02/15/07 10:26 EST
COLLUSION WILL TOP SINN FEIN-ORDE MEETING AGENDA
Sinn Fein leaders are preparing for their first meeting with Northern Ireland's police chief since the party agreed to support the police service. Gerry Adams MP is leading a delegation to meet Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde tomorrow for what will be the first time inside PSNI Headquarters in east Belfast. Policing spokesman Gerry Kelly said the meeting would provide an opportunity to discuss a number of key issues including the importance of the PSNI carrying out its duties and responsibilities in a fair and impartial way, as a civil police service, which was democratically accountable to the public. "Policing with the community needs to be the core function of any civic policing service and especially in relation to protecting the most vulnerable sections of the community," he said.
02/14/07 14:23 EST
256 CONTESTANTS FOR 108 ASSEMBLY SEATS
Northern Ireland is facing its biggest election contest in years as 256 candidates launch their bids for Stormont seats. A total of 108 Assembly seats will be up contested in 18 constituencies when voters go to the polls in Northern Ireland on March 7. Ian Paisley`s Democratic Unionists will have the most candidates, with 46 people running, followed by Sinn Fein and the Ulster Unionists on 38 and the nationalist SDLP on 34. There were also a number of other surprises in the list of candidates with unionists and republicans standing against the DUP and Sinn Fein in a bid to prevent power sharing between the two parties.
02/13/07 11:28 EST
CROSSMAGLEN SANGAR DECOMMISSIONED
The British army spypost overlooking Crossmaglen village in south Armagh is to be demolished this week. The observation post has towered above the police station in Crossmaglen village square for 15 years - built to stand guard over police officers and soldiers who could only travel in and out of the base by helicopter - and once there live in bomb proof underground bunkers. It was one of Northern Ireland's most heavily fortified landmarks. The decision to knock it down is part of the British government's security normalisation moves that followed the July 2005 IRA declaration of an end to its armed campaign.
02/08/07 11:02 EST
CLOSURE MUST BE GIVEN TO COLLUSION FAMILIES - AHERN
Closure must be given to families of victims killed in collusion-linked bombings and shootings before the Irish General Election expected in May or June, the Irish Government has said. Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and Foreign Affairs Minister Dermot Ahern both met in Dublin with seven groups affected by 1970s atrocities north and south of the Irish border. The relatives are calling for public inquiries and believe their cases have been strengthened by last month`s report by Police Ombudsman Nuala O`Loan which revealed collusion between the RUC and loyalist gunmen in up to 15 murders. Dermot Ahern said after the 90-minute meeting: "The Taoiseach indicated that he would like to deal with this before the General Election."
02/07/07 12:31 EST
SINN FEIN TO MEET WITH ORDE OVER COLLUSION
Sinn Fein is to hold its first meeting with Northern Ireland Police Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde since its decision to publicly support his police service, the party has announced. Policing spokesperson Gerry Kelly confirmed the meeting next week would focus on Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman Nuala O`Loan`s devastating report last month confirming that members of the Royal Ulster Constabulary Special Branch colluded with loyalist paramilitaries in murder. As members of the Northern Ireland Policing Board met in Belfast, Mr Kelly said the recent controversy over the nationalist SDLP`s claims that they ensured Sir Hugh was appointed Chief Constable had deflected attention away from the findings of the report. "The real issue for republicans and nationalists is the tip of the collusion iceberg beginning to be exposed," he said.
02/05/07 11:25 EST
RSF TO CONTEST ASSEMBLY ELECTION
Republicans who broke away from Sinn Fein 20 years ago are to challenge Gerry Adams' party in at least 11 constituencies in the forthcoming Stormont Assembly Election. However Republican Sinn Fein has insisted none of its candidates will take their seats if they are elected to the Assembly. The decision was taken after a special meeting of the party`s Ulster executive. A Republican Sinn Fein statement said: "At a special meeting of the Comhairle Uladh (Ulster Executive) body of Republican Sinn Fein, a decision was taken to field candidates on an abstentionist basis in at least 11 of the 18 constituencies for the forthcoming Stormont elections."
