Ambrose Uprichard The Irish Independent reports,Support for 50,000 Irish illegals in US , that Catholic Church representatives and some FG politicians are in the USA lobbying for special treatment for Irish people breaking the law in the USA.The Bishop of Derry, Seamus Hegarty, and Fr Alan Hilliard, as well as various FG Tds and an MEP are there at their own expense, hoping to meet politicians and Irish American groups to support the case for administrative changes which will make it easier …
The Sinn Féin Website carries a speech by Mitchel McLoughlin, Real and lasting peace is the most important issue facing the Irish people today, given at the launch of Westminster election manifesto, available to download in pdf form here.Ananova quotes Gerry Adams on the manifesto, Sinn Fein launches manifesto, “We’re interested in persuading people on the basis of this. “It argues for initiatives, for example, like Westminster MPs should have the right to go to the Dail (the Irish Republic’s …
The front page of today’s Irish News carries a story by Suzanne McGonagle,Government pulls plug on welcome pack funds, Subs needed, which reveals that the government has withdrawn an offer of £10,000 funding from the Falls Community Council which was to pay for the production of the “Welcome Pack” as blogged by Mick yesterday in A double edged welcome in the West? “The government had offered the Falls Community Council £10,000 for production of the welcome pack, subject to certain …
Breaking News carries the story : SF expels two party members. Two members have been expelled and four more have quit the party after refusing to make statements. No details as yet on the SF website Newsroom UTV carries a more detailed report,McCartney sisters challenge Adams over ousted Sinn Fein pair, that includes criticism of Gerry Adams who is accused of ” confusing matters more than clearing them up.” Ambrose Uprichard
Liam Clarke in today’s Sunday Times discusses something that, if confirmed, considerably undermines the impact of Gerry Adams supposedly seismic call for Volunteers to leave the IRA and join Sinn Féin instead . According to the electoral commission, they have not been notified that one of the main suspects in the murder of Robert McCartney is no longer “treasurer of Sinn Fein in the South and East Belfast constituencies for electoral purposes”.McCartney suspect was in Sinn Fein Liam Clarke “THE …
The ever excellent Newshound carries an Irelandclick.com report of trouble in Sinn Féin’s ranks, Anger as Sinn Féin members step down, with Sean Hayes openly criticising what he called the disenfranchisement of voters in South East Belfast, Markets and Ormeau Road, and multiple resignations in protest at the recent suspensions from the party.However,despite such unusually forthright criticism, he is still calling for people to vote Sinn Féin on May 5th. “Of course it’s natural for people to get angry about …
The Daily Ireland, in a fair and well written review, takes a look at the coming battle for Seamus Mallon’s fiefdom and thinks Dominic Bradley is no better a successor to Seamus Mallon than Mark Durkan is to John Hume. Sinn Féin finally ready to breach Mallon bastion – Music to Conor Murphy’s ears. Now-or-never is their assessment. Ambrose Uprichard
Angelique Chrisafis, Ireland correspondent for the Guardian has an article , Sinn Féin likely to tighten grip in SDLP heartlands, arguing that the battle for the soul of nationalism is in Foyle. Newry and Armagh could go to Sinn Féin, South Down should stay with the SDLP, but she writes “it seems ironic that the fight to succeed Mr Hume, Northern Ireland’s great celebrity politician, who is standing down, is being billed as a battle between two of the dullest …
Today’s Sunday Times reports, Penalty points for cross-border speeding abuses, that Martin Cullen ( Minister for transport) and the Irish Attorney General will be using European legislation to close a loop-hole which allows Irish drivers to escape getting penalty points on their licenses if caught speeding in the United Kingdom.I would hope, although some Unionists might not be enthusiastic, that the UK will follow suit in respect of drivers caught speeding in Ireland. Apparently there is a particular problem in …
Kevin Myers has an article in the Sunday Telegraph, Terrorists fought the law…and the law lost, in which he looks at whether a democracy can successfully combat terrorism through the courts.In it he points out that the neither Law nor Justice won in the courts during the troubles, merely lawyers. He argues that the failure of the legal system to protect society led to a form of ‘rough justice’ which while questionable, was successful – using events in Loughgall to …
