRSP has always believed that the Agreement was a copper fastening of partition.
“But once the Agreement was signed, we believed Republicans were trying the political road and giving up the use of an armed strategy.
“The INLA was convinced to go on the same road.
“The IRSP focused on building up the party rather than overturning the agreement.
“Now Republicans are being asked to endorse the police and judicial system.
“As this debate has gained momentum, members of the Concerned Republican group decided to stand as independents.
“There will be a IRSP Ard Comhairle to see if our party will endorse support for these candidates.
“The feedback is that there is a strong possibility that most constituencies will put someone forward.”
Mr Gallagher confirmed that there is a local man who has expressed a wish and that will be considered at this weekend’s Ard Comhairle.
“As Independent Republicans, they oppose any endorsement of the PSNI. The policing issue has forced the hand of Republicans.
“Some of these people until a month ago were members of Sinn Féin.”
OPPOSITION
Mr Gallagher said he believes there is a very strong feeling of opposition gathering across the board to any endorsement of the police or judiciary.
“Sinn Féin would say this is a stepping stone to a United Ireland.
“But it’s a reformist strategy and it is impossible to negotiate away political policing under the framework of the GFA/St Andrew’s Agreement.
“It is a simple exchange of principles to go into power with the DUP, nothing more, nothing less.
He said he believed the SF leadership has misread the depth of feeling among republicans on the issue of policing.
“Overall, I feel it is possible that Sinn Féin could become the third largest party because of protest votes going to independent Republicans.
“This has taken on a momentum of its own and has acted as driving force on the policing debate.
“We are viewing this in the long term. Republicans, from a fair region of diversity are getting together to debate and discuss tactics, strategies and alternatives to the Good Friday Agreement, which has failed Republican objectives.
STRATEGY
“It is very clear within the group that it is an unarmed strategy.
“I did say at the first meeting that was called that I believe that even with an amalgamation of groups such as the INLA, Real IRA and the Continuity, that an effective military campaign against the British could not be achieved at this juncture.
“No-one in the room spoke out against that.”
Asked whether he believed that voters would opt for what many see as a group on the very sidelines of mainstream political parties, he said, “Can someone tell me the difference in voting for Sinn Fein and voting for the SDLP.
“I can see a situation where people will be comfortable in supporting these Independent candidates.
“They are traditional republicans.
He adds, “It would be wrong to sit back and do nothing about the endorsement of policing and the criminalisation of the Republican project.”
He concludes his interview by setting the scenario: “If Gerry Kelly takes up the Minister of Justice portfolio, will he sign the arrest forms on behalf of the Historical Inquiry Team?”
Rusty Nail @ 02:26 PM
I would like to hear clarification on what the proposed Independent candidates stand for. If it is merely a ‘feck the shinners’ or no to policing platform the election results will show the level of electoral support for that position (many other parties already receive a ‘feck the shinners’ mandate).
If those running wish any electoral support to be seen as a mandate for anything else they should put that to the electorate.
I’ll be very interested to see how they present their campaigns.Posted by on Jan 12, 2007 @ 07:49 PMThis Unification in 10 or 15 years that you spout out - You are not a member of SF by any chance?
So the catholic communtity needs to keep breeding do we?
I know the McGlincheys and can assure you and anyone else that no sons or brothers of Dominics will ever take a seat in this latest brit gerrymandered idea!
Solving issues by taking office in a british devolved parliment isn’t the answer.
An All Ireland solution and reconciliation process needs to be implimented sooner rather than later!
Posted by on Jan 12, 2007 @ 07:51 PMMark, I think you will find that their overall campaign is Feck everyone as they have no strategy to deliver a united Ireland or an All Ireland police force that has been brought up.
They still can’t come to terms that the people do not want a return to war, as at the end of the day Nationalists will be in the majority in 10-15 years. What people want is an Ireland of equals - in every sense and waiting 15years is not a long time after 800.
Posted by on Jan 12, 2007 @ 07:56 PMHurler on the Ditch
Seems like your avoiding my thoughts like the good wee Shinner I knew you were!
It looks like you are well versed in how to avoid debate - You should get a place among the PSF Leadership who also never really answer questions either!
Bring it on - What a joke (Have you ever heard the saying “Keep your friends close and your enemies even closer”) - You boys don’t seem to know which is which these days!
Posted by on Jan 12, 2007 @ 07:59 PMRory,
This is the kind of stuff we need clarification on, while I doubt the proposed candidates will win any seats, people need to know things like; is it an abstentionist ticket they are voting for.