02/01/07 12:05 EST
DUP SAYS NO TO AHERN DAIL PROPOSAL
The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) will reject any attempt to get their nine MPs involved in a special committee in the Irish Parliament, DUP leader Ian Paisley warned tonight. The North Antrim MP was commenting following concerns among Opposition parties in Dublin about Taoiseach Bertie Ahern's plan for a special Dail (Irish parliament) committee involving the 18 MPs to consider issues affecting the North. The DUP leader warned Mr Ahern: "Let me make it very clear, we will have nothing whatsoever to do with this committee. Whilst we are prepared to work with the Irish Government on matters of mutual benefit to the people of Northern Ireland and the Republic we will not be involved in any discussions with them relating to the internal affairs of this part of the United Kingdom."
01/31/07 14:20 EST
CAMPAIGNING BEGINS FOR MARCH 7 ELECTION
Northern Ireland politicians are embarking on an Assembly Election Campaign with British Prime Minister Tony Blair warning he could pull the plug at any stage before polling day. Mr Blair and Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, yesterday decided to press ahead with plans for a March 7 election. After their meeting in Downing Street, however, the two premiers warned the election must result in a power-sharing government. "The Assembly Election, due to be held on March 7, is an integral part of the process and timetable agreed at St Andrews," they said. "If, at any point, it became clear that parties were unwilling to fulfil their commitments in the St Andrews Agreement to the twin pillars of power-sharing on March 26 and support for policing, it would be unreasonable to expect the people of Northern Ireland to continue with an election to an Assembly which would not exist."
01/31/07 10:56 EST
ORDE ACCUSES PARTIES OF INSULTING HIS FORCE
The Chief Constable of the PSNI has angrily accused the SDLP and Sinn Fein of insulting his officers and using the police as a political football. Sir Hugh Orde`s comments were contained in a 'confidential' police memo which was sent out to nearly serving 10,000 PSNI officers. Sir Hugh said both the SDLP and Sinn Fein had gone too far in their criticism of the police following the publication of Ombudsman Nuala O`Loan`s report on police collusion in UVF killings in north Belfast. Sir Hugh also said he has spoken directly to the SDLP leadership to express his anger - and taken steps to speak to Sinn Fein, but said their leadership appears to have "gone on-the-run".
01/30/07 11:31 EST
PREMIERS CONFIRM MARCH 7 ELECTION DATE
British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Taoiseach Bertie Ahern this afternoon confirmed Northern Ireland's Assembly Election is to go ahead as planned on March 7. The announcement was made this evening after the two men met in Downing Street. They warned, however, that if it became clear that there would be no power-sharing government, they would pull the plug on plans for an election. "The assembly election, due to be held on March 7, is an integral part of the process and timetable agreed at St Andrew's," said Mr Blair. "It is being held for the explicit purposes of endorsing the St Andrew's Agreement and of electing the assembly that will form a power-sharing executive on March 26 in accordance with that agreement and time frame," he said.
01/29/07 11:31 EST
SINN FEIN WILL ENCOURAGE PUBLIC TO REPORT CRIME
Sinn Fein will encourage victims of crime to report it to the police in Northern Ireland, Gerry Adams has said. Following the party`s ground-breaking decision to endorse the Police Service of Northern Ireland, the West Belfast MP said he and his colleagues would be urging communities to work with chief constable Sir Hugh Orde`s officers to remove criminals from the streets. "Let there be no doubt about this," Mr Adams said. "If some unfortunate person is the victim of a rape, if those despicable elements who are going around terrorising old people in their homes continue, and if death riders continue to mow down people, if that happens, Sinn Fein will be encouraging people to work and co-operate with police to take these people off the streets. The communities we represent have a right to a policing service."
Earlier, British Prime Minister Tony Blair welcomed Sinn Fein`s commitment to support the police, but said it must be delivered in practice. Speaking at 10 Downing Street, following talks with Mexican president Felipe Calderon, Mr Blair said: "The reality is that the only way forward in Northern Ireland is an agreement to share power matched by a full commitment to the police and the rule of law and that commitment has got to be delivered in practice."
01/29/07 00:12 EST
HAIN REQUIRES CERTAINTY BEFORE TRIGGERING ELECTIONS
Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain warned the political parties today that he would only trigger Assembly elections for next month when he was certain they would live up to their commitments. Speaking in Belfast, Mr Hain described yesterday's Sinn Féin vote to support policing as hugely significant.
But he said: "There now needs to be delivery of practical co-operation with the police by Sinn Féin and delivery on practical power-sharing by the DUP. Provided these two are in place, I think we can move towards an election on March 7, with power-sharing and devolution on March 26." But he said the importance of practical delivery by both was critical.
