Ambrose Uprichard

‘naive’ and ‘not credible’

Ambrose Uprichard on January 24, 2005, 5:29 pm

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The Sunday Independent carried a story yesterday, Bogota court slams Colombia Three’s evidence as ‘naive’ and ‘not credible’ , in which it claims to have seen the 144 page appeal court Judgement.THE Colombia Three’s explanations for holidaying in an area controlled by Farc guerrillas have been dismissed as “naive” and “not credible” in a scathing judgement by appeal judges in Bogota. The entire 144-page appeal judgement, obtained by the Sunday Independent, ripped apart the evidence put forward by James Monaghan, …

Come Clean

Ambrose Uprichard on January 24, 2005, 5:00 pm

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Craig Morrison and Martin Bright reported a story in yesterday’s observer that the British Government authorised the use of ‘CR’ or Dibenzoxazepine- a skin irritant 10 times more powerful than other tear gases – in 1973. There have been allegations that this chemical was used at long Kesh in 1974 and he reports that “More than 50 of the prisoners at Long Kesh who claim to have been sprayed with the chemical have died or have developed cancerous illnesses.” The …

Sort them out.

Ambrose Uprichard on January 24, 2005, 4:53 pm

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Nigel Dodds of the DUP has criticised the PSNI’s apparent softly, softly approach to escalating Loyalist violence after attacks on Taxis and two women over the week-end. Ambrose Uprichard

Be Careful What You Wish For,…

Ambrose Uprichard on January 23, 2005, 3:28 pm

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UTV reports Arrests due after Northern Bank robbery. In the Sunday Times Liam Clarke claims that “Both the PSNI and gardai observed meetings between republicans they suspect planned the robbery and senior Sinn Fein figures, including Gerry Adams.”From UTV : Gardai are expected to co-operate with the PSNI to carry out a series of raids in border counties. It follows an massive intelligence gathering operation, which include taped telephone conversations that indicate IRA involvement. Ambrose Uprichard

‘Where’s Me Culture ?’

Ambrose Uprichard on January 22, 2005, 2:31 pm

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Angelique Chrisafis has a very cultured article ( doesn’t mention the L word) in the Guardian reporting on rumblings of discontent from Cork in Air of dissent as Cork fears a cultural damp squib. Low budget, poor organisation and allegations of elitism have led to a backlash fringe. Ambrose Uprichard

Irish Languages

Ambrose Uprichard on January 22, 2005, 1:51 am

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We often discuss the complex issue of language/dialect. Irish in it’s various forms, English and Hiberno-English, Ullans/Ulster-Scots, Traveller language Cant/Gammon/Shelta,even S.Armagh dialect Feinn, but how many of us have heard of Yola, an Anglo-Norman language that according to Wikipedia survived until the 19th century in Wexford? According to a friend it was still being spoken in the area some 20 years ago.There’s an interesting site run by Yola Folk Park & Wexford Genealogy Centre which has a short piece on …

The IRA – their only crime was robbery

Ambrose Uprichard on January 22, 2005, 12:10 am

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A provocative piece by Lindy McDowell in the Belfast Telegraph this evening,(hat-tip to Andrew at ATW).Shinners in the altogetherIt starts with : The IRA – their only crime was robbery. That, in a T-shirt slogan, just about sums up the odd attitude many people, particularly in the south of Ireland, have to the sectarian killing machine that is Provisional IRA. Murdering almost 2,000 people, mutilating tens of thousands more, ripping apart lives, communities, town centres… all these things the IRA …

Omagh

Ambrose Uprichard on January 21, 2005, 4:16 pm

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Colm Murphy, the only man jailed in connection with the Omagh bombing, has won his appeal and is to face a retrial. The previous verdict was considered unsafe on two grounds.Omagh bombing convict wins appeal Ambrose Uprichard

On The Line

Ambrose Uprichard on January 21, 2005, 1:12 am

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Hugh Orde has met with the policing board. His job is on the line. If wrong on this robbery he goes. The flip side – if Mr Adams and Mr McGuinness are wrong, will they go ?Orde ‘identifies’ Northern robbers Both nationalist SDLP and Democratic Unionist representatives of the authority emerged from a two-hour briefing at their Belfast headquarters convinced that detectives hunting the gang were on top of the investigation. Ambrose Uprichard

Festival.