It’s not that I don’t trust you but I will wait for candidates to clarify this, especially when some until very recently supported SF, powersharing, taking seats in the north etc.
Posted by on Jan 12, 2007 @ 08:02 PMBRING IT ON INDEED….....
WE WILL STUFF THE SHINNERS IN 2 SEATS FOR SURE
UP THE RA
Posted by on Jan 12, 2007 @ 08:04 PMmark mcgregor are you saying you never voted for an abstensionist ever before yourself…
who did you vote for when sf were abstensionistPosted by on Jan 12, 2007 @ 08:07 PMRory,
I live in a working class community that has been ravaged for over 30 years by loyalist death squads facilitated by sectarian police and the local UDR militia.
Maybe you have suffered the same experience? I do not know but you are entitled to your view regardless.
Thanks in no small part to the astute move to political advancement of our rights, engineered by the republican leadership, our community has seen an end to being treated as second-class citizens in entitlement to jobs, housing, and equality of treatment This is soon to be joined by a civic input to the control of the police force.
Acquirement of all of these rights does not mean that the aspiration for irish unity has been forsaken by my community. Indeed we are represented by Sinn Fein who soon will be the only party on the island with a strong and influential voice in both Dail Eireann and the Northern Assembly. History will show that this will be a mere stepping stone on the road to an All-Ireland settlement.-keep your nerve, man!Posted by on Jan 12, 2007 @ 08:09 PMMark I am a roman catholic, a staunch one, i make no apology for it. shy should I? why should I vote SF to give the elevated position to a man who has insulted the pope and the eucharist? every fibre of ian paisleys being is against my church. I would support gerry mcgeough, if he were standing where I live, i would actively campaign for him. the dup are not so different from mcgeough on moral issues, re abortion etc and they are the biggest party in n ireland. aside from that, his republicanism, is the second reason I’d vote for him. he actively fought for what he believed in. a staunch republican and a staunch roman catholic, reminisicent of billy mckee who fought to defend st malachys chapel. i’d vote for him and encourage others to do so.
Posted by on Jan 12, 2007 @ 08:09 PMRory, the realities are that everyone who supported the GFA, including Paul, knew there would be a need to wait for the Nationalist vote to become the majority - that’s what was included when in the GFA when it stated unification would occur when the people North and South voted for it.
If you care to look at the updated population statistics you will see that the Nationalist (mainly Catholic) population at 2004 stands at 43.8% having increased 5.2% since 1991, whilst the Unionist (mainly Protestant) population has fallen to 53.1%.
As the Unionist population is a majority inthe over 55yrs the Nationalist people hold a large majority in the under 35yrs. And as people die so does the larger unionist vote and the larger Nationalist vote then takes it place.
Today and tomorrow is reconcilliation and learning to trust each other so there can be a new and peaceful united Ireland when that time comes. It is not a time for splits when we are so close to the journeys end.
Posted by on Jan 12, 2007 @ 08:11 PMNationalist
No one wants to go back to war but quite simply want to ensure that another more farcical state is not created for whatever period it takes to achieve the unification of our country!
The ultimate Goal of any Republican is to unite Catholic Protestant and dissenter in an All Ireland Solution!
An all Ireland Solution requires an All Ireland Police force and given that Crime is a national situation shouldn’t it be addressed as such now?
Can you tell me that taking a oath of allegence or of support for a British Police force is anywhere in any republican teaching or does Irish History get told differently to the Middle Class SDLP voters like you?
The shinners haven’t got a clue on how to achieve a United Ireland and even if we outbreed them what do you proposed to do with at least 600,000 Prods?
Posted by on Jan 12, 2007 @ 08:14 PMGerry,
Thanks for a straight reply. The very reasons that make you want to vote for him are the things that make him completely unappealing to me.
Do you think a vote for him is a mandate for conservative Catholic/Catholic Ireland views?
This is what I’m trying to tease out will these candidates be claiming a mandate beyond ‘feck the shinners and/or police’ as a result of any vote they receive.
Posted by on Jan 12, 2007 @ 08:20 PMRory and Time Will Tell, stop trolling you sad cases.
Is there a Dr. in the House?!!
Posted by on Jan 12, 2007 @ 08:21 PMWE WILL STUFF THE SHINNERS IN 2 SEATS FOR SURE
You actually believe that (who is this “we”?)these “Independent” candiatates are going to come ahead of Sinn Féin canditates in two different constituencies?
I’m not sure you have thought that one through
Posted by on Jan 12, 2007 @ 08:24 PMRory,
“The ultimate Goal of any Republican is to unite Catholic Protestant and dissenter in an All Ireland Solution!”