01/28/07 13:09 EST
SINN FEIN VOTES TO SUPPORT PSNI
Today, a specially convened Sinn Féin ardfheis (party conference) has voted overwhelmingly in favor of a leadership motion expressing support for the Police Service of Northern Ireland. Delegates overwhelmingly backed party leader Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness's call for the party to support the PSNI. Speaking moments after the vote was taken, party President Gerry Adams described the decision as "truly historic" and said the potential had been created to change the political landscape of the island "forever." "Its significance will be how we use this decision to move our struggle forward," Mr Adams said. Adams called on the unionist community to respond positively to today's decision, saying there was a need for "an historic compromise" between the communities and for "a real dialogue - an anti-sectarian dialogue between nationalism, republicanism and unionism."
01/26/07 18:03 EST
SINN FEIN LOOKING FOR POSITIVE ARD FHEIS RESPONSE
Sinn Féin members appear on track to endorse the Police Service of Northern Ireland at an extraordinary ardfheis (party convention) in Dublin tomorrow after one of the most intensive consultation exercises with the republican base ever conducted by the party leadership. Up to 3,300 Sinn Féin members are expected to gather in the RDS tomorrow with about 900 of them mandated to vote on the leadership motion calling for endorsement of the PSNI - which would be a historic move designed to pave the way to powersharing government with the DUP, the Ulster Unionist Party and the SDLP by March.
01/26/07 00:57 EST
ADAMS MAKES DIRECT APPEAL TO NATIONALISTS
Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams has appealed directly to nationalists and republicans to sign up to policing structures in Northern Ireland in a bid to secure power sharing. Mr Adams made the appeal before Sunday's ardfheis (convention) - at which the party may change its policing policy - in a four-page insert in daily and weekly newspapers published in the North. The Sinn Féin leader, who has been involved in a week of public meetings finishing in Derry last night, reiterated Sinn Féin's primary goal is to achieve a united Ireland.
01/23/07 15:57 EST
NEO-CON TAKES OVER IRELAND BRIEF AT STATE
Dr. Paula Dobriansky, the top State Department official for global affairs, will become special US envoy for Northern Ireland, replacing Ambassador Mitchell Reiss. The transition will take place on February 15th. Ms Dobriansky will retain her existing duties, reflecting the lower priority this Administration gives the peace process in recent years. Dr. Dobriansky's political pedigree is firmly rooted in the neo-conservative wing of the Republican Party. She is a pundit, and author, and graduate of the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University and of Harvard University.
01/23/07 09:16 EST
FLANAGAN DENIES ALL KNOWLEDGE OF COLLUSION
Former Royal Ulster Constabulary Chief Constable Sir Ronnie Flanagan insists he had no knowledge of the collusion between police under his command and loyalist paramilitaries. In a statement issued today, Sir Ronnie claimed he hoped anyone involved in such activity would be prosecuted. NI's police ombudsman found officers colluded with loyalists behind over a dozen murders in north Belfast at a time when Sir Ronnie was in charge. He is facing calls to quit the body which promotes police efficiency, his current posting. In a statement released today, Sir Ronnie - currently head of Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary - said he fully cooperated with the ombudsman's investigation at all times. "I utterly refute any suggestion, as has been misrepresented in some of the media coverage, that I was in any way evasive or unhelpful," he said.
01/22/07 22:27 EST
COLLUSION OFFICERS STILL SERVING IN PSNI
A number of policemen implicated in the Police Ombudsman’s report into collusion between the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) and loyalist paramilitaries in the 1990s are still serving in the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), according to senior sources. The report, which was published yesterday, concludes that RUC Special Branch officers colluded in 10 murders in the North between 1991 and 2000 committed by a north Belfast Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) gang led by police informer Mark Haddock.
01/20/07 10:46 EST
ADAMS DEBATES POLICING IN REPUBLICAN HEARTLANDS
Sinn Fein's task will be to deliver a non-partisan police service in Northern Ireland if it takes the groundbreaking step of supporting the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), Gerry Adams insisted today. At the start of a series of debates within the republican community over the coming week in the run up to the special Sinn Fein ardfheis (party convention) on policing, Mr Adams said he had made up his mind on the need for his party to get involved six weeks ago. And he also told about 200 republicans who gathered in Toome in Co Antrim: "I am asking for your permission to enter into another area of struggle. We do not want to leave policing to the unionists. We do not want to leave policing to the securocrats." About 2,000 Sinn Fein members will gather in Dublin in eight days time to decide if the party should take the historic step of endorsing the police on both sides of the Border.
