Today’s New York Post carries a forthright article by Paula, Catherine, Gemma, Claire & Donna McCartney and Bridgeen Hagans – “We Will Have Justice”They are highly critical of Sinn Féin’s public statements of support for their campaign – Sinn Fein and the IRA say they did order them to go forward. But those who did exercised their right to silence — they were ordered to go forward, but told to say nothing. We believe this is nothing more than a …
THE US Council on Foreign Affairs interviewed Gerry Adams the other day in Washington (audio here). In a wide-ranging conversation which gave Adams plenty of time to put across his position, the Sinn Fein leader emphasised his need to keep republicanism united. But was there another ‘Moment of Madridness’ when he appeared to suggest that money seized by police investigating money laundering in the Irish Republic could eventually be traced back to the IRA?In response to a point from Warren …
Interesting discussion beginning on Open Democracy, which contrasts Spain’s multilateral approach, to the unilateral approach of the US anti terrorist policy. 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 American Ireland Fund dinner in Washington last night proved an uncomfortable meal for some. The former (and future?) Presidential candidate Senator John McCain was scathing in his speech – “There is an endless debate about Sinn Fein and its ties to the IRA but what we all know for years is that there is no place in a democracy for a private army engaged in criminal activity.” – Sean O’Driscoll tried, but failed, to get an instant reaction from …
The Guardian’s Julian Borger reports from the news conference yesterday held by US Senators Kennedy, Clinton, McCain and Dodd. He includes a quote that didn’t make it into the reports then, from Senator Edward Kennedy – “Standing beside the McCartneys, he told CNN: There’s no question Sinn Féin and the IRA are involved in a cover-up there.“It’s a difference between the McCartney family’s campaign and Sinn Féin’s public statements that I’ve highlighted here before, and it was most evident in …
US Senator Ted Kennedy, speaking after meeting with the McCartney family, a meeting that was also attended by Senator Hillary Clinton and former US presidential hopeful Senator John McCain, had this to say, as reported by the BBC – “No political party can also have an armed unit that continues violence and criminality.. We would certainly hope that the leadership of Sinn Fein… understands what an albatross the IRA is on them and for the cause of peace in Ireland.” …
IF Sinn Fein’s electoral support at home shows no sign of decreasing, what about financial support in America? Sinn Fein denies it was banned from fundraising in the States – although it seems to have been lent on not to. The party has raised more than $7 million (officially) in the US since the ceasefire, and how Sinn Fein is funded is increasingly coming under the spotlight.The Times has picked up strongly on the theme of Sinn Fein’s finances, unsurprisingly, …
AS expected, already pressure is being put on Adams in America. Stating his disappointment at the White House snub, Adams acknowledged that the only way the McCartney family would get justice was through the courts. Still no statements with the Police Ombudsman yet.UTV Internet reports former US Envoy Richard Haass saying: “The risk is that over time they will suffer the fate of people such as Yasser Arafat of being ostracised,” he said. “Gerry Adams does not want to become …
To coincide with the start of Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams’ non-fundraising trip to the US, the New York Times editorial “The Bullies of Belfast”[free reg req.], I think, dispels absolutely the notion that the IRA did not cover-up for the murderers of Robert McCartney.Opening paragraphs of the NYT editorial – After 30 years in the paramilitary trenches, the Irish Republican Army is still capable of shocking thuggery, this time a wave of crimes culminating in a brutal murder outside …
Like him or loathe him, Bono has almost pipped Sir Bob for the title of most internationally virtuous Irishman. The story of his being considered a candidate for World Bank President broke in Ireland just a couple of days ago. But those of you who are sharp-eyed blog readers will have had the tip off as far back as the February 25! Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on …
RTE is reporting that Catherine McCartney has confirmed that the family have received an invitation to visit US President George Bush at the White House on St Patrick’s Day. She also said that despite all the publicity, there has been no real progress in bringing the killers of [Robert] McCartney to justice. Meanwhile, in addition to being excluded from the White House event, NI political parties might not get an invite to the House of Representatives luncheon, the Belfast Telegraph …
In today’s news and EU related (again) – EU Ambassador to the US, and former Taoiseach, John Bruton, ruffled the feathers of the new SF national Chairman Chair Chairperson Mary Lou McDonald, MEP, when, according to RTE, “Yesterday[actually, it was Thursday], Mr Bruton confirmed on US television that he believed Gerry Adams was a member of the IRA leadership, and said Sinn Féin inclusion in Government in the Republic would be ‘very, very dangerous for Ireland’”I wasn’t able to find …
So they didn’t come home, well not just yet. Perhaps the time/political climate is not right? At the moment, according to the Newsletter, they are holed up in the Venezuelan jungle under the protection of the FARC, the organisation they were accused of illegally helping in the first place. The paper’s leader sees it the context of other recent events. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and …
They get a choice of tea or coffee? Pete Baker
PANORAMA tonight (BBC One, Sunday, 27 February 2005, 22:15 GMT) takes a look at Scotland’s ‘secret shame’ – sectarianism. It asks if Old Firm rivals Rangers and Celtic have done enough to combat bigotry on the terraces. Are some fans just 90-minute bigots, or is the problem so serious that First Minister Jack McDonnell right to convene a summit on sectarianism? Meanwhile, “the Catholic church has called on Scottish police forces to conduct a Northern Ireland-style religious audit of their …
John, of Irish Eagle fame, points out that the anonymous genius ‘Dutch kid’ is anonymous no more!.. and he’s not Dutch – nor was he ever, for that matter – reported in the NY Times, he had initially embraced his well-deserved fame as a dancing fiend.. but not for long – talk show appearances have been cancelled and he, apparently, is now living as a virtual recluse.. the burden of that difficult second video clip torments him – How can …
The Irish Examiner continues to take the lead in coverage of the Bulgarian connection. This time reporting that a former director of the Bank of Scotland(Ireland) also travelled to Bulgaria with the six previously known to have made that trip. That former director, Denis O’Connell, also confirmed that he carried out checks into Cork company Chesterton Finance on behalf of Mr [Phil] Flynn.AS reported in the Examiner by Michael O’Farrell, A FORMER director of the Bank of Scotland (Ireland) has …
The Irish Examiner continues to investigate the details of the January trip to Bulgaria by Phil Flynn and Ted Cunningham – and reports on further details about the trip.The Irish Examiner report claims the group of six included two more Irish citizens, as well as Flynn and Cunningham, but cites legal reasons for not naming them. The report also has details of the trip as compiled by the Bulgarian newspaper 24 Chasa (24 Hours) – A source close to the …
If you’ve not come across it before, Dissent magazine rarely fails to impress at least in some of its parts, if not the whole. This Quarter has an interesting piece from Norman Geras on the political reductionism of the left that has largely remained unchanged in the wake of 9/11.His premise begins “from a short essay by Paul Berman entitled “A Friendly Drink in Time of War, which appeared in the Winter 2004 issue of Dissent, in which Berman offers …
Well, it wasn’t too difficult to foresee, but as suggested yesterday, the Irish Examiner and the Irish Independent are reporting today that the US administration have decided not to invite SF to the Whitehouse St Patrick’s Day event.. oh.. and no invites either for any other political parties.. Irish Government representatives only.The Irish Independent sums up the reasons behind the decision – President Bush has decided to bar the republicans because they have been linked to the Northern Bank robbery …
