Galway 32 County Sovereignty Movement

the writing is on the wall in galway

2011-06-28T12:45:00.000-07:00

32csm wolfe tone commemoration

2011-06-10T14:49:00.000-07:00

Post Cancer patient POW forcibly strip searched before & after Doctor consultation

2011-06-09T13:30:00.000-07:00

Post Cancer patient POW forcibly strip searched before & after Doctor consultation

On Tuesday June 7th, Screws entered Pow Brendan Conway’s cell and informed him that he was being transported to hospital for his post cancer check up. Brendan asked them if he would require a strip search leaving Maghaberry and they said yes, Brendan then told them that if a strip search was a prerequisite for him attending his hospital appointment he would be refusing to attend. They told him that he had no choice in the matter and he was physically trailed by the riot squad down to reception where he was brutally strip searched and transported to hospital.

He was escorted in handcuffs by two screws and brought into the consultation room; the screws sat either side of him as the Doctor started her consultation. Brendan asked the doctor to stop the consultation in the presence of the two screws and requested that they leave the room, the two screws refused. The doctor intervened and asked that the screws leave the room as patient doctor confidentiality meant that she could not continue with the consultation in their presence and pointed out that she would be required to do an intimate examination of Mr Conway and supported his request that they leave the room, they again refused so the consultation was cancelled.

Brendan was then returned to Maghaberry where he was forcibly strip searched again and returned to his cell. Brendan asked to speak to the Governor as he wanted to lodge a complaint about his treatment. The governor came to his cell and apologised for the incident and said that the two screws had broken protocol and they should have left the room during his consultation and gave Brendan an assurance that it would not happen again. Brendan told him that he would not be taking any future hospital appointments if he was required to endure a forced strip search to avail of them. The Governor said that they had to make sure he was brought to hospital for these important post cancer check ups and it was his job to ensure he attended. Brendan pointed out that it was within his rights to refuse hospital treatment and no one could force him to attend these appointments which required a brutal forced strip searched during which he received many injuries just to attend.

Brendan has been in touch with his legal team and will be pursuing this breach of his basic human right to Doctor-patient confidentiality through the courts

photos from pow protest.

2011-06-04T09:43:00.000-07:00

Galway 32 County Sovereignty Movement held a very successful pow protest on Shop Street Galway City.activists handed out 1000s of leaflets,highlighting the plight of republican pows currently being tortured in Maghaberry Gaol by a British regime and the political motivated internment of Marian Price .

The 32csm in Connaught plan to hold similar events highlighting the prisoners plight throughout the region in the coming weeks and months.beir bua

POW seriously beaten / Maghaberry Independent POW protest

2011-05-28T10:51:00.000-07:00

POW seriously beaten / Maghaberry Independent POW protest

Latest from Maghaberry:

It is being confirmed by Republican POWs in Maghaberry prison, that Harry Fitzsimons has received a severe beating by the riot squad.
They went into his cell this morning, holding their hands over his mouth and nose to stop his breathing, punching his face until they broke his glasses cutting his face and leaving him with a suspected broken nose.
Another POW said he's unrecognisable, having a suspected broken wrist and broken ribs due to the severe punching to his body.The screws then brutally ripped every stitch of clothing off his body, then got on top of him and beat him as he screamed out in pain.
The other POWs said they didnt even recognise the voice. other updates will follow.

32csm Condemn Tom Elliot’s Remarks

2011-05-27T14:13:00.002-07:00

32csm Condemn Tom Elliot’s Remarks

The Ard Comhairle of the 32csm wish to condemn recent remarks made by Tom Elliot, the leader of the UUP. Mr Elliot in the past week has called on Owen Patterson to revoke the licence of ex POW and 32csm member John Connolly. This comment came in the wake of John attending an anti-royal visit protest in Dublin. At the protest two masked members of the crowd burned a Union Jack. John was not involved in this incident, nor did the Gardaí arrest the individuals who burned the flag. Despite these facts Mr Elliot regards John’s presence at a republican protest as sufficient reason to have his licence revoked.

This is not merely a repetition of Tom Elliot’s familiar anti republican rhetoric. Rather we see this as a further step in a sinister pattern that has resulted in a number of ex POWs either being imprisoned on trumped up charges or having their licence revoked due to their political stance. In the past two weeks another of our Ard Comhairle members, Marian Price, had her licence revoked for attending an Easter commemoration in Derry. In the same week two members of Republican Sinn Fein were charged under obscure legislation of "supporting terrorism" for stating in an interview that they supported the right of republicans to engage in armed struggle.

Mr Elliot referred to Marian as a terrorist and justified her internment on those grounds. Given his own lengthy involvement in the UDR who colluded with Loyalist paramilitaries surely he himself qualifies for similar treatment?

This latest statement is not merely a publicity stunt; rather it is an open call for internment and political censorship. John Connolly was released in 2007. He is a well respected community activist and an unashamed republican. Tom Elliot is in effect calling for all ex POWs opposed to the GFA to be interned for their beliefs. Given the case of Martin Corey we do not think that this is mere hyperbole but rather a very distinct strategy being utilized by the British administration in an attempt to silence republicans. The 32csm stands fully behind John and his young family as well as all of the republican ex POWs that Tom Elliot is trying to intimidate and censor. We send solidarity greetings to Marian, Martin and the other republicans imprisoned in Maghaberry for refusing to abandon their beliefs. We urge all republicans to support these individuals in any way they can.

Ard Comhairle
32 County Sovereignty Movement

Freedom of Speech denied To Insulate British Monarch

2011-05-19T15:51:00.000-07:00

In its desperation to portray to the outside world the image of a welcomed British Monarch in Ireland the Dublin Government has demonstrated a massive disregard for freedom of speech and movement of its own citizens. Having spent millions ensuring that streets were deserted to insulate the monarch from legitimate protest they have now adopted the tactic of pre-emptive arrests to ensure that protests do not happen at all.

This evening close on twenty members of the 32 County Sovereignty Movement were arrested under Section 21 of the Public Order Act as they assembled in Dublin to protest at the monarch’s presence. For all the grandiose talk of new relations and looking to the future the thin veneer has been scraped away to expose the political bankruptcy underneath.

The politics of this visit are clear; in the eyes of those organizing it partition is now fully legitimized. The laying of a wreath at the Garden of Remembrance reflected the view of those present that the Proclamation and Declaration of Independence were wrong and that the Anglo Irish Treaty of 1922, and subsequent derivatives, represents the lawful parameters of Irish sovereignty. We reject this utterly and will continue, despite dictatorial political policing, to expose it.

Free Marian Price/End Internment

2011-05-17T13:02:00.000-07:00

The political imprisoning of republican Marian Price by British direct ruler Owen Patterson represents an act of utter repression against the Irish people. That an unaccountable British politician can arbitrarily remove an Irish citizen’s freedom in their own country demonstrates clearly, despite recent fawning to the contrary, that we have not entered into a new era of relationships between the two islands. What we are witnessing is an assertion of British sovereignty in Ireland.
It is no coincidence that this repression precedes the royal visit to the Twenty Six County State. Whilst we witness the grovelling of the West Brit brigade, falling over themselves to welcome the sectarian monarch, republicans see clearly the message she brings with her; the Irish are finally in their place.

But more telling is the absolute humiliation that this act bestows on the Stormont regime. On the very day that the micro ministries were being dished out, most noticeably a ‘justice’ ministry, the real seat of power was exercising itself. The farce was exposed for the puppet regime it is. We now challenge those who advocate that this farce represents a route to a sovereign Ireland to state clearly where they stand on this repressive act? We challenge them to state clearly what powers this farce enables them to undo this massive injustice?

This is the Good Friday Agreement in action. These are the fruits of the so called ‘peace process’ and the flawed thinking of outmanoeuvred former republican leaders. We call on all republicans to work together to fight this injustice. We call for unity and solidarity with republican POW’s as they struggle against repression from within their imprisonment. And we say to the Irish people this is what the royal visitor represents and this is why we strenuously oppose it

Protest

Saturday 4th june @1pm

Shop Street

Galway City

SUPPORT THE POWS ON PROTEST IN MAGHABERRY /END INTERNMENT.

2011-05-16T05:56:00.000-07:00

Galway 32 County Sovereignty Movement Will Be Holding a pow protest in support of the pows on protest in Maghaberry jail.

We will also highlighting the political motivated interment of Marian Price.

Saturday 28th May @1pm

Shop Street
Galway City

photos of Croagh Patrick pow mountain climb

2011-05-15T16:41:00.000-07:00

photos of Croagh Patrick pow mountain climb

2011-05-15T16:37:00.000-07:00

32CSM condemn the arrest and subsequent charging of veteran Republican Marian Price.

2011-05-15T16:33:00.000-07:00

32CSM condemn the arrest and subsequent charging of veteran Republican Marian Price.

Marian Price, The 32csm National secretary chairperson of the Irish Republican Prisoners Welfare Association was arrested on Friday 13th May and taken to Antrim interogation centre.
She was charged on Sunday with a ridiculous charge linked to her appearance at a 32csm Easter commemoration in which masked members of the IRA were in attendance and an IRA Easter statement was read.
It is quite clear that the RUC/PSNI were told to arrest Miss Price by the hightest level of the British political/Security apparatus and there is no doubt that this arrest and recent arrests of other Republicans are a prime exmple of political policing in advance of the British queen's visit to Ireland.
Republicans must be wary in the coming days as this arrest and these charges set a dangerous precedent and are aimed at disrupting the legitimate political work of our movement.
We will resist all such attempts at criminalisation.
Statement ends

SUPPORT THE POWS ON PROTEST IN MAGHABERRY

2011-05-11T10:42:00.000-07:00

Galway 32 County Sovereignty Movement Will Be Holding a pow protest in support of the pows on protest in Maghaberry jail.

Saturday 28th May @1pm

Shop Street
Galway City.

Galway Bay FM Censor Comment Line Callers.

2011-05-11T08:51:00.000-07:00

Galway Bay FM Censor Comment Line Callers.

Galway 32 County Sovereignty Movement were shocked but not surprised with the comments of community radio station Galway Bay Fm after the station by their own admission received 100s of comments against the psni/ruc visit to Galway under the banner of police sport uk.

The Keith Finnegan show presenter attempted to claim the people who voiced their objection to the psni/ruc visit to Galway City were wasting their phone credit and refused point blank to discuss this issue whatsoever,when it is very clear the majority of his comment line callers wanted the presenter to address this issue and discuss if further.

British Policing Will Never Be Accepted In Ireland.

PSNI/RUC NOT WELCOME IN GALWAY

2011-05-10T08:40:00.000-07:00

The psni/ruc will be visiting Galway Wednesday and Thursday this week as part of police sport uk on lough corrib.

We call on all republicans to show thier disgust at this visit by the unreformed psni/ruc by text,call and emailing the local radio station between 10am and 12 noon each day of the visit with the following message,
"the unreformed psni/ruc are not welcome in galway or any other part of ireland"32csm

text 0857700000

call 091770077

email comments@galwaybayfm.ie

beir bua

Republican prisoners in Maghaberry resume protest action

2011-05-06T14:28:00.000-07:00

Republican prisoners in Maghaberry resume protest action.

Over one year has passed since republican prisoners commenced a

protest to end strip searching and controlled movement in

Maghaberry. The protest ended on the 12th August 2010 after a

facilitated agreement was reached between prisoners and gaol

admin/NIO which was supposed to have ended strip searching and

“phased out” controlled movement within the landings of republican

prisoners. As with previous agreements between republican

prisoners and the British, the British immediately began to claw

back on their position and in the case of this agreement even

introduced new and more degrading measures. As a group of non-

conforming republican prisoners, we fought against these measures

and have worked tirelessly to have the 12th August agreement

implemented. To achieve change we have to resist. To challenge

such a regime comes at a cost.

Since the signing of the August agreement over 60 forced strip

searches has taken place and the phased ending of controlled

movement hasn’t materialised. By this stage, May 2011, we should

have unfettered access to our two landings with cell doors

remaining open all day. Instead, ten screws have to be in place

before movement begins, with a maximum of six out on landings at

any one time. A “forum” involving prisoner representatives and

gaol admin was put in place as part of the agreement to sort areas

of contention, meeting on a monthly basis, but as non-conforming

prisoners, we refuse to take part in this “talking shop” whilst forced

strip searching and controlled movement remain in place. Other

areas that need to be addressed are too numerous to go into detail

but one example is that when a republican is arrested, he can

expect to spend up to 28 days in an interrogation centre, then if

charged, he’s brought to Maghaberry where he can expect to be

held on landings with loyalists and drug dealers for weeks (in some

cases months) before being transferred to the republican landings.

This is only one of many disgraceful issues that have been allowed

to continue unchallenged for too long. We will not stand idly by as

comrades suffer.

In recent months, we have released two separate documents

relating to the agreement of August 2010 and conditions within

Maghaberry. In both documents we called publicly for unity

between all prisoners, stating that we believed unity was our

strength and would benefit us all if we moved forward collectively.

We asked the other groups of prisoners and anyone outside with

influence and aligned to them to help to achieve this unity.

Unfortunately several months have passed and we have received

no response from either. We are conscious of the fact that a

significant number of POWs who agreed with our analysis and

actions required to obtain our objectives were fully supportive of us

but withheld that support. We now believe that most of those now

have the confidence to vocally show that support and indeed join

us in our struggle. We openly and genuinely welcome those

comrades and any others who share our view regarding gaol

struggle.

Our objective is to establish a republican wing with republican

principles at its core. As republicans we will do whatever it takes to

achieve this. This will necessitate the ending of strip searching and

controlled movement per the agreement of August 2010. We

cannot and will not allow or facilitate any attempt to criminalise

republican prisoners any longer. We ask families, comrades and

republicans at home and abroad for renewed support as we enter

protest action to secure our rights as republicans. Strip searching

remains! Controlled movement remains! Our determination to end

them also remains!

Protest action has commenced at 10pm, Friday 6th May 2011.

Signed:

Colin Duffy Damien McLaughlin Kevin Barry Nolan

Harry Fitzsimons Gerard McManus Brendy Conway

Seán McConville Brian Cavlan Gavin Coyle

Dominic Dynes Brendan McConville Mark McGuigan

John Paul Wootton Brian Sheridan Joe Barr

http://republicanprisonersmaghaberry.com/republicanprisonersresumeprotestaction.aspx

.link

Vol Hugh Hehir Commemoration

2011-05-06T13:56:00.000-07:00

Clare 32 County Sovereignty Movement Vol Hugh Hehir Commemoration ,Sunday 8th May ,12.30pm assemble Nevins Pub Clarecastle,Co.Clare.prom speaker.

32CSM National 1916 Commemoration 2011 Photos.

2011-04-25T12:37:00.000-07:00

2011-04-25T12:29:00.000-07:00

2011-04-25T12:25:00.001-07:00

2011-04-25T12:11:00.000-07:00

IRA EASTER STATEMENT 2011

2011-04-25T10:39:00.001-07:00

IRA Easter Statement 2011

The leadership of Oglaigh na hEireann extend Easter greetings and solidarity to all our friends and supporters both nationally and internationally, we extend our thanks to anyone who has helped the republican cause in any way and express our gratitude in advance for your assistance in the future. Everyone can make a contribution to the Irish freedom struggle, no part is too small.

The Republican movement wish to commend our volunteers for the courage, commitment and discipline they have shown in the face of huge odds, the republican struggle is entering a crucial phase with our enemies united in trying to end republican resistance once and for all, they will fail. In order to combat the forces of repression and partition republicans must think strategically and pragmatically. Republican unity must remain a key objective and aspiration for all republicans, for our part the IRA have worked closely with other organisations in every way and we will do so in the future. A united republican base is much more able to withstand the onslaught of the united forces of occupation.

Special mention must be made of the republican POW's in Maghaberry and their continued resistance to the torturous prison regime in place there. To those who say that the British occupation of Ireland has changed we say why, 30 years after 10 brave comrades died in British jails in Ireland, are Irishmen still fighting for political status and still being brutalised for doing so? We ask for your continued support for these captured volunteers who will never submit to degradation and criminalisation. We send greetings to the IRA unit in Portlaoise and send solidarity and support to republicans held overseas.

Oglaigh na hEireann call on any young nationalist who may have been sold the lie that the RUC/PSNI is somehow an reformed, non political police service to think again, those who think they are serving their community are in fact serving the occupation and will be treated as such.
The GAA, Catholic church and constitutional nationalism will be unable to protect those who turn traitor, they are as liable for execution as anyone else regardless of their religion, cultural background or motivation.

The IRA repeat our warnings to civilians to stay away from the scenes of IRA attacks or alerts, we have noticed a pattern developing whereby the RUC/PSNI are deliberately putting civilians at risk. These so called modern day heroes were brave enough to allow hundreds of non combatants to pass a large IRA bomb in Newry,we do not believe that this was sheer incompetence of their behalf but a calculated action aimed at putting civilians in the danger zone to protect themselves and discredit republicans. With this in mind we ask both the public and all volunteers to be careful and vigilant, with the occupation forces coming under increased pressure from the resistance movement they are more likely to take drastic action out of desperation.