01/19/07 21:52 EST
REISS TO STEP DOWN AT END OF MONTH
The US envoy to Northern Ireland is to step down at the end of the month, it was revealed tonight. Mitchell Reiss is to stand aside after three years as special envoy to Northern Ireland. He is being replaced by senior State Department official Paula Dobriamsky, a prominent neo-conservative who is is the serving Undersecretary of State for Domestic and Global Affairs at the State Department.
01/18/07 13:29 EST
RSF REJECTS ADAMS' POLICING TALKS OFFER
Republican Sinn Féin has rejected an offer by Gerry Adams to have discussions on adopting a joint strategy on policing in Northern Ireland. Party president Ruairí Ó Brádaigh said Mr Adams 'knows well' the values of Republican Sinn Féin and knows that no reconciliation was possible. "Republican Sinn Fein's values were once his own, before he and the Provos decided to accept the institutions of British rule in Ireland," Mr Ó Brádaigh said in a statement this evening. Mr Adams had offered to meet dissident republican leaders in a bid to win their backing for his party's plans to endorse the PSNI. With Sinn Féin facing internal tensions and potential splits over its decision to hold a special ardfheis to consider backing the PSNI, Mr Adams said he had no problem with former comrades running against his representatives in elections to the Stormont Assembly. Mr Adams also urged the "Real IRA", Continuity IRA and Irish National Liberation Army to end all armed violence, insisting a united Ireland can be achieved peacefully. But tonight Mr Ó Brádaigh questioned the point of Mr Adams's offer. "Is it the people who have resigned recently from his party?," he asked. "For our part we are not dissidents. The discussions he proposes do not refer to us," he said.
01/14/07 09:52 EST
SINN FEIN HAS PLAYED ITS PART - HAIN
Britain's Northern Ireland Secretary of State Peter Hain has shifted the onus for restoring devolution in Northern Ireland onto Ian Paisley's Democratic Unionists as he praised Sinn Fein's advance yesterday towards an historic endorsement of policing. Even though the party leadership exposed itself to potential splits by agreeing to press ahead with a special conference to consider overturning a policy of opposition stretching back generations, London and Dublin believe the shift holds the key to securing power-sharing and finally achieving a lasting political settlement in the North.
01/13/07 14:45 EST
SINN FEIN TO HOLD ARD FHEIS ON POLICING DECISION
Senior members of Sinn Féin have voted in Dublin today to hold an Ard Fheis (party convention) on policing. The party's Ard Chomhairle (governing executive) decided to go ahead with the conference on 28 January. Delegates will be asked to give their approval to a range on changes on policing policy, including Sinn Féin taking its places on the policing board and the party giving its support to the PSNI and the criminal justice system. If the motion to back the PSNI is passed, it will open the door for Sinn Féin to share power in Stormont. Party president Gerry Adams said it was a hugely courageous decision.
01/12/07 10:35 EST
ADAMS PUBLISHES DUP COMMITMENT ON POLICING
Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams has released details of a deal to devolve policing powers to Northern Ireland's Executive that he claims the DUP has reneged on. In a statement today, Mr Adams said that in the run-up to the meeting of his party's ardchomhairle (governing Executive) on December 29th, the DUP were given the text of the motion that he was to put to the ardchomhairle calling a special ardfheis (party convention) on policing. At the time, he said the DUP agreed that the required words were in the motion that he was to present. If the ardchomhairle accepted the motion, it was agreed the DUP would respond by saying that if Sinn Féin translated its words into actions the DUP would "accept the devolution of policing by May 2008". Mr Adams said DUP leader the Rev Ian Paisley was to have responded to Sinn Féin's move in his New Year statement. He said the words that Dr Paisley was meant to have said and that were given to his party were as follows:
"The DUP has always maintained that it will support devolution of policing and justice if there is sufficient confidence across the community. The words needed are those contained in the ardchomhairle motion. Provided Sinn Féin translate into action the commitments contained in that motion, the DUP will accept devolution of policing and justice in the timeframe set out in the St Andrews Agreement or even before that date."
Mr Adams said the words were acceptable to him and that he proceeded to the ardchomhairle meeting. He claims the agreed words were never said by Dr Paisley which is why there is now a crisis in the process.
