Provisional IRA – Page 8 – Slugger O'Toole

McGuinness: “I trust that David Ford will take the right decision…”

Pete Baker on August 2, 2011, 7:27 pm

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Having interfered in an ongoing police investigation last week, this week the Northern Ireland deputy First Minister Sinn Féin’s Martin McGuinness, MP, MLA, doubles up by giving the NI Justice Minster, David Ford, some legal advice. From the BBC report “There can be no doubt that Brendan Lillis is seriously ill and does not represent a threat to anyone,” Mr McGuinness said. “The decision of the British Secretary of State Owen Paterson to revoke the licence of Brendan Lillis is …

“every discussion of the experience of west Belfast there is going to be blinkered”

Pete Baker on July 29, 2011, 8:57 pm

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In the Belfast Telegraph, Malachi O’Doherty takes a critical look at that “plenty for all” Feile. From the Belfast Telegraph article The story of what west Belfast experienced through the Troubles is complex and amazing, but it is filtered at the Feile through a determination to defend the reputation of the IRA, the organisation that brought much of that grief upon the people and to write out of history the pain and horror suffered by those – and we know them – …

“those people that believe the use of guns and bombs brings solutions to problems”

Pete Baker on July 26, 2011, 9:56 pm

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In a major search operation across Northern Ireland five men have been arrested for questioning in connection with the murder of PSNI officer Ronan Kerr. UTV has an interesting response from Sinn Fein’s Martin McGuinness, MP, MLA. Speaking in the wake of the arrests, and of a pipe bomb attack in his home city, the Deputy First Minister spoke out against what he called “the disgraceful ongoing activities of those people that believe the use of guns and bombs brings solutions to …

Life Sentence Review Commission deny Brendan Lillis release

Pete Baker on July 26, 2011, 5:31 pm

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There’s an ongoing campaign for the release of former Provisional IRA member, Brendan Lillis, on compassionate grounds. But the BBC report that the Life Sentence Review Commission have just confirmed the Prison Service’s view that there were not sufficient grounds to justify his release. From the BBC report Republican prisoner Brendan Lillis will not be released on compassionate grounds, the Life Sentence Review Commission has decided. Mr Lillis, who suffers from a severe arthritic condition, was sentenced to life in 1977 on explosives …

“Paramilitarism is now deemed more legitimate…”

Pete Baker on July 15, 2011, 2:41 pm

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In a Guardian report which features a Continuity IRA member’s description of Sinn Féin as “British ministers in a puppet government”, Robin Wilson makes an important point. Now that “the guerillas” are the people in power… From the Guardian report “In theory, the ‘peace process’ culminating in the 1998 Belfast agreement was meant by the inclusion in the political arena of representatives of paramilitary organisations, principally the IRA, to lay the basis for a peaceful region in which all significant political forces, …

US Department of Justice: “Journalism is a protected activity; academic research is not.”

Pete Baker on July 5, 2011, 2:10 pm

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In a contentious conspiracy theory, the History News Network’s Chris Bray helpfully points to the US Department of Justice’s response to the motion by Boston College to quash the federal subpoena requesting the College’s Northern Ireland archive material. From the HNN post quoting the DoJ briefing [HNN added emphasis] In its Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty with the United Kingdom, the federal government has traded away the role of the courts, leaving discretion only in the hands of the executive branch: “Notably, the …

Whitey Bulger: “That’s our shipment. That’s ours!”

Pete Baker on June 25, 2011, 4:18 pm

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There’s been a familiar response from Sinn Féin’s Martin Ferris, TD, to the news of the arrest of Irish-American gangland boss, James ‘Whitey’ Bulger. From the Irish News “I don’t know Whitey Bulger,” Mr Ferris said. “I never met him. I never had anything to do with him, ever. “I never met him in my life. You can get the transcripts of the trial and look at them. There’s nothing about him.” It was reported that Bulger, an Irish American …

‘Whitey’ Bulger arrested

Pete Baker on June 23, 2011, 3:22 pm

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The arrest of “Most Wanted” James ‘Whitey’ Bulger in Santa Monica, California, yesterday brings to an end a 16-year-long international manhunt that was proving to be an embarrassment to the FBI. As the Boston Globe reports Bulger fled just before his federal racketeering indictment in January 1995. It was later revealed in federal court in Boston that he was a longtime FBI informant who had been warned by his corrupt handler, former FBI agent John J. Connolly Jr., that he was …

Sinn Féin rejects HET findings on Kingsmill massacre

Pete Baker on June 22, 2011, 12:56 pm

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The BBC headline may focus on a different aspect of the statement from Sinn Fein’s Mitchel McLaughlin, but it’s clear from the quotes that Sinn Féin rejects the findings of the Historical Enquiries Team’s (HET) report on the Kingsmill massacre. Specifically, the party rejects the HET finding that the Provisional IRA carried out the “purely sectarian” and “calculated slaughter” of 10 Protestants in south Armagh in 1976. From the BBC report The Historical Enquiries Team (HET) found the IRA was responsible …

HET Report on Kingsmills

Turgon on June 16, 2011, 11:29 am

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The News Letter today has details of the HET report into the Kingsmills massacre, the full report of which will be released to the families today. From the News Letter: On January 5, 1976, a Ford Transit minibus was carrying a mixed workforce of 16 home from work in Glenanne to Bessbrook. Five were Catholics and 11 were Protestants. Four of the Catholics got out at Whitecross, while the remainder continued on the road to Bessbrook. As the bus cleared …

“Trading truth for justice is a tough call.”