It has come to the attention of the republican leadership that in a number of areas across the country criminal gangs are using the cover of republicanism to further their own selfish ends, this will not be tolerated, a harsh sentence will be dealt to anyone misusing the name of the IRA. Too many have paid the ultimate sacrifice in pursuit of our noble ideal to allow it to be sullied by criminals masquerading as republicans, anyone involved in this should stop and stop now.

Oglaigh na hEireann urge all self respecting Irishmen and women to resist the upcoming insult that is the visit of a British monarch to Irish soil, the criminal free state government invite is not on behalf of the Irish people but to further the selfish interests of a self serving elite.
Despite the best efforts of the media, big business, and other power blocks to portray this visit as acceptable we clearly state that the Irish people will not capitulate. The queen of England is wanted for war crimes in Ireland and not wanted on Irish soil. we will do our best to ensure she and the gombeen class that act as her cheerleaders get that message.

Finally we wish to state clearly and unequivocally that the leadership of the IRA is not in any negotiations with the British government, Free state government or anyone that represents them. Those who continually repeat this lie must explain their actions and we must clearly question their motivation, to them we say, don't judge the IRA by your standards. If the British are serious about discussing the restoration of Irish sovereignty then we will listen to their proposals, anything else is a waste of time. The IRA, in cooperation with others will continue to resist occupation to the best of our ability, anything less would be a betrayal of all those Brave men and women who fill our graveyards this Easter.

Victory to the IRA, Beir bua

This statement was released anonymously to The Sovereign Nation

Brtitish Police, Republican Resistance

2011-04-23T17:59:00.000-07:00

Republicans take no satisfaction in the death of anyone; the death of PSNI/RUC member Ronan Kerr does not fill republicans with joy, quite the opposite in fact. The continued occupation means that while regrettable, further deaths of those who shore up and defend that occupation are inevitable. In order to instigate a real peace process in Ireland those ultimately responsible for the occupation i.e. the British government need to address the root cause of the Irish conflict, the continued violation of Irish national sovereignty.

The great and the good within the catholic church, the GAA and constitutional nationalism have predictably lined up to sing in unison with the British administration in Ireland. It would seem that they are using the death of Ronan Kerr to their own advantage. It is important to note that many of those who now condemn the killing of a member of the British police in Ireland once actively resisted their presence whether catholic or protestant. It is not that long ago that the GAA refused to allow members of the British security forces to be members of their organisation. Michael Ferguson, a 21 year old catholic RUC man from Omagh was shot dead a number of years ago in Shipquay Street outside Dunnes Stores by the IRA. Far from calling on the people of Derry to inform on the perpetrators of this attack a prominent Provisional politician from this city ordered the fire bombing of Dunnes Stores exactly one week later to prevent the RUC from carrying out a reconstruction in to this young officer’s death.

This same power junkie can now be seen regularly with the discredited British police commander Matt Baggot condemning current IRA actions.
It is no surprise to republicans that the Catholic Church has stood behind the forces of occupation and partition; they have a long history of this. Dan Breen executed two catholic Irish speaking RIC members during the tan war; the catholic hierarchy said that hell wasn't hot enough for the perpetrators. A lot has been made of the fact that Ronan Kerr was a catholic, Tom Williams went to the gallows for killing a catholic RUC man, how can he be a republican hero and Ronan Kerr be a modern day hero, how can those who killed Kerr be "worse than traitors"?

The British administration in Ireland constantly claim that republicans are using young men as pawns for their own selfish political ends, what was that same administration doing with young Ronan Kerr, selling him the glory of serving his community in a British uniform. The reality is that death means nothing to the British whether in Ireland, Afghanistan or Libya. Hundreds have died in the last few weeks at the hands of the British and their allies with their cruise missiles yet none of them are worthy of a mention. Young men like Ronan Kerr are pawns being used by the British and their local allies to shore up a failed internal settlement.

While everyone is entitled to their own opinions on the killing of Ronan Kerr we must expose the hypocrisy of those seeking to use his death to harm the republican position. It has always been the republican position that all death is regrettable and all deaths of this nature can be avoided by the causes of conflict being confronted rather than ignored.

The RUC/PSNI have been repeatedly harassing and abusing republicans for years. The PSNI’s primary role is to enforce British rule on a section of the Irish people. When young Irish men and women join the British police force in Ireland the dangers involved can not be lost on them. Those who constantly encourage young people to join the PSNI in the full knowledge of the dangers involved cannot shirk the moral responsibility when deaths like that of Ronan Kerr occur. Peter Robinson’s deputy Martin Mc Guinness has called for people to inform on republicans. The question that should be asked of Mc Guinness is that people who may have information on those who killed Michael Ferguson in Shipquay Street in 1993 inform on Volunteers who carried out the attack, if not, why not!!

Pow Sponsored Mountain Climb

2011-04-12T06:07:00.000-07:00

Galway 32 County Sovereignty Movement will be holding a sponsored mountain climb,in aid of Irish Republican Prisoners Welfare Association.

Anyone wishing to participate,sponsor an activist or donate can contact 32csmgaillimh@gmail.com or donate through paypal at 32csmgaillimh@gmail.com .

Sunday 15th May 2011

Croagh Patrick Mountain

Murrisk,

Co Mayo.

Remember they are in there for us,let us be out here for them.beir bua

Photos From Tuam Martyrs Commemoration.

2011-04-11T13:16:00.000-07:00

Tuam Martyrs Commemoration Oration

2011-04-11T13:07:00.000-07:00

A Chairde,

I am honoured to be invited here today to the monument of the Tuam Martyrs. As Easter approaches Republicans across this island will be commemorating the men and women who paid the ultimate sacrifice in the struggle for Irish Indedendence. Today comrades we pay our respects, at this magnificent monument, to six IRA Volunteers from the West of Ireland- Seán Newell, Michael Monaghan, Francis Cunnane, Martin Moylan, Seamus O Maille all from Galway and Seán Maguire from Co. Mayo. These brave IRA Volunteers were executed on 11th April 1923 by Irishmen who used guns given to them by the British. The six IRA Volunteers, who we remember today, opposed the Treaty of 1922 as it breached the Sovereignty of the Irish Nation. As then the leadership of Sinn Fein in 1998 did not recognise the instinctively flawed tactic of usurping our own Sovereignty in discourse with the enemy. Lessons from the past were not heeded and the constitutionalists of Provisional Sinn Fein colluded with the British and their security services to bring about a political settlement which totally undermined our Republican position. History has taught us that lessons not learned from the past are doomed to be repeated. We in 32CSM cherish our past and learn from its mistakes, we may not always be right but we do not lack the moral courage to admit if we get it wrong. We are an open movement ready to listen to new ideas but steadfast in our defence of Irish National Sovereignty. Over the last few years we have seen a rejuvenated 32CSM build right across this island of ours. We have new cummain in Limerick, Kerry, Sligo, Clare and here in Galway. It is very heartening to know comrades that Republicanism is alive and well, the West is Awake! Great credit must go to the local cumann here in Galway for restoring and looking after this fine monument to the Tuam Martyrs. The Freestate Government has descended into the melting pot of corruption, lies and political stagnation, its’ actions have shown it unfit for purpose. We in 32CSM must bring a new vision to our people. With Republicans working together we can realise this effectively. Now is not the time for self imposed isolation or factionalism, now is the opportunity to grasp the reality of the immense task we have. Comrades Irish Sovereignty is not for sale! Sovereignty does not stop at the border, the restoration of Irish Sovereignty is the only viable starting point in the rebuilding of the Irish Nation. It is time to realise the Republic that these brave IRA Volunteers died for, we need to bring their sacrifice into the heart of where this country now finds itself. These are the people we need to turn to for guidance and iinspiration. IRA Volunteers Seamus O Maille, Martin Moylan, Francis Cunnane, Michael Monaghan, Seán Newell and Seán Maguire we salute you!

Beir Bua!!

Oration Delivered by EX POW John Connolly .

Gardai in Corribgate scandal

2011-04-05T13:39:00.000-07:00

Corrib Gardaí caught on confiscated camcorder Investigation under way after ‘rape’ comments found on protestor’s tape Áine Ryan GARDAÍ in north Mayo who joked among themselves about raping two women they had just arrested during a Corrib gas protest on Thursday last are today (Tuesday) the subject of a Garda Ombudsman Commission complaint. A senior garda has also been appointed to investigate the matter. The gardaí, one of whom was a sergeant, were en route to Belmullet Garda Station, while the two women whom they had arrested for public order offences were traveling in two other separate garda cars. The gardaí were not aware that a camcorder they had confiscated was still recording. “Give me your name and address or I’ll rape you,” the sergeant said. To much laughter another garda repeated: “Hold it there. Give me your name and address there… I’ll rape you.” After more laughter, the sergeant repeated: “I’ll definitely rape you.” At the time they were trying to deduce the nationality of one of the protestors whom they believed to be either American or Canadian. While they mused over the fact that they should contact their colleagues in Immigration to ‘deport her’, the option of raping her also was discussed, amid laughs. They identified the other woman who is Irish. During the conversation about rape one garda also said to the sergeant: “I wouldn’t go that far yet. She was living down at that crusty camp, f**k sake, you never know what you might get.” They were referring to the Rossport Solidarity Camp, where the women were staying. The camp was established some years ago to show support and solidarity to the local community opposed to the project. It has attracted varying numbers of supporters and environmental activists from all over the country and abroad. After the women were transported to Belmullet garda station, about a 20-minute drive from the scene of the arrest, they were kept in separate cells, and released without charge shortly afterwards. Earlier that morning one of them had boarded a Shell tractor, transporting bog mats to a new works site at Aughoose along the public road. She sat cross-legged on the cab, reading while the second woman videotaped the interactions when about eight gardaí, including members of the Public Order Unit, arrived on the scene. After a female garda repeated a caution under the Public Order Act 1994, the protestor, amid some jostling, came down. The women were not arrested at the time but about 20 minutes later, while still on the roadside, they claim they were manhandled and treated roughly by the gardaí and were worried for their safety because the road was deserted at the time. They also admit they had been watching for another opportunity to board a Shell vehicle. Unaware that they had been recorded, the Gardai returned the 37-minute tape to the women after their release without charge. They had been kept in custody, in separate cells, for about an hour. Both women say they are too traumatized to be identified at this time but one of them may be willing to come forward later. Speaking of her ordeal yesterday, one of them said a garda had tried to handcuff her but that when she insisted she was not resisting arrest, he stopped. She said the other protestor was treated roughly and has bruises on her arms. It was the American woman’s first day at the protest and she is still very shocked at her treatment, “It wasn’t until the following day (Friday) when we were writing up a report that we noticed there the clip of footage was much longer than we remembered shooting. We expected there would be a lot of empty tape but instead … It was horrifying, I am just beginning to take it in,” the woman said. “When on a protest they are treating you really roughly, you have an instinctive sense of danger, but you can’t put words on it, But then to hear them saying that word ‘rape’ so many times and then all the laughter. Every woman knows someone who has been a victim of sexual violence. These are the men that all our lives we are told are there to protect us and here they are talking about raping us,” she said, her voice shaking. Commenting on the American woman’s ordeal, another solidarity camp member said: “I think she is clearly very shaken by the way they treated her. She had just arrived at the camp and her arms are bruised. On top of that, there was the rape conversation. It is just incredible.” Ms Ellen Dunlop O’Malley, the Chief Executive of the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre said last night: “It is an awful shame there are still gardaí behaving in this manner. From our experience, it is not reflective of how the vast majority behave. There are fantastic gardaí out there who have gone the extra mile to assist victims of rape and sexual assault.” NUI Maynooth academic Dr Bríd Connolly, a lecturer in the university’s Adult and Community Education Department, confirmed that one of the women was a student at the college. “This recording is an affront to women, an affront to freedom to protest, and rape is not a joking matter,”Dr Connolly said. “How can women who have been assaulted have any confidence in the Gardaí if this is the sort of attitude that prevails? It undermines the work done with the Gardaí by rape crisis centres and Women’s Aid, and takes us back 40 to 50 years,” she said. Dr Connolly said she was aware that policing of the Corrib gas dispute was ‘very different’ to that applied at protests over construction of the M3 motorway at Tara. The tape THE tape, which includes video and audio footage, shows exchanges between the gardaí and the woman on the tractor cab. It also includes a conversation in the garda car about the merits of using proper safety equipment – such as harnesses and ladders. One Garda surmises on the reaction of a court if a protestor is injured during removal, and it transpires that there is insufficient equipment or training. “If someone gets hurt, we’re going to be on our own in the blocks,” the Garda says. His senior officer disagrees and says it is a matter of ‘due diligence’ and ‘common sense’. “At the end of the day, we have a certain duty of care to them. We ask them to get down, if they don’t get down we tell them we are taking them down forcefully. We take them down forcefully,” the sergeant says. “We use whatever means at our disposal, which includes ladders and ropes or whatever to get them down safely.” The gardaí also discuss the filling-in of overtime sheets. Responding last night, Belmullet Superintendent Pat Diskin said he ‘understands that an officer had been appointed to establish the facts’ about this matter. Policing Corrib costs POLICING of the Corrib gas dispute has amounted to over € 14 million to date. This huge sum is set to rise sharply over the coming months with expected protests increasing as Shell builds the longest raw gas pipeline tunnel in western Europe. The subsea tunnel, which is through a Special Area of Conservation, will take over two years to build and will involve around 472 truck movements a day, along the narrow, winding roads in this rural area. A number of complaints about aspects of policing have been made to the Garda Ombudsman. A report by the Frontline human rights defenders’ organisation last year expressed concern about some aspects of policing the Corrib gas dispute by both the Garda and the private security firm employed by the developers. The report, by barrister Brian Barrington, recommended that gardaí who had been involved for long periods on the dispute should be deployed to other duties, such as community policing. It also suggested that the Garda Siochána should appoint a trained lawyer with relevant experience in human rights issues to review police policies and practices. Meanwhile, Gardaí in Belmullet last night (Monday) confirmed that two people were being held in custody over public order offences related to the Corrib gas project. It is understood that the two staged a “lock-on” protest from 7am yesterday (Monday) at the entrance to the Shell compound for the Corrib gas pipeline. The full tape of the incident in question was made available to the public on Tuesday afternoon http://www.mayonews.ie/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=12344:gardai-in-corribgate-scandal&catid=23:news&Itemid=46

32 COUNTY SOVEREIGNITY MOVEMENT NATIONAL EASTER COMMEMORATION.

2011-04-04T09:59:00.000-07:00

TUAM MARTYRS COMMEMORATION

2011-04-03T14:06:00.000-07:00

TUAM MARTYRS COMMEMORATION

Galway 32 County Sovereignity Movement will be holding a wreath laying ceremony,assemble at Tuam Martyrs Monument,Dublin Rd,Tuam,Co Galway,Sunday 10th April @2PM,prominent speaker.

On April 11, 4 Anti-Treatyites/Irregulars - Francis Cunnane (from Headford, Co. Galway); Michael Monaghan (from Clonmehan, Headford, Co. Galway); Martin Moylan or Nolan (from Farmistown, Annadown, Co. Galway); and John Maguire (the younger brother of Tom from Cross, Co. Mayo) were executed in Tuam. Two further executions took place in Tuam on the same day- the men executed were James (or John) Newell (from Galway) and James O’Malley (from Oughterard, Co. Galway).

They were put to death in an attempt to quell dissension in their pursuit of a united 32 county Republic with the coup de grâce being administered by fellow Irishmen using guns supplied by the British government.

These men died for the ideal of a United Ireland and the term “Irregulars” was a derogatory term introduced with much the same purpose as the use of the term “dissidents” today.

Honour Irelands patriot dead ,wear an Easter Lily.

British Monarchs visit is a violation of Irish Sovereignty.

2011-03-09T11:16:00.000-08:00

British Monarchs visit is a violation of Irish Sovereignty.

32 County Sovereignty Movement

The announcement that the British Monarch is to pay a state visit to the Twenty Six Counties represents the final chapter in the current process of legitimising partition. Contrary to the establishments view the visit does not represent a gesture in friendly relations between two neighbouring states but rather a confirmation by both states that British sovereignty over the Six Counties is absolute. The Irish are in their place.

There are those who will predictably welcome this visit; others will feign indifference to avoid addressing their own complicity in bringing this final chapter to a close. Their inability to articulate a coherent, principled argument against what this visit represents demonstrates just how compromised they are. This visit is not premature, nor irrelevant; it is a deliberate political statement telling the Irish people that the Proclamation is null and void.

The Proclamation is not an aspirational document but a statement of sovereign intent. The Declaration Of Independence was the democratic ratification of that intent and we stand firmly behind this. The national narrative since its abandonment has been one of division amongst our people, a subservience to religious doctrine, financial speculators and vested interests. Partition and the Proclamation cannot be reconciled and those who either cheerlead for this visit or are incapable of opposing it have allied themselves with the former.

Ireland’s sovereignty does not end at the border and the restoration of our national sovereignty can only be achieved by removing that border. The 32 County Sovereignty Movement call on all republicans to oppose this visit and to expose the true political and constitutional intent behind it.

Commander In Chief of British death squads not welcome in Ireland.

2011-03-05T04:46:00.000-08:00

British death squad leader to visit ireland.

President Mary McAleese has announced Britain's Queen Elizabeth II has accepted an invitation to visit the Republic later this year.

While the dates of the visit and the programme have yet to be announced by the Áras and Buckingham Palace, it is expected to take place over three days in May.

In a brief statement, the Government said it welcomed the acceptance of the invitation. “The visit will mark a further improvement in the very good relations between Ireland and the United Kingdom.”

A number of sources said earlier this month the queen would make a “major” speech in Dublin Castle on relations between the countries.

The queen will be accompanied by her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, the first to the Republic by a reigning British monarch.

British Ambassador Julian King said the queen and her husband were “very much looking forward to their visit" to Ireland.

Ogláigh ná hEireánn Claim attack on RUC.

2011-03-04T09:27:00.001-08:00

The Real IRA in Derry has said it was behind Wednesday night’s gun attack on PSNI officers in the Glen Road area of the city and warned that more attacks will follow.

In a statement, the group also denied police reports that civilians were in the immediate vicinity when the shots were fired.

A spokesperson for the dissident republican group, using a recognised codeword, claimed its “volunteers” waited until civilians had left the area before opening fire.

“We tried to engage them on two occasions but they were surrounded by civilians, including children, and were forced to pull back. The volunteers then engaged the police officers when they got in the car and their vehicle was hit by six rounds. When they did engage there was no civilians around the target.

“The fact that the volunteers pulled back when they were in a closer position undoubtedly saved the lives of the police officers,” the group stated.

The dissident group claimed the PSNI use civilians as “shields” when responding to call outs. “They deliberately surround themselves with civilians, especially young people, who they use as shields.

“We reiterate our call for people to stay away from the British police and we call on parents to tell their children to stay away from them and not allow themselves to be used as shields,” the spokesperson said.

Rejecting claims by the PSNI that the lives of members of the public were endangered in the attack, the RIRA spokesperson said: “The presence of civilians saved lives on this occasion. More attacks will follow.”
http://www.derryjournal.com/news/loc...tack_1_2470253

IRPWA Welcome Prisoner Unity

2011-03-04T09:04:00.001-08:00

Irish Republican Prisoners Welfare Association.

4/3/2011

IRPWA welcome prisoner unity.

The IRPWA welcome the latest development among the republican prisoners in Maghaberry Gaol whereby, it is our understanding, that ALL POW's are now refusing to conform with the prison services policy of strip searches. We hope and trust that all POW's and their representatives on the outside can now come to a common agreement to face down the common enemy of draconian practices and intransigence within the Prison Officers Association and the Northen Ireland Prison Service. We commend all those who have arrived at this decision and support their efforts to defend the agreement made in good faith by the Republican POW's last August.
Restore Political Status Now.
Victory to the POW's.

Message Ends:

Position Document: Non-Conforming Republican Prisoners, Maghaberry

2011-02-27T13:50:00.000-08:00

Position Document: Non-Conforming Republican Prisoners, Maghaberry

Introduction

　 Contained in this document we, a group of non-conforming republican prisoners being held in Maghaberry gaol, lay out the background to our continued prison struggle and the relevant facts thus far, which have contributed to our discussions when making decisions on future strategy.

At all times our decisions have been made whilst keeping our republican principles, integrity and identity intact. We have continued to resist at every opportunity the British criminalisation policy just as republicans have done throughout the history of gaol struggle.

　 Background

After the closure of the H-Blocks in Long Kesh, Maghaberry gaol became the only “high security” prison within the Six Counties. Immediately, the British put in place a system where all prisoners would be dealt with and treated as criminals. No republican prisoner would be entitled to the rights that republicans had fought for and won through years of gaol struggle, involving hunger strikes and protest.

Throughout the years, republican prisoners have stood against criminalization. They suffered brutality, extreme anxiety and concern for their families who, in some cases, they hadn’t seen for years. For those who gave their lives, we have a duty to protect that legacy.

Once this criminalisation policy was introduced in Maghaberry it inevitably led to republican prisoners opposing it, hence resulting in protest action. As part of this policy, republicans were expected to be held alongside loyalists and criminals in shared blocks, continually locked up (in some cases, 24 hours a day) and repeatedly subjected to degrading and humiliating strip searches and other draconian measures.

After a period of protest the system was forced to act; to recognise that republicans were political prisoners who wouldn’t be treated as criminals. The British put in motion a “review” and on the 8th September 2003 they accepted the findings of the “Steele report”. This report accepted that republican prisoners should be housed together, separated from loyalists and criminals. On the basis of Steele’s finding, along with other guarantees and commitments, republican prisoners ended protest action.

Two purpose build units were constructed within Maghaberry: Roe house for republicans and Bush house for Loyalists. Both the units were in a compound of their own with extra internal and external security measures in place. Immediately upon entering Roe house a criminalisation regime was put in place which was again designed to control, degrade and criminalise republican prisoners. This was part of a blatant policy to claw back on commitments made which lead to the end of the protest.

As part of this regime prisoners were searched five or six times while only moving from their cell to a recreation room or yard area. Cells were searched daily by the prison search team and prisoners were routinely strip searched using the most degrading methods imaginable - men were expected, whilst naked, to stand on one foot and show the sole of their other foot while being ordered to continue lifting the raised leg higher. Mouths were inspected and prisoners’ tongues were expected to be moved from side to side and then up and down. All these methods were used to exert control. Of course, republican prisoners passively resisted any such attempts to degrade, humiliate or criminalise them.

Their daily regime meant prisoners couldn’t associate as one unit but instead were out of their cells in groups or “landings”. They were locked up for up to 22 hours a day and were expected to eat all meals in their cells (the same place they used the toilet and washed). This was part of an “individualisation” policy used against republican prisoners.

When the Steele report was released and future guarantees given, the prisoners had achieved so much and a foundation was firmly in place. The fact that republicans were given their own block was in itself recognition that they were “different” from other prisoners and deserved to be treated as such. However, in reality they found themselves continually having to face down the system and their degrading activities. In fact, the British policy of criminalisation was very much still at work. Throughout the next few years prisoners challenged the system at every opportunity and got more of their rights reinstated.

　 Present

　 Throughout the years up until 2010, prisoners continued to put forward proposals to the gaol administration to regain the conditions that republican prisoners were entitled to. However, as with previous attempts they were quashed at the first opportunity by the N.I.O. Prisoners were expected to put every request, even the most basic, in writing. Again, this was designed to treat men as individuals and not as a group. They were also expected to knock their cell doors and ask to get out. Once out of the cell each prisoner would be escorted by three screws (another measure used to control).

Throughout this time prisoners regularly debated on a way forward and on how to challenge the system. All avenues were explored. Central to these debates and analysis were the principles to which so many had suffered and died to achieve, that republican prisoners are not criminals but political prisoners. We won’t accept anything less.

On the 4th April 2010, all republican prisoners in Roe house began a protest by barricading themselves in the recreation room. Once removed a concerted protest began. This protest resulted in all prisoners being locked up for almost 24 hours a day throughout the months of the protest. A decision was taken and all prisoners agreed to refuse all orders to be strip searched at anytime no matter what the circumstances. Once a prisoner refused an order to be strip searched he was charged. In the case of a family visit he would be offered a “box visit” which all republican prisoners refused. If leaving the prison for court etc. they were allowed to proceed and return with only a charge. At no time was anyone forcibly stripped.

Incrementally, prisoners increased protest action and continually refused to be degraded, humiliated or criminalised. After some months and with the continued increase in the protest (both inside and outside the gaol) a facilitation group came into the prison in an attempt to thrash out a deal between prisoners and the N.I.O. This group of three was made up of a local trade unionist, a respected Derry community worker and a Sri Lankan mediator. The prisoners appointed a group to negotiate on their behalf, representing “the collective”. Although there were numerous areas of contention the prisoners agreed the two main areas were: 1. Strip searching and 2. Controlled movement. The position on strip searching was clear - that it must end given its degrading and humiliating nature. It was believed that it could be replaced by more “humane” and less intrusive searches. Such searches would allow for prisoners’ dignity and at the same time cater for the gaol admin / N.I.O. security needs. This would also immediately take away any opportunity for the notorious thuggish search team to attempt to degrade and humiliate republican prisoners.

Controlled movement was also used to “individualise”, exert control and ultimately attempt to criminalise political prisoners. Their stated reasons for controlled movement were shown to be unwarranted and didn’t stand up to any objective scrutiny. This was also the case for keeping landings apart. Republican prisoners knew they could and would demolish the gaol admin / N.I.O.’s spurious arguments for treating republican prisoners as individuals. We are not criminals and won’t allow them to treat us as such.

After months of negotiations, involving our own republican prisoners’ representatives, gaol admin / N.I.O. appointed representatives and the joint facilitation group and while the prison protest continued, suggestions / offers which were far less than what was required were put to us as a “one time offer” via the facilitators. In fact, a number of “one time offers” were put to us before we finally thrashed out an agreement that would allow republican prisoners a framework to establish a wing conducive to our republican status.

This agreement done away with degrading strip searches and replaced it with a “technology based search”. Controlled movement was also to be done away with on a “phased basis” so wing screws could “adjust” and not feel threatened. We also negotiated other major changes to our collective benefit: Time out of cell to increase dramatically from a few hours per day to being unlocked from 8.30am to 8.00pm daily (4.30pm on Sunday as prison “closes” early on this day). An astro turf pitch which we were only given access to for two hours per week has been connected to our existing exercise yard as an extension of it, to be accessible at all times that we are out of cells. These along with other conditions were negotiated and fought long and hard for.

It was known from the protest commenced on Easter Sunday April 4th 2010 that certain prisoners were less than enthusiastic about it. Some absolutely wanted nothing to do with it. At times it was extremely draining and demoralising trying to keep them “on board”.

The agreement reached on August 12th 2010 was an agreement that accepted our right as republicans to be treated with respect and dignity.

We, the prisoner representatives and the facilitators and the gaol/N.I.O representatives all signed the agreement as a “bond” of all our sincerities to stand over all we had agreed-primarily an end to strip searching-included in this was an end to the policy of degrading mouth searches where republican prisoners were expected to wiggle ones tongue from side to side and then up and down. Conversing with screws (pre search) would suffice to show that nothing was hidden in the mouth.

Importantly also, was the agreed ending of controlled movement and the “phasing in” of “free association.” Governors were told and accepted that no republican prisoner would again bang on the door as a means of getting the screws attention, but would instead use the in-cell “buzzers” that at one point would have resulted in being “charged” for using it in non-emergency circumstances.

Other routinely used actions by screws were challenged and changed with the overriding principle of creating a republican wing and being treated as political prisoners at its core.

We, the contributors of this document were some of the signatories of the 12th of August Agreement. We argued and fought for everything that was agreed while others were prepared to accept far less at numerous times during the long negotiations.

Our analysis of the agreement is the 100% correct one – the facilitators have agreed and accepted our analysis. We steadfastly refuse to accept anything less.

Once again as happened in 2003/4 the N.I.O / gaol admin have tried to renege on what they agreed. This has resulted in forced strip searching and brutality against we the non-conforming republican prisoners. Strip searching was replaced with a technology lead search on the 12th of August Agreement! We fully stand behind the 12th of August Agreement and refuse to be strip searched. The N.I.O / gaol admin are attempting to break our will by using force and brutality and then they have the cheek to “charge” us for disobeying a direct order to conform.

Other republican prisoners - for their own reasons - are accepting strip searches because they don’t want to be forcibly stripped and brutalized which inevitably leads to being charged and, as a consequence of this, being refused parole if they are due it.

We the non-conforming republican prisoners have endured 30 plus forced strip searches between us since the agreement was signed.

During an application seeking leave for a Judicial Review by one of us, an N.I.O/Gaol Admin barrister commented on a DVD of our comrade (who is in remission from testicular cancer) that what he seen of the forced strip search was “barbaric”. The N.I.O/Gaol Admin are now trying to get all of the DVD’s of the forced strip searches barred from being part of the Judicial Review which is to be held on the 25th February, 2011.

During these forced strip searches by the notorious thuggish search team, all sorts of injuries have been inflicted from severe bruising, sprained wrists and a suspected broken nose. It is highly significant that all the forced strip searches and brutality have taken place after the agreement was signed. No republican prisoner was forcibly stripped during the protest for refusing to comply with a strip search. One republican prisoner was brutalized and had his clothes cut of him at he early stages of the protest but this was done to intimidate the rest of the republican prisoners. This resulted in the protest immediately being escalated and the whole republican wing being smashed up.

Other breaches of the agreement by the N.I.O/Gaol Admin have occurred and we continue to resist them-including attempting to reintroduce degrading “mouth searches”. We – the non-conforming republican prisoners refused to open our mouths and were subsequently “charged” each time we were going to a legal or family visit. As a result of this we were refused our legal visits and our family visits for approx. six weeks – until the gaol admin approached us and said that the prison rules relating to mouth searches would be “altered” and if we conversed with searchers (per the agreement we had reached) then we would not be asked for a mouth search.

The other prisoners (alluded to earlier) didn’t lose any visits or receive charges as they complied with mouth searches when asked.

We are currently going through the courts via a Judicial Review, fighting the degrading use of strip searches. We continue to be forcibly stripped and brutalized each time any of us are brought to court in relation to “trials” etc. even though the technology based search equipment is already in use in all other circumstances, where before there was strip searching.

Regardless of the outcome of our Judicial Review, we will continue to fight for our rights – as republican prisoners have always done. We will not be bullied or broken no matter what brutality is inflicted upon us.

We hereby ask you, the Republican People at home and abroad, to support us in our Gaol struggle.

Signed

Colin Duffy Gerard McManus

Damien McLaughlin Brendan Conway

Harry Fitszimons Kevin Barry Nolan

link http://republicanprisonersmaghaberry.com/default.aspx

POW torture in Maghaberry –Letter from D.D Mc Laughlin-Emotive, upsetting & graphic

2011-02-14T11:47:00.001-08:00

Hello everyone. I’m just back from the court. I was twice subjected to forced strip searches today. That was my tenth forced strip in the last twelve weeks . I’m also out to court next Tuesday so that will be another two.

Today I was brought to the reception where the search team were waiting and forced into a 3ft x 3ft cubicle by two of them where I refused to strip. They laughed at me and said “He’s ready for it!”

I was then brought to a holding cell and kept in there for about 50 minutes with a governor coming in twice to tell me their so called prison rules. (He could talk all day, I wasn’t for stripping and won’t be at any stage while I’m incarcerated in this place)

All the while outside the cell the riot squad are getting ready. Suddenly the Cell door bursts open and in they come in full riot gear, Helmets, shields, body protection, the works.
They ram the shield into my face, 2 of them grab my arms, another grabs my head, I’m forced to the ground - Arms forced up my back, 2 knees forced into my head to hold it down , 2 knees in the back of my legs… Then another one of them starts to force off my shoes, socks and trousers off. I’m then moved into a forced position so that my boxers are ripped down and my frontal private parts can be seen by them. I’m then forced back into a position where my boxers are completely forced off me and a hand held metal detector is ran over my backside.

At this stage, it’s hard to breathe with their gloves covering my face and mouth. I’m still being held by four of them on the floor, my private parts exposed… Naked! Lying there!
They then grab my boxers and jeans and force them up, hurting me .. leaving my private parts still exposed – They then move me into another awkward position to take my t shirt off… I think my arms are about to break in two ! It’s agony at this stage.. My wrists are just numb... Being twisted the whole time this is going on.. My shirt is now off.. I’m lying now with both my arms are forced up my back towards the roof while the riot squad run out of the cell.. My arms just drop to the floor.. I try my best to get onto my feet using my elbows , trousers hanging off me, boxers still below my private parts.. I’m aching all over !
I try to get dressed as the riot squad stand smirking at me. I just stare back at them. I think of the other things they have done to me in the past.. Forced strips, cut my clothes off, broke my nose, stood on me, forced me into squat positions, forced my mouth open by trying to break my wrist… I could go on!

Well, that’s me on the way to court! As soon as I get to Laganside ( where I’m already an hour late because of the forced strip ) I’m brought straight to the court, cuffed, and haven’t seen my solicitor.. Adjourned again ! That’s me down now to a 6ft x 6ft cell to wait for a few hours.Then I’m brought back to the gaol where I go through the whole strip search ordeal again.

Sitting in my cell now – My wrists, knees, ankles, neck, back, head, shoulders are aching.. One image going through my head is the faces of my friends who were waiting patiently for me to come back.. Colly, Harry, Brendy, Gerard, Kevin … It’s hard to explain the look on their faces but I can tell you that it’s one of the worst feelings in gaol seeing one of your friends coming back from a forced strip search, seeing them in pain !

I would take all of their forced strip searches rather than see them in this agony.. pain .. and I know they would do the same for me.

That’s friendship that won’t be broken !

Well, slan for now, another Republican forcibly strip searched.