However, in a statement released yesterday, Dr Paisley disputes this version of events, insisting there is no obligation on him to agree to the devolution of policing powers by May 2008. The DUP leader says there is "not a line" in the St Andrew's Agreement "about saying that on a certain date [the British government] must hand over these powers". He said: "There is only in the St Andrews Agreement an idea, an aspiration of the two governments that they would like it done."
ARCHIVE
Read the full stories at The Irish American Information Service
Profound Regret from Blair after Collusion Report Published See full text
Northern Ireland Police Special Branch officers colluded with loyalist paramilitary Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) gang members responsible for many murders in Belfast during the 1990s, according to a report compiled by Police Ombudsman (watchdog) Nuala O'Loan. The report follows an investigation, codenamed "Operation Ballast", which was begun following representations by Raymond McCord. His son, Raymond McCord jnr, was murdered in 1997, allegedly on the orders of the head of the UVF's Mount Vernon unit.
According to the report, published this morning, a number of senior officers -including two retired assistant chief constables, seven detective chief superintendents and two detective superintendents - refused to provide an explanation of police Special Branch and CID internal practices during the period in question. The report found that others, including some serving officers in the PSNI, gave "evasive, contradictory, and on occasion farcical answers to questions".
- - -
However, although files have been sent to the DPP following the investigation, it is understood a recommendation has been made that no charges should be brought against any
officers. Mr McCord said his family were disappointed that prosecutions were not recommended and said he would continue his family's fight to for justice. Mr McCord said: "This report is not the end of our struggle to get justice for young Raymond. It is the means by which we can go forward to get justice and uncover the truth so that these horrible deeds will never be allowed to happen again."
- - -
He also urged Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams not to endorse the PSNI in light of the report's findings.
- - -
The report says that the police investigation into the murder of Catholic taxi driver Sharon McKenna (27) in January 1993 "had the effect of protecting Informant 1 from possible prosecution."
"This is collusion," the report adds.
- - -
Northern Secretary Peter Hain acknowledged this morning that the report made "extremely uncomfortable reading" but insisted that policing in Northern Ireland had now changed.
- - -
A spokesman for Tony Blair expressed the Prime Minister's "profound regret" but urged the poeple of Northern Ireland to support the PSNI, saying the collusion had happened in the past. "This is a deeply disturbing report about events which were totally wrong and which should never have happened. What matters at this stage is that the whole community supports that process of transformation," the statement said.
14 Jan 2007
Sinn Féin Policing Motion to Ard Fheis See full text
13 Jan 2007
Gerry Adams:
Irish republicans and nationalists want, need and deserve proper and accountable policing. On Thursday, December 28, I said that I believe that Irish republicans need now to take the necessary next step on policing -- that it is the right thing to do. This was the position I put to today's meeting. In response, the Sinn Fein Ard Chomhairle today took the historic and courageous decision to proceed to an Ard Fheis on policing despite the failure of the DUP to respond positively. If the Ard Fheis adopts the proposed motion then we will have the potential, for the first time ever, for the full involvement by Irish republicans in policing structures across the island.
Full text
New Year's Message
Ian Paisley:
The DUP has put the rule of law to the top of the political agenda. Whilst for years others avoided addressing this matter, I ensured that it became a matter central to any resolution of a political settlement. I am certain that the movement by Sinn Fein is the result of the DUP's determination to press home this matter. However words are not enough. It is deeds that count, and the fact that between October and December 2006 there have been no deeds, and that for the next three weeks we must await the outcome of a Sinn Fein party conference on policing, reduces the prospect of any immediate action. Sinn Fein's begrudging movement will only serve to delay opportunities available to us in the incoming months of 2007.
Full text
16 Oct 2006
Documents released after talks at St Andrews
29 June 2006
BRITISH AND IRISH GOVERNMENTS' JOINT STATEMENT
Statement by the Prime Minister and the Taoiseach
Stormont 29 June 2006
1. We met today with the parties to review progress towards the restoration of devolved institutions in Northern Ireland by November and to discuss the way ahead. While the Assembly has reconvened in recent weeks we note the disappointment and frustration across Northern Ireland at the inability to move more quickly beyond procedural issues.
