“He benefits from formidable references from the very highest echelons of our society.”

Sentenced to 20 years for the attempted murder, in 1981, of now-DUP councillor, Sammy Brush, former Provisional IRA member Gerry McGeough has been refused temporary release on compassionate bail to attend his son’s first holy communion. That’s despite his barrister, Sean Devine’s, claim that his client “benefits from formidable references from the very highest echelons of our society.” [And that would be? – Ed]  The erstwhile Northern Ireland Agriculture Minister, Sinn Fein’s Michelle Gildernew… It cut little ice with the NI Court …

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“No act of violence will advance the cause of reunification by one millimetre”

In a reported speech on Sunday Sinn Féin’s Martin McGuinness ducked the opportunity to tell his former comrades-in-arms that he was in the wrong too, preferring instead to stick to his new party approved script. “But we believe that we are in the countdown to a united Ireland.” [Added quote from a Mid Ulster Observer report] It’s an improvement on his stated view at the time… During Martin McGuinness’s early days as head of the IRA’s Derry Brigade in the early 1970s, he …

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“Members of the group are described as experienced Provisional militants.”

There were earlier reports that “a group of disgruntled republicans recently believed to have defected” from the Provisional IRA “mainstream IRA” could have been responsible for the recent murder of Constable Ronan Kerr.  Although I can’t find the link, I seem to recall Sinn Féin’s Martin McGuinness denying any such recent “leakage”. Today, various newsites are reporting a Belfast Telegraph exclusive that a “newly-formed dissident Republican group” have admitted to the murder.  The BBC have a response from DUP leader, Peter Robinson. From the breakingnews.ie …

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Arrest in Denis Donaldson murder probe?

Previously adjourned, for the fifth time, in August last year, the inquest into the 2006 death of former senior Sinn Féin figure Denis Donaldson was adjourned again in January ahead of a further pre-inquest hearing on May 5. Now the BBC are reporting that a 70-year-old man has been arrested and is being questioned in Letterkenny Garda station, County Donegal.   As RTÉ notes, the man is being detained “on suspicion of withholding information”.  He can be held for three days. Responsibility for Donaldson’s murder was claimed …

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“the specialist detectives will probe crimes dating back to the 1980s and 1990s…”

This is worth flagging up again, just in case you missed the late Friday afternoon media briefing by “high-ranking security sources”… The PSNI have set up a “specialist team of detectives” to re-examine “specific” crimes, “dating back to the 1980s and 1990s” as well as “a series of incidents around the turn of the 21st century”, which “detectives believe may have involved present-day dissidents.” [added link] From the breakingnews.ie report In a further development, it has emerged that, just 24 hours …

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“Adams and the forces of the British Crown in Ireland are entirely united…”

Whilst Malachi’s article was mostly directed at the northern incarnation of Sinn Féin, in the Scotsman Kevin Toolis focuses on the southern version. As far as the Sinn Féin leadership is concerned, Ireland’s Troubles are old news from another country that they hope everyone else will forget about. Skeletons that should remain in the closet. Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams, newly minted as a deputy at the head of a substantial bloc in the new Irish parliament, is intent on …

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“Now he must tell the dissidents that he was in the wrong, too”

With the PSNI setting up a specialist team of detectives to examine “specific crimes”, “dating back to the 1980s and 1990s”, which they believe “may have involved present-day dissidents”, Malachi O’Doherty has some timely advice for Sinn Féin’s Martin McGuinness et al. From the Belfast Telegraph article History is letting the Provos off lightly in not plunging them into their own civil war. On balance, McGuinness must surely see that this is not as hard as facing into failure would be. …

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“If it turns out that the explosives found were Semtex…”

In a major police operation on the eve of Constable Ronan Kerr’s funeral the PSNI seized a quantity of weapons and explosives in Coalisland, County Tyrone – which they have described as “the most significant in recent years”.  Which was interesting timing… There have been two arrests in connection with Constable Kerr’s murder and further searches in the north Dublin area. From the BBC report The arms found were: • Four Kalashnikov rifles • Six loaded ammunition magazines • Timer power …

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“Due to constraints on the nature of the funding…”

The News Letter reports that Sinn Féin have been forced to change the venue for a commemoration in Enniskillen of Provisional IRA hunger striker, Bobby Sands, after their original choice [reportedly] checked the conditions of their EU funding.  Their original choice being the Clinton Centre, which was built on the site of a Provisional IRA bomb attack on Remembrance Day 1987 in which 11 people were killed and 63 injured – a twelfth victim died after 13 years in a coma. From the News …

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McGeough sentenced to 20 years for attempted murder

The BBC reports on the sentencing of Gerry McGeough – who was found guilty in February of the attempted murder of an off-duty UDR soldier, then working as a postman, now DUP councillor Sammy Brush, in 1981.  From the BBC report Former IRA man Gerry McGeough has been sentenced to 20 years imprisonment for the attempted murder of an off-duty UDR soldier 30 years ago. McGeough, 52, shot Sammy Brush, now a DUP councillor, in Aughnacloy in June 1981. He was arrested in …