D.D McLaughlin, POW, Maghaberry gaol

Tuam Martyrs Commemoration

2011-02-12T05:38:00.000-08:00

Galway 32 County Sovereignity Movenment will be holding a wreath laying ceremony,assemble at Tuam Martyrs Monument,Dublin Rd,Tuam,Co Galway,Sunday 10th April @2PM,prominent speaker.

sovereign nation jan/feb

2011-02-05T16:41:00.000-08:00

The new edition of the Sovereign Nation is on sale now!

If you would like a copy please contact your local 32CSM representative or email 32csmgaillimh@gmail.com

2 euro each including postage paypal accepted

The shell gas gravy train continues!!

2011-01-23T09:23:00.000-08:00

Corrib gas project receives planning permission

THE final section of the Corrib gas pipeline has received planning permission from An Bord Pleanála. This decision means that Shell can now proceed to link the pipeline landfall at Glengad to the €1 billion gas terminal at Bellanaboy. This is the third application made at Shell Exploration and Production in the last ten years in relation to the project.
The revised new route will include an undersea tunnel going through Sruwaddacon Bay, which will carry a 5km section of the pipeline.
The tunneling was proposed by Shell as a safety measure following concerns about the proximity of the previously proposed routes to residential areas.
The planning permission means that Shell are now likely to try and complete work on the project in the near future although opponents to the project, who have been spearheading a campaign since 1996, may choose to seek a judicial review of An Bord Pleanála’s decision in the High Court.
The decision made public this morning (Thursday) has a total of 58 conditions.
Inspector Martin Nolan, who chaired last year’s resumed oral hearing on the revised plan, says that the application’s ‘clarity and transparency’ provides ‘confidence that the safety of the public is fully protected, and that the public will not be put at risk’.
He said this new plan submitted by Shell and partners last year was the “most suitable, the shortest and the most obvious route for this development”.
The route involves constructing a 4.2m-wide tunnel in the Sruwaddacon estuary for a pipe carrying high pressure raw gas from the landfall at Glengad. The final section will run overland to the gas terminal already completed at Bellanaboy. The offshore pipeline has already been laid.
Sruwaddacon estuary is a special area of conservation (SAC), running between the communities of Rossport, Pollathomas, Glengad and Aughoose.
Mr Nolan said the development was a “major project by any measure”, but the modifications proposed would have a “remarkably light impact on the pristine environment of the area”.
He also said that the proposed development would provide impetus for the future expansion of the natural gas network in Ireland.
“I expect it will provide impetus for additional exploration off the coast. Corrib will in my view provide opportunity for Mayo in particular to develop a new energy producing centre,” but Mr Nolan also stated new momentum was required to ‘engage the local community and to ensure the benefits of the scheme are developed and harnessed locally’.
He has recommended that an €8.5 million ‘community gain investment fund’ be paid over five years by Shell and partners, which would be held in trust by Mayo County Council, adding that this would “provide a strong enabling community gain which can be developed with leadership at every level into a long term economic and social stimulus for the area locally, but regionally as well”.
He praised Government policy on developing gas energy, but felt ‘further strategic planning’ was required if ‘the depths of controversy and conflict seen in the Corrib scheme are to be avoided in future’.
“Standards, strategic development sites, strategic corridors, clear process requirements for all consents, open procedures for decision making, transparency in presentation of projects” were areas which had ‘led to the depth of conflict and controversy seen in the Corrib scheme’, Mr Nolan said.
Once in production, Shell have stated that gas from the project will be distributed to homes and businesses throughout Ireland within the next three years.
link http://www.mayonews.ie/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=11770:corrib-gas-project-receives-planning-permission&catid=23:news&Itemid=46

Statement and photos of pow swim.(galway bay)

2011-01-23T07:28:00.000-08:00

Galway 32 County Sovereignty Movement would like to thank everyone who participated or sponsored an activist in todays pow swim,which has been a great success.

We take this opportunity to condemn the ongoing harrassment and intimidation by free state garda again today directed at our activists.

We as Irish Republicans will continue unbowed and unbroken highlighting the prisoners plight and give them our full support.

This mindless intimidation and harassment clearly shows were the priorities of the free state garda lie,while Galway city and County continues to be riddled with the scourge of drugs and anti social elements.

beir bua

Full Text of IRA New Years Statement

2011-01-22T06:59:00.001-08:00

Full Text of IRA New Years Statement (from The Sovereign Nation)
The following statement was released anonymously to The Sovereign Nation.

Irish Republican Army

New Year Statement 2011.

The leadership of the Irish Republican Army extend new years greetings to our friends and supporters both nationally and internationally, we send fraternal greetings to revolutionaries around the world and pay special tribute to those imprisoned for their stand against colonialism, imperialism, capitalism and occupation. Likewise we send greetings and solidarity to our own volunteers in the field and those captured by the enemy.

In the past year there has been no mistaking the fact that a conflict exists in occupied Ireland, the British, Free State and Colonial parliament in the six counties have collectively been unable to conceal or deal with this fact.The enemy has resorted to doing what it has historically done in such a situation, it has resorted to mass harassment, house raids, intimidation and politically motivated arrests and convictions as well as the demonisation and criminalisation of our struggle through the mass media and other channels. None of the above measures have worked in the past nor will they work now.

In the year to come the leadership of Oglaigh na hEireann, pledge to continue to resist occupation in all its forms in Ireland and continue to do so in a strategic and disciplined fashion, we will learn from past mistakes and will strive to expand the theatre of our operations in line with our strategy. We will continue to target institutions and personel in the military, political, policing, justice and commercial and economic fields. Those who actively engage in the occupation of Ireland and those who assist this occupation are the enemies of the Irish people. In the last year the lines of demarcation between those who continue to defend Irish sovereignty and those who wish to subvert it have become clearer, in the year to come these lines will become even more stark.

Victory to the IRA.

RUC/PSNI Intimidation will not deter republicans.

2011-01-22T05:18:00.000-08:00

Andy Martin has responded on behalf of the Ard Comhairle of the 32 County Sovereignty Movement to the recent upsurge in RUC/PSNI activity against republicans and their families across the occupied area. Mr Martin stated " It is blatantly obvious that someone at the top of the British security establishment has passed down the diktat for the RUC/PSNI to take the gloves off and to intensify their vigorous campaign of intimidation and harassment against republicans and their families. Obviously through their shared anti republican position this diktat has also been delivered to the free state police, special branch, ERU and NSU. Raids and arrests are happening all over the 32 counties, homes are being wrecked, children traumatised. Republicans are being stopped and searched on sight by the RUC/PSNI in the north and in many cases being followed around towns and cities in a blatant fashion. It is quite normal for republicans to see heavily armed police in armoured cars cruising slowly past their homes numerous times per day or setting up checkpoints near the homes of republicans. Republicans must view this as a sign of a defeat in the ranks of the RUC/PSNI, the RUC was supposed to have disappeared and the PSNI was to be the new 'peacetime' police service but due to the growing support for the republican position in defence of Irish national sovereignty the PSNI have been forced to publicly admit that this transition cannot take place. The police service is exposed as a military police force and the the PSNI mask has slipped to very publicly reveal the RUC. These attempts at crushing the republican position through intimidation will not deter republicans, if anything they only serve to strengthen the resolve of the republican family"

IRA To Expand Theatre Of Operations

2011-01-05T14:26:00.000-08:00

IRA To Expand Theatre Of Operations

Statement details organisation's plan to ''
Suzanne Breen, Northern Editor Sunday Tribune

The IRA has threatened to expand its campaign in 2011 and is planning gun and bomb attacks on a wide range of British military, commercial, political and judicial targets.

In a new year statement released exclusively to the Sunday Tribune, the paramilitary organisation said the security forces were completely failing to deal with the threat it posed.

In the past 12 months, the IRA carried out several bombings, but it has not inflicted any fatalities on the security forces since it murdered two British soldiers at Massereene in March 2009, nor has it launched any attacks in Britain.

In its statement, the IRA Army Council said: "In the year to come, the leadership of Óglaigh na hÉireann will strive to expand the theatre of our operations in line with our strategy. We will continue to target institutions and personnel in the military, political, policing, justice and commercial and economic fields." The Real IRA said it had learned from "past mistakes" which it didn't detail.

It has previously taken ruthless action against those whom it claims "collaborate with British rule in Ireland". It deliberately shot and tried to kill two workers delivering pizzas to the soldiers at Massereene.

The paramilitary group repeated this threat. "Those who actively engaged in the occupation of Ireland and those who assist this occupation are the enemies of the Irish people," it said. In recent months, the IRA launched bomb attacks on Newry courthouse and the Ulster Bank in Derry. Catholic police officer Peadar Heffron lost a leg and narrowly escaped death when a bomb planted by another dissident group exploded under his car.

The (Real) IRA claimed that continuing dissident attacks showed that the two governments' policy of normalisation of life in the North had failed.

"In the past year, there has been no mistaking the fact that a conflict exists in occupied Ireland. The British, Free State, and colonial parliament in the six counties have collectively been unable to conceal or deal with this fact," it said.

It dismissed raids by the security forces and the arrest and conviction of republican dissidents. "None of the above measures have worked in the past, nor will they work now," it said. In a reference to the Provisional movement, which strongly opposes republican dissidents, it said the gulf between the two was now huge

link http://www.tribune.ie/news/home-news/article/2011/jan/02/real-ira-threatens-gun-and-bomb-attacks/

POW SWIM RE-ARRANGED.

2011-01-01T06:52:00.000-08:00

new years day swim has been re-arranged for sunday 23rd jan 2011 at noon,diving board, salthill, galway city.

anyone wishing to take part or donate email 32csmgaillimh@gmail.com or donate through paypal address 32csmgaillimh@gmail.com .

32CSM New Years Statement 2011

2011-01-01T06:40:00.000-08:00

32 County Sovereignty Movement

New Years Statement

2011

We commend our activists for their diligence and hard work in attempting to secure the integrity of our national sovereignty. We applaud the efforts of others who struggle likewise under their own chosen banner. We send New Year greetings to republican POW’s and their families and rededicate ourselves to their service.

2010 was a year which laid bare the harsh realities of our struggle. In protest against the degradation of strip searching and its vindictive use republican POW’s embarked on a series of actions in protest against the Stormont’s regime’s deliberate policy of attacking republican prisoners. Matched on the outside by regular vigils and marches the political opposition which was generated forced the authorities into negotiations.

With the use of agreed independent arbiters an agreement was reached to the satisfaction of all. However the authorities have resumed their original policy of using strip searching to degrade the prisoners. This was a political decision which has implications for all republicans. An attack on one prisoner is an attack on all prisoners and demands a unified response from all republican organisations. Our resolve must at least match that of the prisoners if we are to successfully confront Stormont’s prison policy.

The recent disclosure of State papers clearly shows that the issue of republican prisoners was a cornerstone in British strategy to undermine our struggle. They clearly show how Dublin also collaborated to achieve the same end. This collaboration now has an added dimension in that former comrades are now part of the British establishment in Ireland. That establishment takes it for granted that its members collaborate in the wider British interest. We openly call on the PSF leadership to come clean and to stop talking out of both sides of their mouths. It is your regime which is inflicting this degradation on republican prisoners. Is this your so called peaceful alternative to Irish unity? It is your actions that define you, not your words, overt or otherwise.

2010 also witnessed seismic events in economic terms. Fianna Fáil’s self serving economics led the State to bankruptcy. It bailed out bankers and developers and levied the bill on ordinary citizens. They privatised profits and socialised losses. They surrendered their so called sovereignty to the International Monetary Fund all the while denying it in drunken interviews to the people. But the real issue for republicans and socialists is that our protests failed to impact on events. The crisis in capitalism, which should have opened up so many opportunities for our cause, was duly addressed by capitalism itself. This is the reality we must face and we must face it pragmatically.

2011 must be a year of introspection and innovation. We must look at ourselves and address our failings. What went before has reached its zenith. We need to explore and devise new ways of getting our message across. We need to be more innovative in our protests. We can no longer be satisfied that our protests simply happen: they must also have meaningful effect.

We address young republicans everywhere; this is your time, it is your era, your society, your technological age, you need to lead the way on this front. Irish society has evolved a new language in which it communicates with itself and we need to learn it. Republicanism needs your ideas to advance. Our communities have the expectation of new initiatives to assist them. We need to demonstrate to our people that our aims are relevant to their everyday lives and represent an enrichment of society.

The continued violation of our national sovereignty has led to the inevitable consequence of armed struggle. Those who are engaging in military operations against British occupation have every right to do so, as they always had throughout our history. The function of the Sovereignty Movement is not to question this right nor question the merits of invoking it but to address the cause which makes it inevitable. This we will continue to do in whatever way we deem to be progressive. Treating the Irish Republican Army as a militia is a deeply flawed approach. Predicating a peace strategy on the exclusion of Irish national rights is doomed to failure.

The 32 County Sovereignty Movement reaffirms our commitment to seeking an end to British Parliamentary activity in our country. The divisions amongst our people can only begin to be resolved when Westminster and its many agendas are finally removed.

NEW YEARS DAY SPONSORED SWIM.(GALWAY BAY)

2010-12-04T09:56:00.000-08:00

Galway 32csm will be holding a New Years Day sponsored swim,in aid of the Irish Republican Prisoners Welfare Association.

Anyone wishing to participate or sponsor an activist contact directly.
32csmgaillimh@gmail.com

donate/sponsor an activist through paypal address 32csmgaillimh@gmail.com,

venue and time.

12 noon New Years Day

Diving Board,Galway Bay

Salthill,Galway City.

www.irpwa.blogspot.com

remember the pows at christmas!

IMF not welcome in Ireland.

2010-12-03T08:50:00.001-08:00

IMF not welcome in Ireland.

The confirmation that the Free State government is seeking aid from the International Monetary fund and the EU is a grim development in what has been a catastrophic two years for the Irish people. Incompetence, greed and corruption have destroyed the Free State’s ability to manage its own affairs and so with begging cup in hand they have crawled to the IMF.

The 32csm wishes to make clear that the IMF is not welcome in Ireland. Their track record has been one of attacking the working class to preserve the ruling class wherever they have intervened. Make no mistake there are plans being put in place to attack fundamental rights of workers in the 26 Counties. The minimum wage, social welfare and education for working class people are all going to be altered so as to facilitate the process of "recovery". We are calling now on the Trade Union Movement to fight back and to fight back ferociously. The leadership of these bodies have failed to protect workers and have signed deals to preserve social partnership; deals that are now being torn up with abandon.

Now is not the time for meaningless words about people sharing the burden. The burden must be bore by those responsible for it, the bankers, the political establishment and their apologists. Now is the time for a widespread campaign of resistance and fundamental to this must be a National Strike which brings the state to a halt and shows the government and their neo-liberal allies that the power is with the workers!

It*is also imperative to point out that an election called now will be*nothing more than a rubber stamp of approval for the IMF and their policies for none of the*Parties have the moral courage to take a stand for the Irish people above their own interests. The press conferences called by Fianna Fail are to reassure the international banking system not the Irish people. It is the duty of republicans everywhere to support the people of Ireland north and south in resisting these savage cuts, it is the time for unity and the time to resist!
Beir Bua

March: Galway Unites Against Budget Cutbacks

2010-11-29T11:23:00.000-08:00

March: Galway Unites Against Budget Cutbacks

Saturday 4th December 13:00-14:00

Galway City Centre-Marching from the Cathedral to the Spanish Arch

The Galway Says No to Health Cuts campaign is calling on every individual/group/organisation in Galway opposed to budget cutbacks to help for the biggest protest march ever witnessed in Galway city. We are asking everyone affected by cuts to health, education & welfare services to join us on the streets on Saturday 4th December!

Galway 32 County Sovereignty Movement Will be in attendence,We call on all members and supporters to make an effort to attend.

UNITY IS STRENGTH

CLARE 32CSM POW PROTEST

2010-11-24T07:23:00.000-08:00

Clare 32csm will be holding a pow protest.

Saturday 11th December @3pm

O Connell Monument
Ennis,
Co Clare.

Support The Pows!

Sovereign Nation nov/dec

2010-11-24T07:18:00.000-08:00

The new edition of the Sovereign Nation is on sale now!

If you would like a copy please contact your local 32CSM representative or email 32csmgaillimh@gmail.com

2 euro each including postage

Time to Act.

2010-11-20T07:45:00.001-08:00

32 County Sovereignty Movement.

Time to Act.

