IRSP Protest at Irish Consulate - Belfast

by Outraged! Tue Mar 04, 2008 11:26

IRSCNA Statment of Recent Internement IRSP Members

A Chairde,

Five IRSP and Teach Na Fáilte (ex-POW community workers) members have been recently interned by the Irish government and subjected to extreme brutality by the Special Branch police. Two have sustained injuries requiring hospitalization. One of the men seriously injured is wheel chair-bound. We desperately need everyone to speak out against this unprovoked violence so that it cannot be repeated.

The RSPOWs in Portlaoise Prison appreciate the outpouring of support and concern from all over the world. But concrete help is needed. These new prisoners are joining three other recently arrested and imprisoned members, and support funds are quite low. Please send any funds you can spare to aid these prisoners of conscience, as well as cards and letters which are greatly appreciated.

Send messages of support to:

Republican Socialist Prisoners
E4 Landing
Portlaoise Prison
Portlaoise, Co. Laois
Ireland

Send funds to support the Prisoners’ Dependents to:

Teach na Failte
392A Falls Road
Belfast BT12 6DH
Ireland

Is Muidne,
IRSCNA
PO Box 901479 Kansas City, Missouri 64190-1479 USA
http://www.irscna.org

by Barry - No organisation Mon Mar 03, 2008 23:00

_____________________________________

Statement from those Arrested:

_____________________________________

March 2nd, 2008

A Chairde,

After a meeting today with Eddie McGarrigle, John Mc Crossan and Neil Myles in Portlaoise internment camp, Eddie has asked us to express the following

Sentiments, " Do not be influenced by the tripe you read in the right wing media regarding our recent arrest and subsequent charge of membership. In all the hours of questioning that we endured never once was it mentioned to us about tiger kidnapping, weapons etc. This tripe reported in the media should be viewed for what it is, an attempt by securicrats working to a political agenda to demonize, criminalize and demoralize the membership of the IRSM. No charges have been laid against any of us which includes the two Dublin lads (who were released on bail), in connection to the lies planted in the media.

I want to put on record that the treatment that we all received whilst in custody was nothing short of torture. The Irish Government speak out and condemn human rights abuses in faraway places such as China and Iran, whilst there political police in the free state can carry out such acts without impunity, such hypocrisy. I myself was thrown out of my wheel chair onto the ground a number of times by a number of special branch interrogators, who took great delight in stamping, punching and slapping me in the head and body, whilst making sure that they had the camera turned off in the interrogation room. All the other lads suffered the same and more at the fists and boots of our torturers.

Eventually we were charged with membership of an illegal organization namely the INLA and remanded to Portlaoise Internment camp ( The Irish Free States, Guantanamo Bay) . A charge frequently used by the free state to intern Republicans-Republican Socialists. At our bail hearing in the diplock special criminal court, the state fiercely opposed bail to all of us. Superintendent Dermot O'Sullivan was the main objector to bail, swearing under oath that the accused were involved in a conspiracy to extort money for the INLA from a businessman in Cork. When our legal team objected to O'Sullivan's evidence on the basis that none of us before the court were charged with any offence connected to evidence submitted by O Sullivan, one of the three judges quipped that he would allow the superintendent to continue with his evidence solely because " The state was alledging that the accused were members of the INLA and it was reasonable to ascertain that you don't join the INLA and do nothing. I like many others have read the newspapers in regards to reports of tiger kidnappings and seisure of weapons". How can anyone one of us expect any kind of justice when one of the judges on the bench comes out with such tripe?.

Thankfully after a number of legal objections and arguments by our legal team, the three Judges in the diplock court set bail with stringent conditions and hopefully myself, John and Neil will be released in a week or so.

Eddie and the Lads would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who highlighted and continue to highlight the injustice of their internment, and treatment endured at the fists and feet of the free states political police, particularly, Teach Na Failte (Strabane, Derry, Belfast) , The Ard Comhairle of the IRSP, IRSCNA, members of the IRSM and concerned individuals who sent messages of support and solidarity. They would especially like to thank the Staff and Volunteers of the RIRA within Portlaoise internment camp particularly Aidan O"Driscoll and Aidan Hulme for the support, comradeship and practical support they bestowed on them, they also wish to thank the 32CSM, Eirigi, United Republicans, Other Republicans for there solidarity. Last but not least they would like to thank W Gallagher for all the campaigning work he has done on there behalf and wish him a happy 50th birthday tomorrow.

Is Mise

John Murtagh and John Farrell ( On behalf of Eddie, Neil, and Johnny}

_______________________________________

ENDS

_______________________________________

by Barry - No organisation Mon Mar 03, 2008 21:27

"""It is not an established fact that there has been any “assaults” or “brutality” in this case, much less of “innocents"""

Photo's have been taken, and if you check hostpital RECORDS you will find that Neil Myles, aged 53, and from Cork, was hospitalised the morning after the arrests, having suffered back injuries. Along with this, there has been reports from the individuals arrested and the abuse described in detail, and various members and non-members have seen the injuries first hand having visited. Complaints have also been lodged.