2. It is absolutely clear that if devolution is to be restored by the 24 November deadline then the parties will need to engage with greater urgency and determination to reach agreement. If the political will exists then we believe the very few issues which remain to be resolved can be satisfactorily addressed in that timescale.
3. In order to facilitate resolution of these issues, and as envisaged in our statement of 6 April, the Assembly will continue its work in the autumn. Given the urgent need to make rapid progress, we urged the parties to make full use of the summer period to continue work at Committee level so that the Assembly can get down to preparing for Government when it reconvenes in September. In order to assist work in the autumn, we have published today a work plan (below) and an indicative timetable for full restoration. Above all, we hope that parties will use the summer to consult their members and their communities on the way forward. The parties need to weigh in the balance any outstanding issues and any lingering mistrust against the prospect of losing devolution for another generation.
4. We were clear when we met in Armagh that people in Northern Ireland are impatient for progress and will not tolerate a political process which stretches out indefinitely. We are convinced that November is the outer limit of an acceptable timeframe. Failure to meet that deadline would be a failure which will put the Assembly in cold storage from 24 November. That would be very regrettable, but everyone accepts that an Assembly subsidised by the public which is not serving its community through active government is simply not sustainable. In this context, we also took the opportunity today to review progress on new partnership arrangements that would need to be put in place to ensure our effective joint stewardship of the Good Friday Agreement in the event that devolution does not take place by 24 November. This work continues.
5. The key to real political progress is genuine and frank political engagement from all sides on the outstanding issues. That conviction is as strong following our discussions today as it has ever been. We look forward to all concerned intensifying their efforts in the period ahead so that fully-restored institutions can become a reality. The issues that really matter to the people of Northern Ireland can best be addressed by the elected politicians working.
Northern Ireland Political Process: WORK PLAN
July/August
September October
Either November
Or November
December
During the summer parties continue to address necessary issues in preparation for government and to consult their members and communities.
- Preparation for Government Committee continues its work (i) identifying the issues that need to be addressed and (ii) preparing a programme of work to enable the Assembly to address these (to be agreed and announced by end August).
- MLAs and parties discharge responsibilities towards employees, landlords etc in respect of ending of salaries and allowances from 24 November.
During the autumn efforts to elect FM/DFM continue. Parties hold discussions with each other and the Governments on changes to the institutions. Discussions with parties continue on support for and devolution of policing.
- W/B 4 September: Assembly returns.
- W/B 11 September: Peter Hain and Dermot Ahern take stock of progress on all
outstanding issues with the parties.
- Timetabled subjects in plenary on preparation for Government; Preparation for Government Committee continues its work.
Parties conclude discussions on all outstanding issues. Taoiseach and Prime Minister continue to monitor progress closely.
- W/B 2 October: Governments receive and publish IMC report.
- Assembly sessions to prepare for Government continue.
- Final consultations within parties if necessary, and confirmation
of readiness to finalise preparations for government.
- Parties conclude discussions and finalise draft Programme for Government and draft Ministerial Code.
Parties and Governments make final preparations for restoration of the institutions.
- W/B 20 November: last opportunity to amend Standing Orders and introduce Emergency Bill (on changes to the institutions) at Westminster following all-party agreement to restore devolution.
- 24 November: last opportunity for selecting FM/DFM and Executive and affirming pledge of office. By midnight Secretary of State notifies Presiding Officer of intention to make a Restoration Order [effective on Monday 27 November].
- W/B 27 November: Ministers arrive at Departments. Executive meets.
- 24 November: Salaries and allowances for MLAs and financial assistance to parties stop.
- BIIGC at Prime Ministerial Summit level to launch new British Irish partnership arrangements.
Irish Proclamation of Freedom Read by Patrick Pearse from the Steps of the General Post Office, Dublin, Ireland on Easter Monday, April 24, 1916
The Irish Government, June 1997:
Bloody Sunday and the Report of the Widgery Tribunal
Full text of the Good Friday Agreement, April 10, 1998.
Investigation into the human rights in Northern Ireland, September 29, 1998
Statement by Rosemary Nelson, solicitor for Garvaghy Road residents
Nobel Peace Price Award, December 11, 1998:
Nobel Address by David Trimble, First Minister and leader of the Ulster Unionist Party
Nobel Address by John Hume, leader of the catholic SDLP
George Mitchell's Peace Principles, November 1999:
Statements of November 16 and 17, 1999, by Ulster Unionist Party, Sinn Féin, Progressive Unionist Party and IRA
Patten Report: A new beginning: Policing in Northern Ireland, Sep. 1999
George Mitchell's statement, November 18, 1999
Suspension of Northern Ireland Assembly and Executive. February 2000:
Decommissioning reports, Mandelson in House of Commons, IRA statements
Peace process resumed. May 2000
British-Irish joint statement and IRA statement.