Two very different articles on Gerry Adams speech, An Address to the IRA, are provided by the ever excellent Newshound today.Jim Gibney in the Irish News, Historic speech offers peaceful alternative,in a measured, thoughtful and calm analysis points out that the implications of the speech can only be understood when one considers Gerry Adams background and pedigree. Viewed in this light it becomes more than just another call from a politician for the IRA to go away. While praising the …
The ever-excellent Newshound had Brian Feeney’s assessment of the forthcoming election,Few constituencies changing hands. He makes an interesting comparison as to how Mark Durcan and Eddie McGrady have courted the unionist community, a group who could have a major say in the battle between Sinn Féin and the SDLP on May 5 in the respective constituencies. He finishes with seven, possibly eight nationalist MPs. Ambrose Uprichard
Jim Cusack in the Sunday Independent claims SF man chief suspect in killing. The murder of another man in a Pub in Dublin could do great damage to both SF and the IRA if, as claimed, it is linked to the IRA taking protection money from drug dealers.some paragraphs from the beginning and end of the article: “THE chief suspect in the murder of a man in a Dublin pub last Sunday night is a well-known IRA man who doubles …
Breda Heffernan has an article in the Irish Independent, An Irish solution to an English problem, in which she announces that Raidio na Gaeltachta is to change direction in an attempt to attract young listeners.Chart and International shows will start from May, 9 PM to 1 AM, Monday to Friday, which will contain music with English lyrics. Previous to this Instrumental versions of hits by bands such as U2 were broadcast. Is this a pragmatic and sustainable response to a …
UTV also reports that an arson attack in Derry has wrecked a new Renal unit being constructed at altnagelvin hospital. Damage is estimated at at least £250,000 and the opening of the dialysis unit will be considerably delayed, meaning that patients will have to continue to be treated at Omagh. It’s difficult to comprehend the mentality of the people involved in this.How do we begin to address the issue of vandalism? Ambrose Uprichard
UTV carries a report, based on a story in the Irish Times, that an Irishman in his thirties, left severely handicapped after an accident, has flown to Switzerland with his family where Dignitas, a charity, helped with an assisted suicide. This is, like abortion, another difficult issue. How do contributors feel about this story and the issues it raises ? Ambrose Uprichard
Lord Callaghan has died at the age of 92, only 11 days after the death of Audrey, his wife of 67 years Longest living British Prime Minister he uniquely held the 4 great offices of state in the United Kingdom – prime minister, chancellor, foreign secretary and home secretary. Prime Minister during difficult times, he will possibly best be remembered in Northern Ireland for sending troops in 1969. RIP Sunny Jim. Ambrose Uprichard
As if Sinn Féin didn’t have enough problems, and as the row over the ‘republican policing’ continues in Belfast Sinn Féin embroiled in new row over man’s death, the Leitrim Observer has details of trouble in a bar where it is alleged that SF members claimed to be members of the IRA and arrests were made after two customers were threatened.Sinn Féin members apologise after Manorhamilton ‘incident’ The paper reveals that two Sinn Féin members were part of a large …
Paula McCartney has accused the IRA of readmitting one of those ‘expelled’ for his part in that murder. If true, where does this leave the RM claim that they have done all in their power to deliver justice? McCartneys accuse IRA of readmitting suspect Ambrose Uprichard
The ever-excellent Onion ( Neverland Ranch Investigators Discover Corpse Of Real Michael Jackson) takes an irreverent look at St Patrick’s Day and Irish-America in Irish-Heritage Timeline.Starting with “7500 BC- The first humans arrive in Ireland. Prior to this, only the Irish lived there” and ending with “2002 – Irish-American author Frank McCourt publishes his third memoir, Abusive Cousins I Forgot To Mention “, a procession of sacred cows are slaughtered. Will everybody get the joke ? Ambrose Uprichard