Unless these injuries were coincidental, or Neil Myles tripped on the step going into the Gardai station and hurt his back, then the evidence is there, photographs and all.

While on the other hand, so far, the gardai have LIED about weapons being found, and have withdrawn their charges on the hocuspocus "Tiger kidnap" they alledged was taking place. They are now being charged with INLA membership only, for which there is no evidence. One has to question the integrity of the Gardai given these discrepancies and withdrawals.

by Sceptic Mon Mar 03, 2008 20:39

It is not an established fact that there has been any “assaults” or “brutality” in this case, much less of “innocents”.

by Jacqueline Fallon Sun Mar 02, 2008 21:02

All assaults in custody are wrong and are inexcusable, there can be no justifications for them, as most political activists upon arrest would have the sense not to assault members of the Gardaí and make matters worse for themselves.

An Garda Síochána has evidently a well publicised history of carrying out brutal assaults on Republican socialist political activists. No assault is regarded too brutal, the odd death threat is approved of also, and no tactic too sinister to be used by it to suppress political dissent. Of course, it is only following the orders of its masters in Leinster House, who order the suppression orders in the first place on certain political organisations with a republican socialistic hue.

I vividly recall watching on television celebrity Garda, retired Detective Gerry O’Carroll, now member of the Fianna Fáil party (gone from one corrupt organisation into another), defending robustly the brutal assaults perpetrated by his colleagues in An Garda Síochána on Republican political activists in custody and applauding the extreme torture methods used during interrogations. This morning, Gerry dána was on ‘The Marion Finnucane Show’, condemning the brutal assaults on two Polish men, which, of course, he quite rightly condemned, but coming from the likes of him, he who has defended the use of torture methods and brutal beatings carried out by his colleagues in his beloved Guardians of the Peace (some misnomer there!) on those in custody - well, I find it very difficult not to regard him as an extreme hypocrite with an á la carte approach to morality and decency, and his attitude is so typical of so many in that corrupt organisation.

I have had personal experience of the sinister methods used by members of An Garda Síochána. In the recent past, I was approached by a nasty young plain clothes Garda and handed me an abortion leaflet; he said nothing, but just smirked and handed me the leaflet. I have also been followed, surveilled and harassed for no particular reason. I did not deserve to be treated like this - nobody deserves to be treated like this. I just attended a few Republican commemorations and public pickets and this is the sort of nasty treatment I got, what must it be like for those members of the IRSP and other republican socialist organisations who are in custody.

Will there be a demonstration on this held in Dublin? I would support a demonstration. I think this should be highlighted more as An Garda Síochána is getting away with too much abuse and people will end up dead if there is no public outcry.

by Barry - No organisation Sun Mar 02, 2008 16:46

The FACT of the matter is, innocent IRSP political activists are getting physically assaulted while in custody. This is not acceptable. It is also not acceptable that the Gardia can lie and manufacture stories to justify arresting political activists.

This is something that will and can effect all political activists who oppose the status quo, therefore, solidarity to the IRSP should be given, and the draconian justice system removed.

by Barry - No organisation Sun Mar 02, 2008 16:41

"""Malcolm X recanted his criticism of Martin Luther King in his later years. His earlier comments were those of a fiery and uneducated young man. Nicky Kelly was in the seventies. This is now and questionings are video taped as I understand it. Standards are higher these days. The Special Criminal Courts predate the Dublin bombings and in any case there were much more draconian tribunals earlier on with army officers for judges and power to impose the death penalty.

The evidence in this case will be presented when the case is tried not before.

The INLA according to informed sources has mutated from a terror/criminal organization to a purely criminal one with a heavy involvement in narcotics. I believe killing of anyone in Ireland for political or sectarian purposes to be a crime as well as armed robberies and kidnappings to finance subversives.

Perhaps someone can tell us from the inside what does the INLA do? By what authority does it do it or exist? To whom is it accountable? """

Your questions are not relevent to this article, which has nothing to do with the INLA. if you want responses to your questions, there is a link above to the RSM forum where many IRSP and non IRSP will answer your questions.

"""The defendants said in court under oath that they were not INLA members.

So why is the IRSP making such a fuss about them in particular, and not other defendants in our police state?"""

Eh..., well maybe because those arrested are IRSP members?

by Popular front of Judea Sat Mar 01, 2008 20:26

The defendants said in court under oath that they were not INLA members.

So why is the IRSP making such a fuss about them in particular, and not other defendants in our police state?

by Sceptic Sat Mar 01, 2008 20:07

Malcolm X recanted his criticism of Martin Luther King in his later years. His earlier comments were those of a fiery and uneducated young man. Nicky Kelly was in the seventies. This is now and questionings are video taped as I understand it. Standards are higher these days. The Special Criminal Courts predate the Dublin bombings and in any case there were much more draconian tribunals earlier on with army officers for judges and power to impose the death penalty.

The evidence in this case will be presented when the case is tried not before.

The INLA according to informed sources has mutated from a terror/criminal organization to a purely criminal one with a heavy involvement in narcotics. I believe killing of anyone in Ireland for political or sectarian purposes to be a crime as well as armed robberies and kidnappings to finance subversives.

