The Houston Chronicle is none too keen on what it sees as a dissembling Republican movement. It has the McCartney story thus: Initially, the IRA and its political associates disclaimed any role in or knowledge of McCartney’s killing, even as it quietly promised the usual treatment (death) for any of the 70 or so people in the bar who might have been thinking about speaking up. It has since developed that a Sinn Fein candidate was in the pub, although …
The McCartney sisters are expected to deliver a dossier to President Bush outlining all the significant events since their brother was killed by a gang IRA men in Market Street in Belfast. Tim Reid reports in the paper version of today’s Times: The sisters and fiancee of Mr McCartney will present a dossier of his killing to Mr Bush tomorrow when they meet him in the White House. It will chart events leading up to his murder in a Belfast …
Declan sent us this latest copy of Saoirse, the political organ of Republican Sinn Fein, which claims that title to itself. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty
Tom Kelly argues that even a worthy principle like inclusion becomes ridiculous when pushed too far: “…the governments cast their net of inclusivity so wide that had the Mafia been in Northern Ireland they too could have had their representatives running a government department”. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and …
In the early stages of this crisis we gave air to Ed Moloney’s theory that Gerry Adams had engineered it in order to make the position of internal advocates for holding on the IRA untenable. Scott McMillan on Slate magazine thinks it might have held true if hadn’t been for the grim happening in Magennis’s Bar: The biggest problem with Moloney’s theory is that it presumes Adams will remain in control of events. It’s one thing to manipulate your allies …
Daily Ireland gives some space to the statement from the men convicted of the manslaughter of the Garda Jerry McCabe. the Irish government had an ‘obligation’ to release them from Castlerea Prison in Co Roscommon. ‘The Irish government have refused to do so and are now presenting our release as an obstacle to negotiations and agreement. For this reason, we do not want our release to be part of any further negotiations with the Irish government’. Mick FealtyMick is founding …
The conundrum facing anyone wishing to untangle the events of the last three months is that when all the smoke clears, there is no one else the British or Unionists can do business with but Sinn Fein. The SDLP shows no real signs of being ready to punch back. And even if Fianna Fail were prepared to organise in Northern Ireland it would require serial political stupidity on the part of Sinn Fein to throw away its leadership position in …
So goes this headline in the LA Times. The staffers of the world’s press have stayed away for pretty much everything that’s happened in Belfast in the last four or five years. Not anymore. That’s one reason why Sinn Fein’s loss of the political ball at this point is potentially so damaging. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest …
Daithi (the shameless agitator) in New York on one of Sinn Fein’s most erstwhile supporters in the US who is falling in behind his president in giving Gerry Adams the cold shoulder. He argues for continued inclusion, but that Gerry Adams must prove himself not to be another Arafat – as it is now expressed in common parlance in Washington. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and …
RTE is reporting that the killers of Garda Jerry McCabe have issued a statement expressing regret of the death of Mr McCabe and the wounding of garda Ben O’Sullivan. “We deeply regret and apologise for this and the hurt and grief we have caused to their families. There was never any intent to attack any members of the Garda Síochána,” the men say in the statement, adding that they qualify for release under the Good Friday Agreement. However, Jerry McCabe’s …
It seems it’s not just the US Republican White House that’s giving the Sinn Fein president the cold shoulder. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty
Given the reasons cited for not signing a comprehensive deal before Christmas, this headline from the Washington Post is either deeply ironic, supremely naive or maybe both! Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty
That’s what they think in Australia. And apparently the men ‘ordered’ by Gerry Adams to give themselves up have no such intention: Jock Davison is not going to end his liberty over a bar fight just to make Gerry Adams look good,” said one republican source. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the …
The IRA’s actions (and inactions) are currently shaping politics (insofar as it exists at all) in Northern Ireland. But who speaks for them. Certainly not Sinn Fein. But, The Economist argues that neither Sinn Fein nor the IRA are interested in much else but another round of concessions:”British and Irish intelligence services dismiss the idea of a clash between hawks and doves or a division between Sinn Fein leadership and the IRA. The two organisations are inseparable, as they always …
In all of the focus on the IRA in recent weeks, its important to understand that paramilitary codes of justice are just as brutal and arbitary in Loyalist areas as they are in Republican areas. However, his morning Ted Oliver in The Times, reports on a youth who once sentenced by the courts faces an exclusion order from the IRA that carries much more force than any ASBO. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on …
Excellent discussion on this thread. It would be great to see some of you guys at the Dublin event itself to belabour the panel directly with some of these views. I’m only sorry I can’t make it myself! Check out Politics.ie too! Ticketmaster have the tickets! Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the …
And the word in Pasedena on the IRA’s offer to shoot the alleged McCartney killers: “may be the ultimate undoing of the once-crucial, now merely murderous IRA.” Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty
The problem for the Republican movement in this continuing media snowstorm may be how it maintains the ‘legitimacy’ of the IRA. The wholly pejorative term Rafia is fast attaining common international currency. It can only be adding to the fury felt by those still within that organisation who see themselves as wholly politically motivated. It’s not likely to strengthen the hand of the party in any future negotiations with the two governments either. Can we expect to see some limited …
The late (great?) Vincent Hannah once described the peace process as ‘forever dancing on the brink’. Jim Gibney believes the IRA is almost ready to move on: “The leadership of armed republicanism has outlined the circumstances in which it will encourage its activists and supporters to employ purely peaceful strategies this side of British withdrawal”. Martin McGuinness hinted on Newsnight last night that the Westminster elections may see some renewed efforts. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has …
More widespread blogging: Around the world…; Golygon Gasyth (in Welsh); Ink and Paper; Nanny’s Knows Best; Murky; Freedom Institute; Bulletproof Dandy; Insight; Light seeking light. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty