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NI Executive member supplies reference for McGeough

The BBC reports from the pre-sentencing hearing of Gerry McGeough – who was found guilty in February of the attempted murder of an off-duty UDR soldier, then working as a postman, now DUP councillor Sammy Brush, in 1981. From the BBC report An unnamed member of the Northern Ireland Executive has supplied a reference for Gerry McGeough ahead of his sentencing. The former IRA member was found guilty in February of the attempted murder of an off-duty UDR soldier 30 years ago. Sammy Brush, …

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“We don’t approve of young children engaging in this type of activity…”

The Belfast Telegraph has an update from the Ti Chulainn Cultural Centre in Mullaghbawn, south Armagh – where children, some of primary school age, were photographed in October wearing balaclavas, combat jackets and trousers, dark glasses and berets, and brandishing replica weapons including AK47s and Armalites.  From the Belfast Telegraph update The Ti Chulainn centre in south Armagh has said that children dressed up as paramilitaries armed with replica weapons on its premises hadn’t “been part of an organised event” in the …

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Mr Noonan “refused to engage in a meaningful manner”

With the economy and the state of public finances the focus of the recent Irish general election, despite attempts to pretend otherwise, here’s a report worth wider consideration.  Ireland’s Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) has been granted control of the assets of John Noonan, of Tallaght, Co Dublin, who had provided security for the film and music industry through his company Strand Security Services Ltd.  Mr Noonan had declared himself a bankrupt last March and had debts of €4.2 million. From the …

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Micheál Martin: “I think there is a huge problem for Gerry Adams in a credibility sense”

The Sinn Féin president, and still Crown Steward and Bailiff of Northstead, Gerard Adams has taken exception to Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin raising the credibility question in relation to the SF leader’s murky past. [added final link] From the Belfast Telegraph report “There is a fundamental problem for Gerry when he continues to deny his membership of the IRA,” said Mr Martin. “Because every time he talks in this debate during the election about honesty, about being up front and transparent, it jars …

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Denis Donaldson inquest adjourned again – redux – redux

Previously adjourned, for the fifth time, in August last year, the Irish News reports that the inquest into the 2006 death of former senior Sinn Féin figure Denis Donaldson has been adjourned again – a further pre-inquest hearing will be held on May 5.  From the Irish News report It is understood a key witness in the investigation has been taken into protective custody after allegedly revealing where the gun used to kill Mr Donaldson was buried. The coroner told [Garda Superintendent Michael …

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‘look we tried it and it did not work and it’s not going work this time either’

The Guardian report of comments by the de facto leader of the ‘good’ UDA, Jackie McDonald, contains a significant line.  From the report The UDA leader also expressed some sympathy for mainstream republicans in Sinn Féin in terms of facing up to the dissident threat. He pledged that the UDA would continue to work with Sinn Féin on sectarian flashpoints to defuse communal tensions in the 2011 loyalist marching season. “I know that it’s a Catch 22 for republicans. It’s hard …

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The State versus Thomas Murphy – redux

Possibly relevant to Brian’s earlier post… and Mitchell Reiss’ admission…  An iol report provides an update on the long-running saga of the State versus Thomas ‘Slab’ Murphy. First a re-cap from a previous post. In October 2008, the “culmination of intensive investigations by the 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 £445,000 (573,000 euro) and nine properties in the north-west …

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Sinn Féin: “There is not a shred of evidence linking republicans to the Northern Bank robbery…”

While Taoiseach Brian Cowen refused to answer any questions on the issue, former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, Justice Minister, Dermot Ahern and Health Minister Mary Harney have all re-stated the Irish government’s 2005 assessment that the Sinn Féin leadership of Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness had prior knowledge of the Northern Bank robbery. And a report in The Irish News today notes that Sinn Féin’s view that there is “not a shred of evidence” to link the IRA to the robbery of …

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Wikileaks: “What [Sinn Féin] cannot stand, he said, is skepticism.”

The Guardian has a good round-up of most of the significant Process™ related sections of the US Embassy cables released by Wikileaks.  But there are a few sections worth highlighting in that they corroborate elements of other accounts that have been published previously.  In particular the account by Mary-Alice Clancy. From a US Embassy cable dated 04 February 2005 5. (C) XXXXXXXXXXXX said that the GOI’s approach to the peace process was to “sit tight” and let Sinn Fein find its way back. Equally, …

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“If an allegation of sexual abuse is made against a Sinn Féin member…”

According to a BBC report A former Sinn Fein councillor and widow of one of the most senior IRA leaders in Belfast is to be charged with cruelty and sexual offences. The report doesn’t give a source – I’m assuming it was the Public Prosecution Service – nor an indication of when the charges will be put. The BBC report comes in the wake of a weekend report in the Irish News where the alleged victim, Mary Meehan, waived her right to …

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