That is not quite true in McGeogh’s case (unless you are saying he isn’t a Republican). As Gerry makes clear above at least one candidate is very much of Ireland for Catholics tradition. Fair enough. But if people vote for him is that view receiving a mandate?
Posted by on Jan 12, 2007 @ 08:24 PMMark
Oh he is a proper Republican!
Gerry McGeough is a staunch catholic who fought for his rights and as I know one who wants peace!
He did not want nor does not want like the rest of us to fight for ever!
His fight is not with the Protestant population nor has it been but rather with the unwanted British presence in Ireland.
The protestant population are our fellow irish brother and we all have to accept that.
Posted by on Jan 12, 2007 @ 08:31 PMRory, earlier you ask if I was a member of Sinn Fein and now you accuse me of being a middle class SDLP voter - ?
The realities are we all agreed that a vote for unification would be needed and its outcome respected. That being the case unification would be able to occur around 2016 - 2025.
Sinn Feins strategy from 1990 was based on these events and Paul McGlinchey backed the strategy for a long number of years.
Part of that stategy was to bring about peace and let the Unionists see they could and would be able to live with the rest of us.
As for your question “what do you proposed to do with at least 600,000 Prods?” I and am sure Sinn Fein do not intend to do anything with them - they have their own choices to make and are welcome to live where they were born and bred.
Please tell us How you and the rest of the dissident pack intend to deliver a united Ireland before 2025 and what it is you intend to do with 600,000 Prods as you put it? Do you not know any Protestant Republicans? or do you intend to “DO” to all of them based on religious grounds as opposed to political views?
Still no strategy and content to anything from you lot other than “No” - are you a closet DUP supporter?
Posted by on Jan 12, 2007 @ 08:31 PMthe old censor is patrolling the site today - slashing at anything that might annoy his SF friends. The post I made in asking was Mark a Stick has now gone as well. Elsewhere the old censor was protecting the hapless Gibney. Incidentally, I made no criticism of Mark - it just seemed strange to me that he could be a Stick given his opposition to SF’s policy on the PSNI. However, the old censor in his urge to drive discussion underground has dived in to censor.
Posted by on Jan 12, 2007 @ 08:33 PMthe old censor is patrolling the site today
Who is that?
Posted by on Jan 12, 2007 @ 08:38 PMChris, the moderator is censoring. I think it might be Conor Cruise O’Fealty
Posted by on Jan 12, 2007 @ 08:46 PMRory,
Fair enough, I don’t know much of McGeogh of late other than through his own very conservative Catholic writings on moral issues. Which I disagree with.
I assume this coalition will be just be an anti-SF and/or policing platform then? I couldn’t see any of McGeogh’s usual opinions being supported by the IRSP.
Should I assume that certain other groups are not supporting these candidates if they are as you say committed to peace?
Cheers for going into these details.
(think of it as working for a transfer :))
Posted by on Jan 12, 2007 @ 08:47 PMNationalist
No Nationalist party on the island yet has all the answers to unification!
Sinn Fein want to change the goal posts on policy everytime it suits them and the still do not have the answers.
People who oppose PSF such as myself want to embrace out protestant neighbours in a unification with a fast changing European ireland of equals with no borders and no emphasis on religion - Thats how I see the 600000 people being catered for!
Now the PSF locally that I know are people who I have real issue with and they break and flout the law through their dealings with take for example dealings in illegal fuel! (One PSF member from Maghera recently got 7 years 10 years after starting to deal in this action which every shinner and his granny knew about).
Now given that this is the case now can I or others with decency stand by and let fireside generals dictate to me on who should police the peace.
Get the solution to ireland debated by the people of Ireland as a whole and stop divisions with in divisions from continuing!
The Island as a whole can only happen with an all inclusive debate to solution don’t you think?
Posted by on Jan 12, 2007 @ 08:51 PMJoe,
You may be hard of reading? You have been directed to the commenting policy of this site. I am not the topic.
Would you care to join the discussion on the proposed candidates for the election with the bigger boys? I am sure you can find something relevant to say (well hopeful).
Posted by on Jan 12, 2007 @ 08:53 PMmark is not a stick…. but his roots are of a unionist tradition… and a silent one,
*******now answer the question mark who did you vote for when s/f were abstensionists*******
Posted by on Jan 12, 2007 @ 08:53 PMtime to check a few IP addresses, please Mick?
Posted by on Jan 12, 2007 @ 08:56 PM