After usurping the Declaration of Independence the architects of the Twenty Six County State invoked a sovereign legitimacy to use British guns on fellow Irish people. It continued to invoke this legitimacy to strap Irishmen to landmines, to execute Irish prisoners, to allow Irishmen die on hunger strike and to employ an English hangman to eradicate those who believed that Irish sovereignty does not stop at the border and that our national ethos should be modelled on the Proclamation.
Invoking a sovereign legitimacy it set about rewriting the terms of its own existence, not in accordance with those who defended it as a preamble to national reunification, but as a prologue for establishing a partitionist power base serving sectional interests. When it introduced its Constitution in 1937 it predicated that document on a definition of sovereignty as one which encompassed the whole island and its peoples. It spent the next sixty one years failing to restore that sovereignty culminating in its abandonment in 1998. It abandoned their fellow Irish people in the Six Counties, standing idly by whilst a sectarian gerrymander was allowed to masquerade as democracy.
Invoking a sovereign legitimacy it raised an army and called it Oglaigh Na hEireann. It placed this army on the border to reinforce its view that the Twenty Six County State had a sovereign right to exist. It sent this army into the world as a symbol of its sovereignty and generously referenced their peace keeping efforts, and their deaths, as a glowing tribute to this sovereignty.
Invoking a sovereign legitimacy it raised its own tax and allowed its governments to utilise these funds for party political interests. It allowed its Ministers to feather their own nests and encouraged a political ethos which was solely concerned with satisfying the local constituency. In pursuit of power it placed the Catholic Church and Financial Speculators at the heart of its policy making with disastrous consequences. Those that
opposed such economics were adjured to commit suicide and those who argued for complete Church State separation were marginalized and stigmatised.
And now it stares into the abyss created by its own abject failure to understand what Irish sovereignty actually represents. It has now surrendered the fate of its citizens to an institution whose sole concern is the making of money no matter the social cost. As a state it can neither look back nor look forward to redeem itself. Only its citizens retain the ability to rise above the penury the state has forced them into.
The 32 County Sovereignty Movement calls on all the Irish people to take back their sovereignty. We call on all republican organisations and the labour movement to unite and organise the shutting down of the state. This is not a time for righteous rhetoric or for tinkering with the status quo. It is a time to reach out and effect fundamental change for our people. Partition has failed on both sides of the border. The restoration of our national sovereignty is an essential prerequisite to achieving this change. It is time to act.

Francie Mackey Address 32CSM Ard Fheis 2010

2010-11-14T10:39:00.001-08:00

Francie Mackey Address 32CSM Ard Fheis 2010
Chairperson’s Address
Ard Fheis 2010

A chairde, delegates and comrades; we are the spearhead of this struggle. Our innovation, political maturity, our activism and leadership has ensured that this struggle is to the fore in the minds of the political establishment. We are a movement that looks forward and moves forward. We have grasped the nettle of reality concerning our struggle and laid bare the fallacies which have mired it in suspicion and factionalism.

All this we have done because we put republicanism first. We put the objective first. We embraced democracy and married it to our republicanism. We have not cocooned ourselves within restrictive rules or dogmatic history. We took the strength of our argument and brought it to the national and international stage. A liberated republicanism is the proper vehicle for change. A unified republicanism is the most potent mechanism to achieve that change.

Republican unity is not going to go away. All that stands in its way is an unwillingness to engage with it. There is no ideological or political argument against it for if there were we would have heard it by now. It is not a case of the sovereignty movement calling for unity but the goals for which we struggle demanding it. We have no right to stand at the graves of our patriot dead and preach factionalism. We have no right to stand at the monuments of our great thinkers and invoke their words to justify isolationism. And we have no right to stand before our people and in their name give less than the sum total of our parts.

For our part we concentrated on the issue of national sovereignty. We did so because there is armed conflict in our country. As republicans we saw it as our duty to address the causes of this conflict in a clear and defined manner. Ending the armed conflict does not end the struggle for republican ideals. Squabbling over what those ideals should be will not end the armed conflict. War demands from us all an immediacy in our strategic thinking to find ways to resolve it.

We again put forward the view that a coming together of Irish republicans to fashion a course to remove the cause of armed conflict is essential if any of our ideals are to flourish in a unitary state. The sovereignty movement remains committed to this task. We have taken the view that republican unity is more than the coming together of republican organisations. The path the so called peace process has taken has left large numbers of disillusioned republicans searching for direction and new ideas. We are committed to providing these ideas by engaging directly with these republicans. Their contribution to this struggle has been immense and has earned them the right to determine where now they wish to continue it. We want their ideas, we want their commitment, we want their contributions; but we have to earn it. We have to demonstrate to them that our activism looks forward and not back: that our ideas are inclusive and adaptable and not insular and reactionary.

I say to all our activists here that the coming year will require you all to reach out and engage with this constituency. As ambassadors for the sovereignty movement you will need to be fully acquainted with our policies and strategy documents. Read them, and read them again. Discuss them regularly at cumann level but above all spread the thinking behind them. Knowledge of our policies must be the cornerstone of our activism.

There is always healthy debate in the sovereignty movement. It is one of our great strengths. Prominent in these discussions is the issue of policy formation on social matters and the various aspects of governance in a future unitary state. The number and depth of motions before us here today reflects this. I wish to address two points concerning policy and policy formation; firstly the context of our policies and secondly the cause of labour. From the outset I want to commend our activists throughout Ireland for their sterling work in their respective communities. Your innovation and commitment are a lesson for all those seeking social change and justice.

Because we are constituted to campaign on the singular issue of our national sovereignty all our policies must be geared toward this end. Sovereignty is not a narrow nationalist agenda but an agenda for real change and a precursor to Irish society taking charge of its own destiny. Sovereignty is not simply a Brits Out slogan but a charter for ownership returning to the people. It is within this context that our policies must be forged. We cannot adopt policy for policy sake or direct our limited resources away from our central goal. Our policies must satisfy a strategic objective. And because we are engaged in a national struggle how we adopt our policies is just as important as the content of those policies. This is why we campaigned vigorously for republicans to forge policy together so that the very act of unity advances their content. I reiterate to our members; when you sit down to think, and rise to act, be at all times focussed on where we need to go. Be pragmatic, be realistic, do not be distracted nor blindly influenced. Bring your ideas to your comrades so that your comrades can prepare those ideas for our struggle.

James Connolly told us; “The Cause of Ireland is the cause of Labour, The cause of Labour is the cause of Ireland.” The current economic crisis both in Ireland and throughout the world has brought the issue of labour to everyone’s door. We are no different. The question for the sovereignty movement is this; not whether labour must wait but in what capacity must labour act? As it stands the cause of the labour movement is not the cause of Ireland. As it stands the cause of labour is to forge an arrangement with capitalism with labour as the junior partner. The fallout from the economic crisis demonstrates this. Is there any point in marching with the labour movement if the cause of Ireland is left behind? Is socialism served by campaigning with the labour movement for better scraps from the capitalist table? Has not this very same approach on the national question led to the grotesque spectacle at Stormont? Is this a road we truly want to go down just so that we can say we are aligned to labour?

The struggle for sovereignty and the struggle for labour must be synonymous. Republican policy and activism must reflect this. A veneer of mutual association is not enough. At the recent Student demonstrations in Dublin both the veneer and the true alliance were evident. Labour is not a pedestrian stroll, politely shouting slogans for change. Labour must be at the coalface fighting for that change. Labour must be indifferent to the howls of establishment condemnations whenever labour chooses to act. I salute our activists present here today who acted in labour’s best interests. I quote the insightful Irish republican socialist Ta Power when he says ‘there is no parliamentary path to socialism’. Equally there is no waiting for the so called ‘right time to strike’. For revolutionaries it is always the right time to act. Partition and capitalism never postpone their activities and neither should we.

To other republicans and socialists we say this: for the cause of labour to be the cause of Ireland we must rebuild the labour movement by making the cause of Ireland the cause of labour. Connolly sought to do this by working with the national and cultural movements in his day. If we wish to move beyond rhetoric then we must come together to put the bones of this movement in place. If you cannot commit to this, if working together is beyond you then both the cause of labour and of Ireland is beyond you also.

On behalf of us all I wish to send solidarity greetings to Irish republican prisoners of war where ever they may be. We salute your courage and commitment. We send greetings to your families and loved ones and pledge to do everything in our power to be of assistance to you. I also wish to thank the Irish Republican Prisoners Welfare Association for their diligent work on behalf of prisoners and their families.

The past year has seen our prisoners to the fore in our struggle. Once again Westminster has chosen this venue to try and undermine the republican struggle. And as before they will fail. The despicable use of degrading strip searches as a means of punishment has hardened our resolve. On this issue we did have republican unity and the benefits of it were clear for all to see. This needs to continue because perfidious albion is beginning to resort to form. The agreement reached between the prisoners and the prison authorities is steadily being undone. There is an undoubted political agenda behind this. It is not a case of rogue prison officers but a deliberate policy being overseen by their political masters.

During the year we marched in great numbers to protest. Our protest could not go unnoticed so they had to engage. And if needs be we must protest again, in greater numbers and with greater regularity. Every county must get the message. The plight of our prisoners must be to the fore in our activism. We must place this issue onto the national agenda and keep it there until such time that it is addressed. We can do no less when the prisoners themselves are doing so much.

The National Army continues to engage the enemy. Our right to national self determination will be protected and fought for. War is an inevitable consequence of the presence of the British government in our country. There are those who say that now is not the right time for armed struggle; that alternative strategies must be pursued. But it must be grasped that armed struggle is an inevitable reality and any strategy hoping to be viable must recognise this. Armed struggle cannot be wished away no more than it can be stored neatly in a box so that a political initiative can be aired in public. Avoiding reality cannot be a precondition for any strategy.

Comrades I wish to conclude with an impassioned plea to you all, at every level in our organisation, to both experienced and novice activists, make the coming year one of sustained activism within your communities. Bring the issue of national liberation with you. Demonstrate that there is an alternative and that they have it within their power to realise change.

Beir Bua Issue 3

2010-11-12T10:05:00.001-08:00

Click Here For Full Edition

New Years Day Sponsored Swim.(Galway Bay)

2010-11-12T09:45:00.002-08:00

Galway 32csm will be holding a New Years Day sponsored swim,in aid of the Irish Republican Prisoners Welfare Association.

Anyone wishing to participate or sponsor an activist contact directly.
32csmgaillimh@gmail.com

venue and time

12 noon New Years Day

Diving Board,Galway Bay

Salthill,Galway City.

www.irpwa.blogspot.com

The ballad of Shell and Rossport

2010-11-09T16:42:00.000-08:00

The ballad of Shell and Rossport
Galway Advertiser, November 04, 2010.

By Kevin Higgins

TO SAY that the Shell gas pipeline and terminal in north Mayo has been the subject of controversy would be to understate seriously.

To those not directly involved, the ongoing ‘debate’, which has regularly degenerated into violence with allegations of intimidation on both sides, has often seemed, like Northern Ireland in the seventies, to be one where it’s difficult to give either side unqualified support.

This could be said to mark a failure on the part of the Shell To Sea campaign; another case of the right side losing because it puts its argument histrionically rather than rationally and allows some - ie, those who would be better kept in the background, stapling placards or making sandwiches for visiting protesters - to be spokespersons for the campaign.

The ranting boys and girls of The Sunday Independent have been happy to do their bit to blacken the reputation of Shell To Sea. The ‘documentary’ by Paul Williams, aired on TV3 last year, which tried to paint the campaign as being the plaything of dissident republicans, was the sort of rag journalism one would expect from someone who now writes for The News of The World.

Lorna Siggins is a different kind of journalist and works with facts rather than bar stool opinions of either variety as can be seen from her new book on the subject Once Upon A Time In The West: The Corrib Gas Controversy (Transworld Ireland).

On page 215 she speaks to Sarah Clancy from Galway about the violence Clancy personally witnessed being meted out to protesters by gardaí. Now, while I doubt Sarah and I vote the same way at elections, I believe her when she says she observed a Shell To Sea protester: “being flung to the ground, with first two, then one garda kneeling on his back” as they “pressed his face into the dirt, all the while hitting him with batons”.

There were at least four gardaí involved in this, Clancy says. This is not to paint the campaign as a bunch of angels. I know from personal experience that there are those of the activist left who are willing to use physical intimidation as a tactic and others who are willing to make excuses for such behaviour. In Once Upon A Time In The West, Siggins makes an angel of no one.

The facts Siggins has gathered lead her to be more sympathetic to the protesters than she is to Shell. That as neutral an observer as Lorna Siggins could come to this view should give middle Ireland pause for thought.

If it is true, as Shell To Sea claims, that a natural resource worth hundreds of billions of Euro has been more or less given away to Shell with very little benefit to the Irish exchequer, then this is a very serious matter.

If the Shell To Sea protesters are even half right, then there certainly could have been, and perhaps still is, an alternative to slashing social welfare and services to the disabled and all the other miseries the Colm McCarthys and Peter Sutherlands are currently prescribing for us. Go out tomorrow and buy this book. You can’t afford not to.

link http://www.advertiser.ie/galway/article/33023

Play Your Part

2010-11-09T07:13:00.000-08:00

Galway 32CSM is currently engaged in a recruitment drive of the greater Connaught area. Anyone interested in joining can contact us at:

32csmgaillimh@gmail.com

or

joinus@32csm.info

Support The Pows.

2010-11-08T14:28:00.000-08:00

IRA statement

2010-11-06T12:10:00.001-07:00

The IRA's position regarding drug dealers is clear and our actions against them are motivated by the need to ensure the safety of the community.
These actions are welcomed by communities who are suffering at the hands of drug dealers.

Recently, a number of newspapers have run stories claiming that the IRA was involved in drugs and prostitution and that members of the Dublin Brigade had been stood down. The stories are lies.

Subsequently, the IRA sent a statement to the Irish Star Newspaper claiming responsibility for the execution of numerous drug dealers. The Star refused to carry the statement but instead carried statements from a Dublin drugs gang styling itself the "Criminal Action Force" which threatened republicans. The Star newspaper was raided by the Free State Special Branch but nothing was reported in any newspaper. We invite people to analyse these facts for themselves and determine who benefits from this policy of censorship and misinformation.

Copy of IRA statement sent to the Star (below):

17/9/2010

In Response to Recent Sensationalist Media Articles:

The leadership of the IRA wish to clarify our position on these claims: The IRA have never taken money from criminals and then allowed them to continue to operate, we have in fact relieved them of their finances and weaponry then closed down their operations.Allegations have been made that the IRA extorted a large amount of money from drug dealers and criminals. Anyone with evidence to support these claims should come forward immediately.

The leadership of the IRA have never sanctioned such actions and anyone using our name to tax drug dealers and criminals will be executed. In fact the only organisations in Ireland that take money from criminals and allows them to operate are state agencies, on both sides of the border, who take their assets and allow them to carry on their poison trade.

The IRA postion on drug dealers is clear, they deal death to our communities. We deal with them. Some examples are: Matthew Burns, Kieran Flynn, Jason Eagan, Colly Owens, Gerard Staunton, Kieran Doherty,and Sean Winters, amongst others.

To those who believe they can escape the reach of the republican movement, we have also executed drug dealers on the continent who believed they were safe, having fled the country. We have crippled, maimed and exiled numerous others.

Anyone caught up in the world of criminality, drug dealing, or issuing threats to republicans should come forward and admit their involvement now. Anyone who does not avail of this opportunity will face the inevitable consequences.
Those who wish to take on the republican movement should realise this. These parasites are members of a gang, the IRA are members of a disciplined army with experience of war.

Education Is A Right, Not A Privilege

2010-11-06T12:02:00.000-07:00

The 32 County Sovereignty Movement in Galway wish to express our complete opposition to the proposed cuts to third-level funding. The Free State government is proposing a doubling of the registration fee to €3,000, decreasing the student grant by 10% and increasing the threshold for qualifying for the grant by 10% in the upcoming budget. This is simply unacceptable.

The vast majority of students who receive the grant depend on it to pay for food, rent, books etc. and would be unable to attend college without it. The raising of the registration fee is also completely unacceptable. Students, as well as many other ordinary people, are being forced to carry the can for an economic crisis that they played no part in causing.

It is estimated that there are between 70,000-100,000 graduates aged between 20-25 on the dole, a far higher proportion than in any other demographic. It is time that we tell the rich that we will no longer accept this, and that our basic rights should not be taken away because of their greed.

GALWAY POW PROTEST PHOTOS

2010-11-06T11:35:00.001-07:00

GALWAY POW PROTEST PHOTOS (CONTINUED)

2010-11-06T11:06:00.000-07:00

Community Policing Or Thuggery?

2010-10-25T13:22:00.000-07:00

galway 32 csm at work

2010-10-24T11:47:00.000-07:00

Galway 32csm Pow Protest(DATE AND TIME CHANGED)

2010-10-17T10:10:00.000-07:00

Galway 32 County Sovereignty Movement will be holding a pow protest ,Saturday 6th November,Shop Street,Galway City Centre,@3.00pm,to highlight the forced strip searching and beatings inflicted on pows held at Maghaberry Jail.

END THE BEATINGS

END THE FORCED STRIP SEARCHES

The Struggle Continues-Play Your Part

2010-10-16T14:17:00.000-07:00

Gary Donnelly interview on 2010 dirty protest - www.joe.ie

2010-10-15T16:13:00.000-07:00

JOE speaks to Gary Donnelly, a former prisoner in Northern Ireland’s high-security facility at Maghaberry, about a shocking, largely unnoticed protest by republican dissidents that erupted inside the prison ealier this year.

“The toilets were broken so we had to keep our excrement in plastic bags,” recalls Garry Donnelly, a republican from the Creggan area of Derry of his time in detention in a Northern Ireland prison. “But we had no way of getting rid of it. We were forced to liquefy the waste and pour it out through the sides of the cell doors.”