Inspection of IRA weapons dumps, June 2000
Arms inspector's report
Abortion Referendum March 7, 2002
IRA Statement on Decommissioning April 8, 2002
Speech by Tony Blair, British Prime Minister, at the Harbour Commisssioners' Offices in Belfast, 17 October 2002.
The murder of Patrick Finucane, 19 February 1989:
Sir John Stevens: Stevens Enquiry, 17 April 2003
Justice Peter Cory: Cory Collusion Inquiry Report, 1 April 2004
Independent International Commission on Decommissioning
Report, October 23, 2001
Report, April 8, 2002
Report, October 21, 2003
Report, September 26, 2005 - Confirming complete decommissioning
Joint statement by the British and Irish governments
Programme for reaching a normal security end-state by April 2005
Joint declaration by the British and the Irish governments, May 2003
Independent Monitoring Commission (IMC):
First report - May 2004
Second report - July 2004
Third report - November 2004
Fourth report - February 2005
Fifth report - May 2005
Sixth report - September 2005
Seventh report - October 2005
Eighth report - February 2006
Ninth report - March 2006
Tenth report - April 2006
Eleventh report - September 2006
Work Programme of the Irish Presidency, 2004.
Alledged Collusion in Sectarian Killings, Oct. 2006.
The Ballast Report, Statement by the Police Ombudsman into the curcumstances surrounding the death of Raymond McCord Junior and related matters, Jan. 2007.
An Irish bookshop: Read Ireland
Wesley Johnston's History of Ireland
The CAIN Project (The Northern Ireland Conflict)
The Bloody Sunday Inquiry
Independenr Monitoring Commission Sinn Féin Homepage
The Irish Times
I started reading about Ireland and about its history in order to understand just a bit of the Irish paradoxes. Although I started from the very beginning the matter was still incomprehensible. I therefore began to write down the headlines in Danish.
In 1998 when I got my own website I wondered what to put there. My family, my career or my garden could not attract much attention. But my Danish survey of the history of Ireland would be different from most other websites, so I uploaded the whole story.
I considered my web-project to be complete by then. However the beginning of 1998 was to become a turning point in the history of Ireland. The Good Friday Agreement created optimism and a new hope of lasting peace. I therefore added new chapters on the peace agreement and on the ups and downs since then. Obviously there is still a way to go before a real peace has been achieved and right now I can't see the end of my project.
A lot of people wrote to me asking for details or references. This has proved the need for a brief Danish version of the history of Ireland. In 2001 more than 50 persons on the average have been visiting my website every day.
However about 10 % of the visitors on my website are non-Scandinavians. I have added this page in order to serve these people with some information about my project and with some of the important references.
I considered reference documents and speeches most interesting in the original English language. I also have to admit that a proper translation of the documents to Danish is not that simple. On the other hand the number of visitors to the reference pages in English has been very limited. Therefore all information in English will be concentrated in this English section of my website together with selected news.
I have no intention of making an English version of the whole story. I have neither the ability nor the capacity to write in English and several excellent sites already offer that sort of information.
E-mail me your comments and questions
Ireland History in Maps
North West Ireland - Gaoth Dobhair
The Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland
BLOODY SUNDAY 26 Years On ...
BBC News Bloody Sunday Inquiry
CAIN Web Service 'Bloody Sunday', Derry 30 January 1972
Ulster Unionist Party
The Irish Republican Socialist Party
Fine Gael
Ulster Democratic Unionist Party, DUP
Fianna Fáil
The Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
Progressive Unionist Party
Ulster Nation
The Social Democratic and Labour Party
The Wild Geese (USA) Irish soldiers in exile
Visit Danish Irish Society
December 16, 2001 Top
Since my first visit to Ireland the history of Ireland was a puzzle to me. Why has this beautiful country with its charming and hospitable population become the arena of a never-ending conflict? Differences in religion, language, race or culture gave no reasonable explanation. Which coincidence has caused so much suffering in Ireland while other countries such as Denmark had nothing but trifles to quarrel about?