Ambrose Uprichard on January 20, 2005, 3:30 am

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Eid ul-Adha is the second great Islamic festival, which commemorates the willingness of the prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his son. I would like to wish Muslim visitors to this site “Eid Mubarak!”Transcript of a Southern California radio advertising Campaign run to help better understanding of Islam: “Abraham” On January 20, Muslims in America and around the world concluded the annual pilgrimage to Mecca, “the Hajj”, with Islam’s most important holiday called Eid ul-Adha or “festival of the sacrifice.” The central …

Slap in the Face

Ambrose Uprichard on January 19, 2005, 3:28 am

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The ultimate slap in the face. To add insult to injury, the American company Teleflex Medical expect 250 workers being laid off in Lurgan to train the people taking their jobs.As SF MLA John O’Dowd points out : “The 250 workers in RUSCHE are not being paid off because there is no market for the product but because the plant owners are moving these jobs to Mexico and Malaysia, where they can use low wages. “The loyalty of RUCHES workers …

I.T.M.A.

Ambrose Uprichard on January 18, 2005, 5:30 am

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A provocative look at the centenaries of the UUP and Sinn Féin in the Blanket by Dr John Coulter who seems to be saying a plague on both your houses – Celebrate 100 Years by Undoing Betrayals. Ambrose Uprichard

When in a hole … don’t send Mitchel

Ambrose Uprichard on January 18, 2005, 5:13 am

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Hat Tip to Young Irelander for this story – McConville Murder Not a Crime-McLaughlin. The murder of Jean McConville was “wrong but not a crime” and the IRA are the legitimate government of Ireland ? Oh dear Mitchel, that drives a coach and horses through SF’s position on participation in the Dáil and the GFA! Ambrose Uprichard

Balancing

Ambrose Uprichard on January 17, 2005, 7:26 pm

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Brian Lennon S.J. of Community Dialogue is offered a platform in the Irish News where he argues that Orde’s evidence should be examinedPLATFORM By Brian Lennon SJ Community Dialogue The IRA did it. That’s what Hugh Orde, Tony Blair and Bertie Ahern say. That’s what some of the dogs in the street in west Belfast are saying. They could be wrong. Other scenarios are possible: • it was done by the people who would benefit most from the robbery: those …

Act.

Ambrose Uprichard on January 17, 2005, 7:17 pm

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Irish News today has a page one and five exclusive by Sharon O’Neill revealing that because of a police blunder a senior Orangeman is to escape prosecution over his role in alleged Public Order breaches at the Whiterock Parade July 2003. The police had recommended prosecution after it was reported that paramilitary flags were displayed and band music played in contravention of a parades commission ruling. After an investigation Nuala O’Loan, the Ombudsperson, has “blamed the breakdown on both “human …

Tell Me!

Ambrose Uprichard on January 16, 2005, 3:05 pm

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A good performance, from BBC Foyle, by a relaxed Martin McGuinness who easily avoided traps set by David Frost. Frost started with an introduction – Bertie Ahern, who is neither British nor Unionist and as such is neutral, says it was the IRA – obviously aimed at a GB audience and when this failed to ruffle Mr McGuinness asked him would he encourage people to contact the police with any information that would help solve the case.A useful, and less …

It WAS the Brits wot done it!

Ambrose Uprichard on January 16, 2005, 2:06 pm

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Sunday Times carries a story by David Leppard claiming that the head of MI5, Eliza Manningham-Buller, has told a parliamentary committee that it was MI5 who placed that bug in SF HQ. MI5 boss admits bugging Adams Ambrose Uprichard

According to ‘sources’…

Ambrose Uprichard on January 16, 2005, 5:47 am

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Some interesting claims in the Sunday Business Post today. Most interesting is the claim that the IRA never expected to get so much money which changed what would have been merely another deniable robbery to catastrophe. IRA’s own goal .With the medium-term prospects of a deal with unionists now dead, the robbery is viewed by IRA sources as a massive own goal. These sources claim that the Sinn Féin members with alleged dual roles in the IRA leadership would not …

Would the real Sinn Féin please stand up.

Ambrose Uprichard on January 15, 2005, 3:58 pm

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In his keynote address at the launch of the Céad Bliain/Sinn Féin 100 event, Gerry Adams looked back at 100 years and defined his vision of the future. While mentioning current difficulties, the message was of progress and optimism. However an article in The Irish Family reports that “serious disillusionment with the current leadership and its overall strategy has taken root within the wider Republican movement”.Mr Adams in a carefully crafted speech, that contains olive branches to Unionism, was rightly …

Well done AP/RN

Ambrose Uprichard on January 14, 2005, 12:56 am

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Over the years I have been critical of AP/RN but I must say I was pleased and impressed to see that it is carrying a letter questioning the legitimacy of blind defence of Sean Russell and suggesting that republicans examine the IRA record during World War II.This is in response to an article last week based on remarks by Sinn Féin Cllr Christy Burke. The letter writer, Brian Hanley, points out an inaccuracy in the original article and reminds us …