Perhaps someone can tell us from the inside what does the INLA do? By what authority does it do it or exist? To whom is it accountable?

by Free Thinker Sat Mar 01, 2008 16:34

''Moreover if a senior Garda forms an opinion that someone is a member of the INLA and is prepared to swear that in court there is little doubt that they are''
Oh Please the Garda have shown time and time again how low they will steep. They have a grudge against anyone who challenges the status quo or their authority. Look at whats happening in Mayo with the Shell farce.
Even if these men were members of the INLA and are guilty of plotting this alleged kidnapping and ransom attempt does that justify there horrendous treatment at the hands of the Stasi sorry Special Branch. Was there really a need to break Eddie McGarrigle's nose a man confined to a wheel chair.
This suppression of political dissent I mean real political dissent not that of the cowardly sycophant's of Fine Gael ,Labour and to a lesser extent provisional Sinn Fein has been increasing over the past number of weeks as we have seen with the treatment of Republican Sinn Fein and the 32 CSM members North and South.
It's actually because of the Dublin Monaghan bombings that we have the Special Criminal Court the perpetrators of which have never been found but evidence shows the Loyalist paramilitaries had neither the capability or technical know-how to carry out.
Back to the point at hand will the public be shown the evidence of these men's trials? I very much doubt it. So you have to ask yourself where does this end how many civil liberties shall we surrender to the state.
In the words of Thonas Jefferson ''Those who would sacrifice the Liberty for Security deserve neither and will lose bought''
I am not a member of the IRSP or INLA or any party or organization for that matter and I was invoking the messag of Martin Luther King for the same reason I am writing this to defend EVERYONES Human not to be tortured and the right to dissent without fear and to have to a fair trial which these men are like many have been and many more will be denied these inalienable rights.

by Barry - Independent Socialist Sat Mar 01, 2008 14:10

Sceptic, you havnt a clue what you are talking about. These men were not in the INLA. What latest escapade would that be - the one you believe on the word of the Gardai? - without, thus far, any evidence, and having seen so far lies propagated by the gardai that weapons were found.

You think the Gardai dont lie?

As for the beatings, well hopefully photographs will be out soon and youll be eating your words. It shows your utter inexperience with these beasts anyway, saying "there is no credibility to the claims". Clearly your an armchair critic who's never been in a jail cell once or recieved a beating - which is quite common actually. Remember Nicky Kelly battered and tortured into signing a forced confession? - no credibility....

As for the INLA being an organised crime gang. Define a crime?

Martin Luther King was an "uncle tom", as Malcolm X put it, a sellout. Though your happy to accept every dick and harry put up into your face by the capitalist media as saviours. Your probably a fan of Geldoff and Bono too id imagine. LOL

by Sceptic Sat Mar 01, 2008 13:28

I’d give the faux outrage a rest, lads. The dogs in the streets know the type of thing your buddies in the INLA get up to. What you are really angry about is your lot were caught before the latest escapade could happen. Nor is there a shred of credibility in these claims of Garda brutality. Heavy-duty stuff is more the INLA stock in trade than that of the Gardai. And it’s because of the INLA and other paramilitaries and organised crime gangs that we have to Special Criminal Courts in the first place. Otherwise they would kill any juror they could get their hands on that voted to convict and with that sort of threat the jury system could not operate properly. Moreover if a senior Garda forms an opinion that someone is a member of the INLA and is prepared to swear that in court there is little doubt that they are. Society has to defend itself somehow.

Finally Martin Luther King was a man of grace, of principle and of righteousness. It’s a bit undignified for the IRSP (of all people) to start invoking him in this matter.

by Decapitalizerman Sat Mar 01, 2008 01:28

Excellent work.

These B special scum should be exposed for who they are, enemies of the working class and capitalist rent-a-thugs.

Up the Erp's, smash the state.

by FreeThinker Sat Mar 01, 2008 00:49

The illusion of Freedom and Democracy in the 26 counties should finally be shattered by this horrific report for all those naive and foolish enough to believe we live in a constitutional Republic. The security forces of the state still have more now than ever a free hand to abuse, threaten and frame or even murder anyone deemed to be 'subversive'.
Just for writing this I could be deemed 'subversive' and if supported by the OPINION of a Superintendent I could be brought before the the 'Special Criminal Court' {what a fitting name} and face three Judges with no jury even though we live in the post Good Friday agreement era when all this shady undemocratic 'anti-terror' business was meant to be over and go to prison for 5 years on the OPINION of any Garda Superintendent.
Why is the media not reporting on this gross violation of our Human rights not to be tortured because that's what these men endured like many others let alone our Rights to freedom of thought and speech. Many people may say that they are not being effected by this those men are political dissidents why don't we just keep our mouths shut and go along to get along but in the words of Martin Luther King JNR ''Justice is indivisible a threat to justice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.''
We are rapidly progressing towards a world were all decent will be crushed mercilessly with the iron fist of a centralised dictatorship and that's another reason why we must reject the militarized E.U Superstate and stop this blatant disregard for human rights and centralization of power or someday soon we will find ourselves living in a worse more technologically advanced version of George Orwell's 1984.