It sounds like an account from inside the H-Blocks during the darkest days of the dirty protest Provisional IRA prisoners engaged in during the height of the Troubles. Except this happened in summer 2010

According to the Prison Service of Northern Ireland there are currently 30 republican prisoners detained in the high security facility at Maghaberry. Although largely unnoticed by the media in the Republic, the men spent much of 2010 locked into a bitter dispute with the prison authorities.

Prisoners detained on charges relating to paramilitary activity won the right to be segregated from the rest of Maghaberry’s prison population back in 2005 after a lengthy protest led by men linked to the ‘Real’ IRA. However, the tension began to mount earlier this year amid claims of 23-hour lock downs, inhumane treatment and attacks on prisoners.

Among those detained was Gary Donnelly, whose role in the dispute started back in August 2006. He and eight other members of the ‘Derry Anti-War Coalition’ broke into the Raytheon factory in Derry after information emerged that the facility was being used to make missiles for Israeli and US forces. “We thrashed the place and threw their computers out the window,” recalls Donnelly.

The group, tagged the Raytheon Nine, was arrested at the scene. While being taken into court in handcuffs, Donnelly says he turned to wave at supporters when PSNI offers bundled him to the ground. “I was assaulted and carried into the court yet they charged me with the assault of three officers,” he says.

Although later acquitted of charges relating to the Raytheon factory break-in, Donnelly had to appear in court again to face the triple assault charge. He faced a lengthy prison term.

However, a journalist from the Irish News, Seamus McKinney, witnessed the event and came forward. The presiding judge, Judge Bates, said he had been “impressed” by Mr McKinney’s evidence and then threw out the case.

Just hours after winning his court battle on assault charges against members of the PSNI, Donnelly was stopped again. “That night I was in Foyle Street in central Derry with three members of the Raytheon Nine. The PSNI pulled up and one of them told me to get on the footpath so he could search me.
I was pushed face down onto the ground and one came down with his knee – and snapped my arm.

"I said he could search me where I was. He shoved me and as I went back he went to shove me again. I stumbled and two or three others jumped me. I was pushed face down onto the ground and one came down with his knee – and snapped my arm.”

Donnelly says he asked for an ambulance to be called but the officers refused, handcuffing him and taking him to station. “They didn’t deny handcuffing me in the trial. They eventually un-cuffed one of my wrists – but left the cuff on the broken arm,” he recalls.

The republican was released into the custody of his solicitor some time later and was taken to hospital. “My arm was in wrecked. They x-rayed me and found that it was broken in three places – I had a three-piece spiral fracture.”

Worse was yet to come. Donnelly was again charged with assaulting an officer. Presiding over the case was District Judge Barney McElholm. He acknowledged that there were a number of discrepancies in the evidence given by police officers during the trial, adding, "It surprises me somewhat that no-one took seriously enough Mr. Donnelly's protestations that his arm was broken." He pointed out that the circumstances surrounding how Donnelly sustained a broken arm were "unresolved and unclear" before finding him guilty of assaulting one of the officers.

“I was given a £400 fine but on a point of principle I appealed it.” Donnelly’s appeal was unsuccessful. He was given a seven month custodial sentence.

Donnelly was sent to the high-security prison at Maghaberry to begin his sentence. He was detained for a week alongside ordinary criminals before being moved to Roe House – the most high-security wing of the prison reserved for republican dissidents. “The cell doors only ever opened when there was a minimum of three prison officers to accompany you,” remembers Donnelly. “It was like something out of The Silence of the Lambs.”

The controlled movement of republican prisoners around the wing meant that for the next three and a half months, Donnelly never passed any other prisoners or entered anyone else’s cell. “You were lucky to get showered and fed, never mind an opportunity to mix with others.”

The situation in the republican wing of the prison was already beginning to escalate at the time. Republicans were refusing to eat in their cells because each one also contained a toilet. “It was like eating in a bathroom, so they refused to do it,” says Donnelly.

The prison authorities eventually ceded to the demand. “They would take us into a small kitchen one at a time,” says Donnelly. “We worked out that prisoners had approximately four minutes to eat their meal if everyone was to get out to eat but the prison officers deliberately slowed the process down so a lot of prisoners didn’t get fed.

“The evening meal came at 4pm so if you missed that you wouldn’t be fed until 8am the next morning. It meant that for sometimes three or four days in a row guys were getting their last meal of the day at 12pm."

One day a group of prison officers came to Donnelly’s cell and said his life had been placed under threat by one of the dissident republican groups, and they moved him to the isolation wing of the prison – the Special Secure Unit (SSU).

“I was put into a cell next to a guy called Robert Black, an Englishman, who is a convicted child killer,” says Donnelly. “I couldn’t accept being put in with people like that over a fictitious threat to my life. I went on protest and refused to eat.”

After seven days without food, Donnelly was finally moved back to Roe House. A week after his return, the prisoners escalated the dispute. “A group of prisoners took over the canteen after mass and refused to leave,” he recalls.
After a 36 hour stand-off, the protest was broken up by the prison’s riot squad. The ring-leaders were sent to the punishment block while all furniture was stripped from the cells of the remaining republicans. “Roe House became a punishment block,” says Donnelly. “From then on prisoners just refused to co-operate.”

According to Donnelly, the prisoners then heard that one of the republicans taken to the SSU was attacked by the guards. “It was a vicious attack. The riot team beat him in the back of a riot van on his way to the punishment block. They handcuffed him to a bed and ripped his clothes off him,” he says.

"The rest of the republican prisoners erupted when they heard news the allegations. We wrecked the place,” recalls Donnelly. “We wrecked the furniture in our cells, busted the toilets, busted the sinks and basically flooded the two landings

“Soon afterwards, they stopped letting people out to the toilets. Prisoners had to keep their excrement in a plastic bag because the cell toilets were not working. We were not allowed out to dispose of it so prisoners were forced to liquefy the excrement and pour it out through the sides of the cell doors.”

In response, Donnelly claims the prison officers brought in industrial cleaners, often in the early hours of the morning, and pushed the human waste back under the cells doors. Hot water was turned off in cells and showers and prisoners were refused permission to use hair cutting equipment.

According to Donnelly, they were no longer permitted to leave their cells to eat, and despite the fact that their cells swam with human waste they were forced into a climb-down. “At this stage the prisoners had to eat in their cells or else they were going to starve to death,” he says.

You would almost be doing a circus act, naked from the waist down. We decided we wouldn’t do this anymore.
He was finally released in June 2010. The protest, however, continued on until an agreement, brokered by two members of the trade union movement and an international observer from Sri Lanka, was reached two months later.

Under the terms of the deal, prisoners were no longer required to undergo strip-searches, which Donnelly maintains were deliberately carried out in a way designed to humiliate. “First you take your top half off, then you put it back on,” he says. “Then you take your bottom half off – everything. Next they order you to stand on one foot and show them the soles of your feet, all the time with your hands behind your back holding your top up.

“You would be standing like a chicken doing a balancing act on one leg. They would stand there saying, ‘higher, that’s not high enough’. You would almost be doing a circus act, naked from the waist down. We decided we wouldn’t do this anymore.”

Donnelly and the other prisoners’ refusal to cooperate with strip-searches had been taking a toll on their families. “When my family was coming up to see me they would single me out for a strip search knowing I would refuse,” he recalls. “I would be charged, and that gave them the excuse to deny the visit.

“My family, including my two-year-old son, would come in and would be allowed to get right into the seating area. They would sit down to wait for me but the screws wouldn’t even tell them. Other prisoners would have to go over and say, ‘Look, he’s been singled out for a strip search, he’s not coming.’ That’s hard on a two-year-old boy.”

By the time of his release, Donnelly had amassed 50 charges for non-cooperation, including a count of mutiny over his involvement in the taking over of the canteen. He claims that since his release, he has been the victim of harassment by the PSNI. “I was charged three weeks ago with possession of an article likely to be useful to terrorists,” he reveals. “A phone.”

The former prisoner believes that his family too has been targeted by police, who he says has been using stop and search legislation as a means of harassment. “I’ve been stopped and searched twice this week,” he says.

“My children have been stopped with me on numerous occasions. My two-year-old son has been stopped with me three or four times. I made complaints to the Children’s Commissioner about it but then my home was raided about two months ago and they seized correspondence from the Commissioner to my solicitor under the terms of the Terrorism Act.”

JOE contacted the Prison Service of Northern Ireland for comment on the protest but none was received at the time of publication. Although we have been unable to verify whether stop and search legislation is being used as a means of harassment, PSNI figures suggest that some 17,000 stop and searches were carried out, under the terms of Terrorism Act, in the first half of this year. Security forces, meanwhile, estimate that dissident republican paramilitaries number in the region of 200 individuals.

Robert Carry

http://www.joe.ie/news-politics/joe-investigates-2/dissident-revolt-the-2010-dirty-protest-005886-2

Irish Republican Prisoners Welfare Association

2010-10-15T13:06:00.000-07:00

Irish Republican Prisoners Welfare Association

IRPWA condemn brutal harassment of Colin Duffy

The Irish Republican Prisoners Welfare Association condemn the Brutal harassment currently being handed out to Lurgan Republican Colin Duffy by the Northern Ireland Prison Service and members of the Prison Officers Association. Colin has been badly assaulted and forcibly strip searched on a number of occasions the last being this morning despite the fact that the prisoners, facilitators and prison service signed an agreement on August 12 that all strip searching would end. There is every indication that these attacks will continue every time Colin is brought to and from the prison and the IRPWA urge all republicans to stand behind the POW’s and resist the efforts of the NIPS to renege on agreements reached and their efforts to break their morale. The welfare of republican prisoners is of paramount concern to the IRPWA and we will not stand back and allow POW’s to be mistreated by a vindictive and draconian prison regime.

Fianna Fáil ? - Fianna Failed !

2010-10-15T12:56:00.000-07:00

Fianna Fáil ? - Fianna Failed !

HSE West is currently facing severe cuts to vital health services. A recent report from British consultants Mott McDonald suggests that up to 1,000 temporary jobs could be cut, and it is possible that a whole hospital could be closed as part of a plan to save between €44 and €54 million.If this happens, as stated, the responsibility for the above will lie fairly and squarely on the shoulders of Fianna Fáil.

Controversy surrounding health care is nothing new in the West of Ireland. Fianna Fáil TD for Galway East Michael Kitt issued the following pre-election statement on Tuesday 8th May 2007:
“Tenders are being sought from private developers for the construction of the Healthcare campus on the grounds of the former Bon Secours Hospital, Tuam. It is hoped that building work could commence on the site early next year (2008). The Health Service Executive (HSE) has stated that the development will consist of a 77 bed community hospital including long stay, respite and palliative care beds. An ambulance base is also included in the plan as are mental health facilities, a primary care unit, a health centre and a medical assessment and minor injuries unit.” 3 years later and there is still no sign of a hospital for the people of North Galway and South Mayo".

Since the issuing of that statement it has become apparant that the Tuam hospital project was merely falsified rhetoric specifically designed to fool the public into thinking that Fianna Fáil and their cohorts would be bringing back vital public services to the communities.It has subsequently transpired however, that the rhetoric would not be backed up by substance once the lies had worked and the votes gleaned.

Tuam Council now push a different agenda... that the district court now be moved to the site of the former Bon secours hospital at the expense of the Healthcare campus and to the detriment of the local communities.These people are not acting in the interests of the communities and have failed those they were elected to represent.

To further compound the shelving of the Healthcare campus in Tuam, the Free State Government are now planning to cut €24 million from the budget of the University College Hospital, Galway.
People who have had no choice but to avail of the Hospital facilities in the west of Ireland already know that the Hospitals,clinics and surgeries are already running on empty.They will have seen the patients who have been abandoned in the corridors due to lack of wards,beds and facilities.The vulnerable in Ireland are once again having to pay the price for the Governmental mismanagment of the economy where the fatcats have been bailed out using funds and resources stripped from the working class.

The working class people of Ireland are continually having their pockets picked by the government to shore up the accounts of the fatcats and banks who gambled the wealth of Ireland and lost.
They are being kept in the style in which they have become accustomed and " YOU " are paying for it !

Fianna Fáil represent themselves as a Republican party.They claim to uphold the 1916 proclamation which states:

"The Republic guarantees religious and civil liberty, equal rights and equal opportunities to all its citizens, and declares its resolve to pursue the happiness and prosperity of the whole nation and of all its parts, cherishing all the children of the nation equally."

It appears however... that in the eyes of this government....some are more equal than others !

Galway Petition Against Royal Visit

2010-09-11T09:40:00.000-07:00

Republican Monument Upkeep

2010-09-11T09:35:00.001-07:00

Members of Galway 32CSM undertook the task of restoring the Tuam Martyrs Monument to its former glory.

Bringing The Republican Message To Galway

2010-08-28T23:37:00.000-07:00

Galway 32CSM will be operating a stall every Saturday on Shop St, Galway city,selling the Sovereign Nation ,highlighing the plight of POW's, handing out Beir Buas. We would like to thank all of those who took the time to stop at the stall and showed their support and the cumann hope to build on the ever growing support in the west over the coming weeks and month. The west is certainly awake.

Private Members Draw

2010-06-18T09:22:00.000-07:00

32 County Sovereignty Movement Galway Private Members Draw

Galway 32CSM Liam Mellows cumann are running a bi monthly prize draw,

1st prize €100

2nd prize Framed Proclamation

3rd prize Framed Republican Picture

4th prize €50

Tickets €5 each limited to 100 tickets

For tickets contact a known member or email Liam Melllows cumann at 32csmgaillimh@gmail.com

Galway 32CSM Recruiting

2010-06-18T09:18:00.000-07:00

Galway 32CSM is currently engaged in a recruitment drive of the greater Connaught area. Anyone interested in joining can contact us at:

32csmgaillimh@gmail.com

or

joinus@32csm.info

Solidarity In Derry

2010-03-16T14:05:00.000-07:00

32CSM New Year Statement 2010

2010-01-01T11:24:00.000-08:00

32 County Sovereignty Movement
New Year Statement 2010

We commend our activists for their dedication and hard work in pursuit of the republican goal in 2009. We commend all other republican activists for being true to their beliefs and for being generous and inventive in listening to the beliefs of others. 2009 was a year which witnessed that inventiveness being translated into political action which was widely recognised throughout the republican base. It represented the most potent expression of solidarity with imprisoned comrades. It is solidarity in action with those who were bereaved in the struggle. It is also the way forward for Irish republicanism.

The 32 County Sovereignty Movement has a clear vision for the year ahead. The reclamation of our sovereignty must take real form. We must give leadership to our communities to help them achieve this. Throughout Ireland communities have been betrayed by the institutions of faith, finance and state which have long purported to speak and act on their behalf. The abundance of trust placed in the integrity of individual leaders has proved misplaced. They have been left leaderless.

They have not, however, been left powerless. It is in recognition of this reality that the 32CSM will now engage with our communities. In a disciplined approach the 32CSM will liase directly with local communities to explore ways of reclaiming their sovereignty, and under these auspices, help them pursue their political and social objectives. We will focus our efforts in ensuring that all community activity will by default be a pursuit toward national sovereignty. Such a process will be a challenge to both states. It is a first step in filling the vacuum left by those who are now wholly subsumed into the apparatus of partition.

Communities so organised can become the template for national freedom. The republican objective is twofold; to secure our sovereign independence and to organise a just society within that independence. Like our republican forebears we can now enact our aspirations, we can involve our people with our beliefs in real and tangible terms. Republicanism cannot be detached from the people and the people cannot be detached from the strategies deployed to secure their freedom. We can only lead through democratic involvement with our communities.

Because it is a first step it must be taken with due diligence. We have prepared our arguments and are refining our position as mandated at our Ard Fheis. It will be democratic. It will be a learning process which will require discipline, patience and pragmatic political judgement. Republicans cannot interact at a distance. We need to create a new interface between ourselves and our people which will allow us to seek their mandate for our struggle. This mandate will not be measured by a gerrymandered vote. Its value will be in its democratic integrity and its sovereign credentials. For us the ballot box means more than just numbers. Democracy can only be returned to the Irish people when their national sovereignty is recognised.

Because it is a challenge to the state the state will obviously respond. Mistakes will be made, but also learned from, and it is this disciplined approach which will allow for this engagement to spread successfully to other areas. In part the success of this project may be gauged from the state’s reaction to it. They will not be alone. Establishment Nationalists will also have a vested interest in seeing this project fail. They will seek to divide and conquer. But a clear understanding as to the implications of its sovereign distinction and clear democratic practices will thwart them. After all it was disdain for democracy within their own organisations which led them into the cul de sac they now find themselves.

The 32CSM will be active on other fronts. Two major international initiatives will be launched in the coming year. We have observed how issues at play on the international stage are geared toward political events in the occupied six counties. We have made our intentions known to the relevant governments that we are determined to follow a particular path challenging any move that would seek to de-legitimise the republican struggle. These initiatives are for the benefit of Irish republicanism, we will not claim sole ownership of them. But we will provide the leadership that will open up counter arguments for all republicans to employ against these nefarious measures.