Pete Baker on June 10, 2011, 3:31 pm

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In the Belfast Telegraph Liam Clarke considers, at face value, the “absurd” and “disingenuous” Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams’ call for an independent, international, truth commission. From the Belfast Telegraph article Trading truth for justice is a tough call. In this case, a lot will depend on the quality of the information given by the IRA members. In the case of the Disappeared, the evidence came long after the deaths, but many people will consider the trade-off worthwhile because it allowed …

Boston College files motion to quash subpoena

Pete Baker on June 10, 2011, 11:44 am

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According to the New York Times report, Boston College has filed a motion to quash the federal subpoena seeking access to their Northern Ireland archive. Their reported argument is worth noting. From the New York Times report Lawyers for Boston College argue that releasing the interviews would break the I.R.A.’s “code of silence” and could lead to “punishment by death,” according to the filing. “Our position is that the premature release of the tapes could threaten the safety of the participants, …

Smithwick Tribunal: Former Provisional IRA leaders met Tribunal’s legal team “in recent weeks”

Pete Baker on June 7, 2011, 5:12 pm

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The BBC reports that, at today’s public hearing, the Smithwick Tribunal was told that its legal team had held “a face-to face meeting with three former members of the Provisional IRA in recent weeks.” From the BBC report It was told the three former IRA leaders, one of whom had a command role in the attack, had met the tribunal. Their evidence will be presented to the inquiry shortly. The tribunal was told the IRA members gave detailed accounts and replied to questions from the inquiry …

“While it may be described as being a mistake, she was shot in the back”

Pete Baker on June 2, 2011, 3:21 pm

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Reports of ‘loyalist threats’ didn’t stem the criticism, now Sinn Féin’s Mary McArdle, special adviser to the Northern Ireland Culture Minister, Carál Ní Chilín, has broken her silence over her controversial appointment. In the Andersonstown News… Mary McArdle was convicted and jailed for her involvement in the Provisional IRA murder of 23-year-old teacher, Mary Travers, who had been working at Holy Child Primary School in Andersonstown, west Belfast, and the attempted murder of Mary Travers’ father, Catholic magistrate Tom Travers, as they left mass at St Brigid’s …

Murphy challenges Special Criminal Court venue for case

Pete Baker on June 1, 2011, 7:54 pm

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The latest stage in the long-running saga of the State versus Thomas Murphy got under way in Dublin’s High Court today. Thomas Murphy faces trial in the Special Criminal Court on nine charges of failing to make tax returns between 1996 and 2004. In October 2008, the “culmination of intensive investigations by the Irish Criminal Assets Bureau and the UK’s Serious and Organised Crime Agency” saw more than €625,000 in cash and cheques confiscated in Ireland as the proceeds of crime, while …

Gerry Kelly: “and I don’t like being critical of the media…”

Pete Baker on May 26, 2011, 11:38 pm

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In the face of continued criticism of their decision to appoint Mary McArdle as a special advisor to Northern Ireland Culture Minister, Carál Ní Chuilín, Sinn Féin have informed the media of ‘loyalist threats’ against Mary McCardle, Carál Ní Chuilín and Gerry Kelly, MLA. The PSNI, as usual, have neither confirmed nor denied threats against named individuals. But Sinn Féin’s Gerry Kelly has taken the opportunity to point a finger of blame at the media. From the BBC report Mr Kelly said his …

Fourth member of Tohill kidnap gang appears in Belfast Crown Court

Pete Baker on May 26, 2011, 4:19 pm

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Liam Rainey, 38, from New Barnsley Crescent, Belfast, has been remanded in custody before sentencing later next month after appearing in Belfast Crown Court today. He had been awaiting extradition on a European Arrest Warrant after being re-arrested by gardaí in Bettystown, Co Meath, in May last year. According to the reports he was formerly arrested by PSNI officers in Newry this morning. Rainey is the fourth member of the Provisional IRA gang to re-appear in court after jumping bail in May 2006 while …

HET to interview McGuinness over Joanne Mathers murder

Turgon on May 20, 2011, 11:07 am

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The News Letter is reporting that Martin McGuinness may be about to be interviewed by the Historical Enquiries Team regarding the 1981 murder of census worker Joanne Mathers. From the News letter: On Monday, MP Gregory Campbell referred to the fact obliquely when he raised a point of order in the assembly. Addressing assembly speaker Willie Hay, Mr Campbell (DUP) said: “If it transpires — my understanding is that it will — that the deputy first minister’s name will be …

Quote of the Day

Pete Baker on May 18, 2011, 4:15 pm

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From associate of Irish President Mary McAleese, and de facto leader of the UDA inner council, Jackie McDonald. He was being interviewed on Talkback today following the wreath laying ceremony at the Irish War Memorial at Islandbridge – where UTV’s Ken Reid notes McDonald was introduced to Queen Elizabeth II walked past McDonald. [Approx 1 hour 15 mins in] “I’m no more a member of the UDA than Gerry Adams was a member of the IRA.” [Jackie McDonald] Indeed… Pete Baker

“what now on those big questions on arms and on the past?”

Pete Baker on May 10, 2011, 5:17 pm

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In the Belfast Telegraph, Brian Rowan with a reminder of some unfinished business. The publication of the two reports he mentions was postponed, before the elections, until “a date to be agreed by both Governments”. From the Belfast Telegraph article At an event at Queen’s University recently, I said there won’t be a truth process here. There may be something dressed up as such a process, but it won’t be about truth and the many hidden secrets of war. Governments don’t want it, the security …