Republican unity in 2009 resulted in impressive demonstrations on a range of issues. The continuing media and political demonising of republicans is proof of their effect as is their grudging admission of our growth. The media and political establishment’s objective is to ignore us but through mutual cooperation we have made this impossible. In the coming year this cooperation can be galvanised within our communities as these issues now become their issues in pursuit of our national objectives.

The British Government’s strategy of finally destroying any vestige of republicanism within the provisional movement will not be allowed to undermine the separatist ideal. A resurgent republicanism will demonstrate to both governments and the international community that the destruction of the provisional movement was the liberation of Irish republicanism. It is up to all of us to ensure that 2010 clearly demonstrates this reality.

VOTE NO, AGAIN

2009-09-25T12:39:00.001-07:00

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Statement From Francie Mackey

Chairperson 32CSM

27/09/2009

Lisbon Treaty Referendum October 2^nd 2009

As predicted, and as expected, the people of the Twenty Six Counties face another vote on the already defeated Lisbon Treaty. Following on from the sidestepping of the Dutch and French people’s rejection of the EU Constitution the second referendum being held here is yet further proof that democracy is viewed as a hindrance to the current EU direction. Despite platitudes about different contexts and binding guarantees the true intent of this referendum is to be found in the politics behind it. Fearful of an almost certain rejection of Lisbon in a British Referendum if a change of government were to occur in London the Irish people are being forced to revisit their decision because foreign political opinion deems it expedient to its interests that we do so. It is a mockery of Irish sovereignty on a par with the continuation of partition. Once again the British Government is imposing its will on the outcome of an Irish election.

It is clear that the acceptance of democratic will is deemed less worthy of guarantee by those who sought it, but argued for a different outcome. The so called guarantees issued by the EU Heads Of State are designed to give the illusion of change to justify the calling of a second vote. The Lisbon Treaty remains the same. The so called guarantees are not being voted on. If Lisbon is passed there is no legal prohibition preventing the Heads Of State reconvening afterwards to overturn the so called guarantees. Dublin can veto this of course but that merely amounts to a political promise that they would act in such a fashion. Given that they went to Europe like chastened schoolchildren after the people exercised their veto, there can be no realistic expectation that Dublin will act contrary to the wishes of Brussels.

Because the Lisbon Treaty remains the same our original objections to it remain the same. But the second referendum does open different fronts on which objections to Lisbon can be expressed. Not least of these is the economic crisis. A crisis cannot be resolved by those who created it, employing the same failed ideologies, electing the same failed political elites and endorsing the same failed policies which they are wedded to because of the influence of corrupt bankers and developers. It may well be the better option that this economic crisis can only be resolved by confronting it with a political crisis which has no option but to force change through. It is not acceptable that working people should be subject to periodic bouts of economic boom, followed by economic doom, whilst the architects of it bask in the financial security of massive wages, bonuses and pensions. Small wonder that it is from these quarters that passing Lisbon is most cherished.

Equally, there exists a mindset in the Twenty Six County body politic that holds that financial failure and misdoing should be rewarded as opposed to being punished. The banks acted wholly irresponsibly yet are rewarded for same. State appointees, part of the crony culture, who viewed the public purse as a slush fund for extravagant living, are excused with massive remuneration packages form the very same public purse they abused in the first place. This is the political mindset which boasts of having been involved in the negotiations which gave us the Lisbon Treaty.

The 32 County Sovereignty Movement calls on the people of the Twenty Six Counties to remain firm in their rejection of Lisbon. We say that there is a consequence for saying No which confirms that a No Vote can effect change if the political will exists to do so. If that will does not exist, then that too must be changed.

VOTE NO, AGAIN!

http://www.32csm.info/Lis2.html
VOTE NO AGAIN

Sovereign Nation

2009-05-08T04:15:00.001-07:00

Click Hrere For Latest Edition

Prison Protest Set To Escalate

2009-04-24T14:29:00.000-07:00

Irish Republican Prisoners Welfare Association
24/04/2009

E3 Prison Protest to escalate.

The current protest by republican POW’s on E3 landing in Portlaoise gaol is set to escalate following a ruling that yet another prisoner has been denied temporary release by the Free State department of justice. Last week two republicans prisoners went on a no wash/dirty protest over the politically motivated denial of temporary release, more prisoners were set to follow but an agreement was made between the Irish Prison Service and the Officer Commanding republican POW’s to call a temporary halt to the escalation of the protest in order to see what moves could be undertaken to end the action by the prisoners.
Earlier today the OC of the prisoners informed the IRPWA that the Irish Prison Service had come back empty handed and another prisoner was denied temporary release. It seems that the Department of Justice and the Irish Prison Service are committed to the policy of confronting republican prisoners.
We have been informed that all republican prisoners on E3 will join the protest on Monday. The POW’s had earlier stated that they would stagger men in pairs until the whole landing was on protest, the OC has informed the IRPWA that this is no longer the case as the prisoners now see no merit in this course of action.
The IRPWA call on the entire republican family to support the men in their protest and to support the IRPWA in a series of protests they are now planning, we thank those republican comrades who have already come out in support of the POW’s.
The Department of Justice and the Irish Prison Service are making a grave mistake if they think they can call these man’s bluff and they are guilty of a gross underestimation of the Óglaigh na hÉireann POW’s resolve.

POW Protest Portlaoise Prison

2009-04-18T08:56:00.001-07:00

IRISH REPUBLICAN PRISONERS WELFARE ASSOCIATION 18/04/2009 Protest on E3 Portlaoise Gaol.
It is with great regret that the IRPWA call upon the republican family to once again support POW’s in their protest against the blatant injustice of the Prison system in Ireland.
The IRPWA have been tasked by the republican POW’s to state how and why this protest has occurred and to clarify the facts of this protest.
A protest is currently underway on E3 Portlaoise due to the suspension of the temporary release (TR) and compassionate release (CR) programmes. It is the belief of the POW’s that this has happened due to IRA actions in the occupied six counties, indeed the Irish Prison Service have indicated this much and one of their spokespersons has even asked the OC of E3 if he ‘Believed in the border’!
The situation at present is as follows: Two republicans prisoners (Vinny Kelly and Justin McCarthy) are currently involved in a no wash/dirty protest, NOT on the blanket as some have suggested. At intervals republican POW’s will join this protest until the whole landing is on protest , at this stage the protest will escalate.
The Irish Prison Service representative and the Governor have asked the Officer Commanding to reconsider the POW’s stance pending talks with the Free State government, the only concession the POW’s have been willing to make at this stage is to delay further men joining the protest for a short period to give them a chance to resolve the issue. It is the understanding of the IRPWA that this window of opportunity is fast closing and we would urge all those involved in the Free State government and the Irish Prison Service to make strenuous efforts to resolve this intolerable situation as soon as possible.

32CSM Easter Oration

2009-04-13T09:10:00.000-07:00

32CSM Easter Oration

2009

A chairde, there are those who would say we are traitors gathered here to commemorate the actions of traitors. Pearse and Connolly were deemed to be traitors because the British trenches in the Somme were filled with Irishmen deceived into thinking that fighting in the imperial slaughter of the First World War would lead to Home Rule. Pearse and Connolly said it wouldn’t, and they were right, but still they were vilified and executed. Ninety three years later republicans once again state that the Home Rule strategy will not deliver Irish freedom. Calling us traitors for saying so from the steps of Stormont, flanked by Britain’s head policeman in Ireland, proves we are also right. We are immensely proud to share the views of Pearse and Connolly.

Once again British soldiers are being killed on Irish soil. Once again British soldiers are using Irish soil to train to kill in foreign wars. Once again establishment nationalists have moved to support the British regime in Ireland. Nothing has changed. Claiming that unity will be achieved by 2016 is similar to the deception employed to lure men to their deaths in the fields of Flanders in the lost hope of securing Home Rule. Nothing has changed here either. The men and women of 1916 fought for fundamental change. They were not reformists, but Irish separatists who articulated the basic republican message that our sovereignty is inalienable and indefeasable.

This year also marks the 90^th anniversary of the establishment of the First Dail Eireann. The First Dail was the Proclamation in action. It was an Irish parliament of, by and for the Irish people. It declared our independence to the world and set about a radical social programme to cherish all of the children equally. It remains our blueprint for the future of our country and our people.

Our history is one of conflict because too often our history has been repeated. Political arrangements which usurp Irish sovereignty cannot lead to peace or freedom. Inherent in these arrangements is the attempted suppression of those who seek to defend our sovereignty. They murder us. They hang us. They intern us. They intimidate us. They malign us. It represents that familiar colonial chorus, ever desperate to maintain itself. Trading civil rights in return for recognition of foreign rule condemns our children to fight for that most basic of rights, their own freedom. The men and women of 1916 were not fooled or bought by the trappings of Home Rule nor intimidated by the forces of Westminster and her Irish lackeys. For them democracy meant more than an opinion poll rating or a gerrymandered election. The voice of the people can only be heard if it is freely expressed.

And this is the message which republicans need to articulate today. As republicans we need to put before the people our framework from within which Irish democracy can function without external impediment. We need to set our case against British occupation in a way which is relevant to our people’s needs today. Our aims cannot be solely the product of the past nor can they be a slave to that past. British reasons for remaining in Ireland will change according to modern British interests and republican strategies opposing these interests must adapt accordingly. But in doing so we cannot repeat the failures of history by compromising the legitimacy of our position for the appearance of short term gain. The British have no right to be here and our right to resist them is a matter for us to determine and not them.

We are constantly asked; what is your alternative? The answer depends on who is asking the question. To those who call us traitors we say; any alternative but yours. To those who call us anti democratic we say; let us negotiate without pre conditions. To those republicans who genuinely seek an alternative we say; let us construct one together. We must be clear that the Good Friday Agreement represents a significant defeat for republicanism. And in the face of this we need to be pragmatic and not reactionary. Recrimination is not an alternative. Working constructively together is. Along with other republican comrades the 32 County Sovereignty Movement has engaged in an initiative to forge a way forward from a unified republican position. The ideology behind it is the ideology of necessity. All republican banners are welcome because all republican banners are needed.

How we engage with the Irish people is as important as what we engage them on. From the outset the truth of what we say will be judged by the strength by which we say it. Eloquence and emotion are no substitutes to a unified voice. The politics of conflict resolution requires clarity to ensure that any resolution is just and democratic. Armed conflict is in existence because such a resolution has not been entered into. Neither republicans nor the British government can invoke the existence of armed conflict as an excuse not to engage in a process to find a final democratic resolution to the Anglo Irish conflict. We have to deal with reality as it is and not how we wish it to be.

Standing here in commemoration of 1916 let us invoke the clarity of the Proclamation as we now address the British government today. You must leave Ireland. If, as you say, you have no selfish, strategic or economic reasons for remaining in Ireland then there is no excuse for you not to leave. There is no problem in Ireland which demands your presence that the Irish people themselves cannot resolve. If you require a framework to allow you to disengage from our country we will construct one for you. But for this to happen you must go before the international community and renounce your claim to sovereignty over the Six Counties. A claim of sovereignty represents the bedrock of any strategic interest so let this be the basic test of your intentions.

We call on all republicans to realign ourselves around the securing of achievable aims. We have set forth a programme to rebuild the republican movement through political advancement. We have proposed that commemorating 1916 should be the annual barometer by which we measure our success especially in the run up to its centenary in 2016. Irish republicanism must be in a position on the occasion of this centenary to tell the Irish people that concrete political gains have been made toward making national reunification an unstoppable reality. The Proclamation is too important a document to condemn it to perpetual aspiration.

The Unity Initiative is the only realistic way forward. Armed struggle is a reality in our midst. We must address it for what it is, a symptom of the unwillingness of the British government to engage on the core cause of conflict, namely, its illegal claim to sovereignty over part of our country. For those who want armed struggle to cease they must come forward with proposals to address its cause. The politics of condemnation is a failed irrelevancy just as British micro Ministers are sitting in Stormont. The 32 County Sovereignty Movement have endeavoured since its formation to put such proposals into the public domain.

We sought a peaceful alternative through the auspices of the United Nations only to have that route disbarred to us when the US authorities, acting on influence from London and Dublin, banned our organisation from travelling there. But we are not deterred by this and efforts are underway to petition the Obama administration to reverse this policy. Because contrary to previous declarations made there, Ireland is not at peace.

We have sought dialogue with both governments, unionist and nationalist parties in an attempt to seek a peaceful way forward but these offers have been largely ignored. We thank all those who worked toward achieving this. And we say it again now; if you truly believe our position is so flawed come and tell us how, rather than grandstanding on media soap boxes. Our door remains open and we will not stop knocking on yours.

Comrades, the template of 1916 remains supremely relevant for us today. It was republican unity which drafted the Proclamation and allowed for the accommodation of its diverse views so magnificently. It was republican disunity which led to that fateful confusion on that day. They have given us the benefit of their foresight and the lessons of their errors. Let us leave here today all the wiser for both.

Beir Bua.

Galway 32CSM Expose PSF Hypocrisy

2009-04-11T09:28:00.001-07:00

As Easter approaches, Irish Republicans across the Nation will commemorate the memories of the men and women who paid the ultimate sacrifice in the struggle for Irish independence.

On April 11, 4 Anti-Treatyites/Irregulars - Francis Cunnane (from Headford, Co. Galway); Michael Monaghan (from Clonmehan, Headford, Co. Galway); Martin Moylan or Nolan (from Farmistown, Annadown, Co. Galway); and John Maguire (the younger brother of Tom from Cross, Co. Mayo) were executed in Tuam. Two further executions took place in Tuam on the same day- the men executed were James (or John) Newell (from Galway) and James O’Malley (from Oughterard, Co. Galway).

They were put to death in an attempt to quell dissension in their pursuit of a united 32 county Republic with the coup de grâce being administered by fellow Irishmen using guns supplied by the British government.

These men died for the ideal of a United Ireland and the term “Irregulars” was a derogatory term introduced with much the same purpose as the use of the term “dissidents” today.

How can Sinn Fein in all seriousness, plan to stand at the site of the Tuam Martyrs execution, look people in the eye and laud their sacrifice, while their leader in the British Stormont assembly Martin Mc Guinness calls Irish Republicans “traitors” and asks people to go the regurgitated RUC, a sectarian “Police” force and give information about Republicans which could result in their deaths.

His very call is treachery and reminiscent of the Free state forces who turned against their brothers in arms having accepted a watered down settlement and sided with the British. This was the type of treachery which resulted in the cold blooded executions of 77 Irish patriots in 1923

The Tuam Martyrs died for a United Ireland, not a gravy train in Stormont.

For Sinn Fein to walk to the execution site of the brave Oglaigh ( as part of their election purge,don't be fooled,they didn't have one last year ) is truly a walk of shame!

End The Conflict. End The Occupation

2009-03-12T16:12:00.000-07:00

32 County Sovereignty Movement

12/03/2009

End The Conflict, End British Rule In Ireland

If the conflict in Ireland is to end once and for all, so too must the illegal British claim to sovereignty over the Six Counties. That has been made clear in light of the violent events of recent days. That the so called peace process failed to openly address this central core issue of conflict is the reason for its failure now. Attempts to cocoon the problem in a puppet British Assembly arguing along sectarian lines are doomed to failure. From the outset of this process the British government have moved to defend their illegal sovereign claim to Irelands territory. This was evident when they made it an absolute pre-condition that the entry fee into negotiations was the acceptance of a partitionist outcome. Once republican leaders acquiesced to this British demand the republican project within that process was doomed. As it limped from crisis to crisis its British and unionist credentials began to assert themselves. What also emerged was the clear fact that rather than accept their abject defeat in negotiations with the British, republican leaders dug deeper into the morass whilst making outlandish and unsustainable claims about achieving Irish unity by certain dates to keep supporters on board. It was a classic British trap. This British strategy has now reached its pinnacle with a Provisional Sinn Fein leader standing at Stormont, under the British flag, as a minister of the British crown, calling IRA Volunteers ‘traitors’ for continuing to resist British occupation.

We note the ritual chorus of condemnation emanating from Leinster House. Far from reflecting a unity of purpose it represents a bankruptcy of will from that institution to pursue the objective of a Sovereign Irish Republic. From its inception Leinster House abandoned the Irish people in the Six Counties. It abandoned them further under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement. It evolved a politics which made it a slave to vested interests. It is economically on its knees because of financial and political corruption at the highest level. It has selectively spurned its own referenda results because it lacked the courage to represent those results to the political elite in Europe. It is no position to lecture to anyone on any matter of substance.

From its inception the 32 County Sovereignty Movement has endeavored to place the issue of Irish National Sovereignty at the heart of the political process via peaceful methods. We sought to raise our concerns by pursuing our case at the United Nations only to have that peaceful route disbarred to us when London and Dublin petitioned Washington to have our organization declared illegal in the US. We petitioned all the main parties with detailed submissions but were met with silence. We sought peace. We seek peace, but we recognise clearly that this can only be achieved if true parity is brought to a negotiations process. Britain’s claim to have ‘no selfish, strategic or economic reasons’ to remain in Ireland is laid bare when one sees its use of Irish soil to train and dispatch British soldiers to kill in foreign wars. The British are not neutral in Ireland, no more than they are in Afghanistan or Iraq. To allow them to claim this, which the Good Friday Agreement does, represents a massive abdication of duty and responsibility by all those supposed nationalists who support it. The recent loss of life as a result of military action is yet another tragedy in the continuing conflict in Ireland. What is required to resolve it is an end to British Parliamentary activity in Ireland so that the people of the island can come to their own democratic arrangements as to how we govern ourselves.

32CSM New Year Statement

2009-01-02T01:22:00.001-08:00

32CSM
New Year Statement
2009
On behalf of the National Executive I would like to extend our sincere gratitude to all our activists who campaigned so effectively for our goals during 2008. I choose the word effectively deliberately as I believe certain milestones in Irish republicanism were achieved during the past year. At the outset let me address the realities of our struggle by welcoming home the Derry 4 but in equal breath call for the immediate release of Terry McCafferty, Michael Campbell and all incarcerated Irish republicans. If ever a set of circumstances so described the nature of justice under partition it is these which do so with the greatest clarity. Partition is maintained by the establishments on either side of it which makes our struggle a thirty two county affair. A protest in Kerry is no less important than a protest in Belfast and in our efforts to build our organisation this is the message we must bring with us.

Our organisation has grown in 2008. We have reached into new areas and attracted new people who share our strategic vision. 2009 must see the Sovereignty Movement consolidate this growth and give it firm political leadership. The effective activism I speak of was visible in a number of areas;

A mature campaign for a No Vote against Lisbon.
The sustained protests on Prisoner issues.
The establishment of the Irish Republican Forum For Unity.

Our efforts at securing a No Vote in the Lisbon referendum were based on ensuring that the issue of Sovereignty and Partition were at the heart of our strategy. In doing so we made it clear that all issues of national relevance, be they concerned with natural resources or national heritage, can only be addressed in the context of National Sovereignty and that a resolution of one must contain a resolution of all. Sovereignty cannot be sub-divided.
Our comrades in the Irish Republican Prisoners Welfare Association facilitated our activists in holding protests and demonstrations concerning imprisoned Irish Republicans. We point to the successful intervention in the Aidan Hulme case and the release of the Derry 4. But the cases of Terry McCafferty and Michael Campbell loom large and require similar attention to secure similar outcomes. We send solidarity greetings to all imprisoned republicans but we will do so through continued activism on their behalf.

After long and searching debate the Unity Initiative bore fruit with the formal establishment of The Irish Republican Forum For Unity. At its inaugural meeting in Derry City the republican base could finally see the unity idea transformed into political action on an inclusive basis. A series of public meetings have been planned throughout 2009 to bring the Unity Forum to different areas so that the broad republican base can be instrumental in forging its political activity. The 32CSM will remain fully engaged with the Unity Forum and have proposals prepared to put to it for the coming year.
2009 will see us once again confronted with the Lisbon issue. Those who make the repeated charge that republicans should respect the ‘democratic’ wish expressed in the dual referendums on the Good Friday Agreement should have their hypocrisy thrown back at them. A second referendum will have the added issue of its democratic nature and once again the 32CSM will campaign to ensure that this undemocratic premise and that of Partition itself will be seen as one. Our analysis of the re-run Nice Treaty convinced us that only a Yes vote will satisfy the Dublin Government and having anticipated the inevitability of a second poll we had begun our preparations for our campaign soon after the No victory. I take this opportunity to formally launch ‘Countdown To Lisbon II’ as our effort in the forthcoming campaign. It will be a campaign which will focus on our original objections to Lisbon and also on the status of a second referendum as it relates to our National Sovereignty. We will also campaign for a No Vote by highlighting the extraordinary corruption and social bankruptcy of the Twenty Six Counties political and financial classes as it tries to convince the people that a treaty hewn from the same bankruptcy is in our best interests.

2009 will not see the ending of Partition. Neither will 2016. These are the realities which face us and they need to be recognised by all republicans. However, this does not mean that 2009 and 2016 cannot witness political achievements that will help us secure this objective. Acting within our limitations and acting together to reduce those limitations can greatly enhance our prospects to once again place the republican position back onto the national agenda. Wallowing in the past or afraid to grasp nettles is the stuff of cul-de-sac politics. There is no need to reinvent the republican wheel but we do need to reinvent ways and means by which our core message is given the weight of political activity behind it. We view the Unity Forum as one such means and we strongly urge that all republican groups engage with it so that 2009 can become a watershed in our history.
Beir Bua.
Francie Mackey.

Aidan Hulme Latest

2008-10-15T13:20:00.000-07:00

POSITIVE OUTCOME TO AIDAN HULME CAMPAIGN

The Irish Republican Prisoners Welfare Association (IRPWA)welcome the latest development in the Aidan Hulme campaign whereby the Prison Governor in Portlaoise Gaol has agreed with the prisoners and Aidan that the OC and Adjutant will be allowed access to accompany Aidan when he is visited by a doctor or when visited by the Governor.

Today (15/10/08) such a visit took place and it is confirmed that gangrene is not present in Aidan’s foot rather the symptoms are a result of a severe infection for which Aidan is now being treated.

Staff from the hospital will now visit Aidan to clean the infected areas of his foot and renew dressings to prevent further spread of infection.

An assurance is also given that Aidan will have a consultant assessment before the end of the month and an agreed care plan is being implemented and developed. This will allow for a proper consultant led care management package.

This positive and jointly agreed approach to Aidan’s welfare will ensure early intervention in the event of deterioration and will allow for continuous monitoring of his condition.

The negative effects of the medication will also be closely monitored and with Aidan’s agreement can be reduced depending on his individual needs at any given time.

The IRPWA on behalf of the POW’s would like at this time to thank most sincerely the many people who moved to support Aidan in his time of need and to those who sent greetings.

We would like to extend this thanks to other republican organisations who pledged their support and advice to ensure that Aidan received immediate professional intervention.

Aidan is indeed most grateful for all the support he has received and extends his heartfelt appreciation to everyone involved.

Marion Price

IRPWA

Support Aidan Hulme

2008-10-10T13:26:00.001-07:00

September/October Beir Bua

2008-08-24T14:57:00.000-07:00

Click Here For Latest Edition

Galway32CSM says "Artistic Licence Taken Too Far"

2008-08-23T14:36:00.000-07:00

There is a difference between a controversial work of art and a work of art that needs controversy to promote it. True art provokes, mediocre art exploits. The recent inclusion in Galway’s Earwig Arts Festival of a piece employing a mural glorifying the sectarian murder gangs the UFF/UDA is a case in point of the latter. If particular artists or festivals wish to portray aspects of the Anglo Irish conflict at least let them do so with a degree of honesty and insight rather than use the suffering of others as a means solely to promote either the individual artist or the festival itself. Retrospective attempts at ‘explaining’ away the use of the mural by saying it is intended as an anti violence piece or, more bizarrely, a work opposing violence against women only serves to denigrate all those who actively campaign at the coal face of such issues. The 32 County Sovereignty Movement would urge all artists and festival organisers to honestly engage on the subject of the Anglo Irish conflict so that a true understanding of its origins, dynamics and politics can be gleaned by using their different perspectives. It is only by understanding the problem that we can hope to reach a final and just settlement.

Beir Bua

August/September Sovereign Nation

2008-08-12T13:16:00.001-07:00

Click Here For Latest Edition

August 9th Internment Protest

2008-08-11T12:39:00.001-07:00

Tuam Martyrs Commemoration 2008

2008-07-20T14:51:00.000-07:00

Liam Mellows 32CSM Galway would like to Thank all people who contributed in any way to the success of the Tuam Martyrs Commemoration 2008.

A special thanks to those who gave orations Francie Mackey and Brian McFadden Republican Network for Unity.

Internment Commemoration

2008-07-18T13:53:00.001-07:00

Whilst The Occupation Remains, Resistance Will Remain

2008-07-05T15:56:00.000-07:00

The revelations that the people of Derry City are to be petitioned in order to put pressure on Anti Agreement Republican Separatists to disband is disingenuous in the extreme and smacks not only of political opportunism but also no small measure of desperation.

It is clear that those behind this political stunt are using the understandable anger in the community at the murder of Emmet Sheils to further their own political objectives, namely an end to opposition to support for the RUC/PSNI and the British Administration in Stormont.

The 32 County Sovereignty Movement will not be deflected from our political work by such ill conceived political posturing nor will any other Anti Agreement Republican groupings.

Those who have sought to ferment community tensions by deliberately and falsely attributing blame for the murder of Emmet Sheils will be exposed for what they are as will their cynical use of his death for their own narrow agenda. Republicans will not be intimidated from upholding the Republican position and the 32 County Sovereignty Movement are resolute in our intention to continue our work in Derry City and across the nation.

The 32 County Sovereignty Movement are attracting disillusioned and disenfranchised Republicans right across Ireland and further a field as are other Republican organisations and the cynical manipulation of this tragic event illustrates how low Pro State Nationalists will go to undermine this growth, they will fail.

We note also the presence of the so called Deputy First Minister in Iraq. Just recently the same Minister greeted the US President to the Six Counties without a whimper of protest from him against the occupation and wholesale slaughter in that country. This reluctance to petition for protest against these blatant injustices is at least consistent with their equal reluctance to petition for protest against other high profile murders here because they do not afford him the same opportunity for cheap political kudos

The Irish Resistance Movement will not be forced to disband and anyone endeavouring to do so is not only naïve but is also acting in a dangerous manner. Attempts to foster a civil war mentality will also fail as all previous attempts have done.
The 32 County Sovereignty Movement have this pledge to make to Republicans,
While the British Occupation remains so too will Irish Resistance to that Occupation

Galway 32CSM Commemoration

2008-06-24T23:34:00.000-07:00

Tuam Martyrs Commemoration 2008

Liam Mellows 32CSM Galway, are pleased to announce a solidarity commemoration which will take place on Sunday 20th July 2008. Assemble at 1:30p.m. at the 1916 Monument on Bishop Street, Tuam, Co. Galway (Supervalu Car Park) and march to the Old Workhouse Monument in Dublin Road, Tuam, where six brave volunteers were executed by Free State Forces in April 1923. The six men executed, five from Galway and one from Mayo, were shot by a free state firing squad in the old workhouse in Tuam, Co. Galway on the 11th April 1923 towards the end of the civil war in Connaught.

32CSM Canvassing in Galway for NO Vote to the Lisbon Treaty

2008-06-07T12:55:00.000-07:00

The 32 County Sovereignty Movement in Galway would like to thank the people of Galway for their support against the Lisbon Treaty. As a result of our engagement with them we would like to thank all those who expressed an interest in joining the 32CSM. Whilst canvassing the people of Galway today we are in no doubt that they will return a No Vote against the Lisbon Treaty.

Below are some pictures of todays 32CSM campaign against the Lisbon Treaty in Galway

32CSM in Eyre Square

32CSM and Free Palestine Movement in Shop Street Galway

32CSM Members Leaflet Eyre Square

32CSM Galway Vote NO to Lisbon

2008-06-02T08:22:00.000-07:00

1. British Parliamentary and European Parliamentary activity in Ireland is not democratically accountable to the Irish people.

2. The Lisbon Referendum is being put to a section of the Irish people and is not a valid expression of Irish self determination. Ireland is a 32 County Sovereign Nation whose sovereignty is violated by a foreign power.

3. The rights supposedly 'defended' by Lisbon excludes the Irish people's right to self determination.

4. Lisbon seeks a common Foreign and Defence policy amongst EU members which will negate the British Governments spurious stance of 'having not selfish, strategic or economic reasons' to remain in Ireland.

5. Common EU positions in Defence, Economics and Taxation will inevitable mean control by the larger Military and Economic Members of the EU. Neutrality will be made redundant.

6. The terms of the Lisbon Treaty have already been democratically rejected.

Liam Mellows addressing the Dáil on 28 April 1922

2008-06-01T11:24:00.000-07:00

Liam Mellows addressing the Dáil on the approach to the Irish Civil War on 28th April 1922
"There would no question of civil war here now were it not for the undermining of the Republic. The Republic has been deserted by those who state they still intend to work for a Republic. The Volunteers can have very little faith at this moment in the Government that assembles here, because all they can see in it is a chameleon Government. One moment, when they look at it, it is the green, white and orange of the Republic, and at another moment, when they look at it, it is the red, white and blue of the British Empire. We in the Army, who have taken this step, have been termed “mutineers,” “irregulars,” and so forth. We are not mutineers, because we have remained loyal to our trust. We are not mutineers except against the British Government in this country. We may be “irregular” in the sense that funds are not forthcoming to maintain us, but we were always like that and it is no disgrace to be called “irregulars” in that sense. We are not wild people."

Liam Mellows Cumann Constituted

2008-05-26T10:16:00.000-07:00

At a meeting in Galway on the 25th of May 2008 the National Chairperson of the 32 County Sovereignty Movement Francie Mackey presided over the inaugural meeting of the Liam Mellows Cumann. Speaking of the event Mr. Mackey expressed his deep satisfaction and appreciation at Galway republicans for forming this new cumann as part of the 32CSM. A schedule of work was agreed and first item on that agenda was the upcoming Lisbon Treaty referendum to which the Liam Mellows cumann has set itself in opposition to. Details of our activities on this issue will be published here as they come to hand. Beir Bua.

Galway 32 County Sovereignty Movement

the writing is on the wall in galway

32csm wolfe tone commemoration

Post Cancer patient POW forcibly strip searched before & after Doctor consultation

photos from pow protest.

POW seriously beaten / Maghaberry Independent POW protest

32csm Condemn Tom Elliot’s Remarks

Freedom of Speech denied To Insulate British Monarch

Sponsored Pow Swim.

Free Marian Price/End Internment

SUPPORT THE POWS ON PROTEST IN MAGHABERRY /END INTERNMENT.

photos of Croagh Patrick pow mountain climb

photos of Croagh Patrick pow mountain climb

32CSM condemn the arrest and subsequent charging of veteran Republican Marian Price.

SUPPORT THE POWS ON PROTEST IN MAGHABERRY

Galway Bay FM Censor Comment Line Callers.

PSNI/RUC NOT WELCOME IN GALWAY

Republican prisoners in Maghaberry resume protest action

Vol Hugh Hehir Commemoration

32CSM National 1916 Commemoration 2011 Photos.

IRA EASTER STATEMENT 2011

Brtitish Police, Republican Resistance

Pow Sponsored Mountain Climb

Photos From Tuam Martyrs Commemoration.

Tuam Martyrs Commemoration Oration

Gardai in Corribgate scandal

32 COUNTY SOVEREIGNITY MOVEMENT NATIONAL EASTER COMMEMORATION.

TUAM MARTYRS COMMEMORATION

British Monarchs visit is a violation of Irish Sovereignty.

Commander In Chief of British death squads not welcome in Ireland.

Ogláigh ná hEireánn Claim attack on RUC.

IRPWA Welcome Prisoner Unity

Position Document: Non-Conforming Republican Prisoners, Maghaberry

POW torture in Maghaberry –Letter from D.D Mc Laughlin-Emotive, upsetting & graphic

Tuam Martyrs Commemoration

Sponsored Mountain Climb (Croagh Patrick Co.Mayo)

sovereign nation jan/feb

The shell gas gravy train continues!!

Statement and photos of pow swim.(galway bay)

Full Text of IRA New Years Statement

RUC/PSNI Intimidation will not deter republicans.

IRA To Expand Theatre Of Operations

POW SWIM RE-ARRANGED.

32CSM New Years Statement 2011

NEW YEARS DAY SPONSORED SWIM.(GALWAY BAY)

IMF not welcome in Ireland.

March: Galway Unites Against Budget Cutbacks

CLARE 32CSM POW PROTEST

Sovereign Nation nov/dec

Time to Act.

Francie Mackey Address 32CSM Ard Fheis 2010

Beir Bua Issue 3

New Years Day Sponsored Swim.(Galway Bay)

The ballad of Shell and Rossport

Play Your Part

Support The Pows.

IRA statement

Education Is A Right, Not A Privilege

GALWAY POW PROTEST PHOTOS

GALWAY POW PROTEST PHOTOS (CONTINUED)

Community Policing Or Thuggery?

galway 32 csm at work

Galway 32csm Pow Protest(DATE AND TIME CHANGED)

The Struggle Continues-Play Your Part

Gary Donnelly interview on 2010 dirty protest - www.joe.ie

Irish Republican Prisoners Welfare Association

Fianna Fáil ? - Fianna Failed !

Galway Petition Against Royal Visit

Republican Monument Upkeep

Bringing The Republican Message To Galway

Private Members Draw

Galway 32CSM Recruiting

Solidarity In Derry

32CSM New Year Statement 2010

VOTE NO, AGAIN

Sovereign Nation

Prison Protest Set To Escalate

POW Protest Portlaoise Prison

32CSM Easter Oration

Galway 32CSM Expose PSF Hypocrisy