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by Paul-Frederik Bach
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The Irish American Information Service
News from IAIS
- extracted with the permission of IAIS

09/26/07 16:13 EST
AHERN SURVIVES NO CONFIDENCE VOTE
A motion of no confidence in Irish premier Bertie Ahern was defeated by 81 votes to 76 in the Dáil (Lower House of parliament) tonight. Fine Gael had earlier lodged the motion, claiming Mr Ahern was wrong to have accepted large sums of money in the early 1990s while minister for finance and that he had not fully co-operated with the Mahon tribunal which is investigating corruption in the Irish Body Politic. But the Taoiseach defended himself against accusations of wrongdoing by Opposition parties, insisting certain allegations against him were groundless and that he had told the truth to the tribunal. Mr Ahern read a lengthy statement into the Dáil record at the start of a debate, which began at 5pm local-time. The tribunal has been investigating four bank lodgements to AIB O'Connell Street, Dublin, totalling over IR£84,000 (US$152,000) in 1994 and 1995. All of the lodgements were preceded by foreign exchange transactions.

09/19/07 00:35 EST
NELSON REPORT FINDINGS TO BE PUBLISHED
The findings of an investigation into the RUC's handling of threats against a murdered Northern Ireland human rights lawyer are due to be published. The Police Ombudsman examined how the police dealt with threats against Rosemary Nelson before she was killed. The mother-of-three was murdered when a loyalist bomb exploded under her car as she left her home in March 1999. A public inquiry into the murder has been postponed. It is one of four into claims of British security force collusion. The 40-year-old was murdered by the loyalist splinter group, the Red Hand Defenders. The collusion allegations arose because of Mrs Nelson's role as the legal representative in a number of high profile cases, including the nationalist Garvaghy Road Residents' Coalition. Police Ombudsman Nuala O'Loan began an investigation after receiving a complaint from the Belfast-based human rights group, the Committee on the Administration of Justice, (CAJ) one year after the murder.

09/17/07 13:05 EST
IMC ISSUES 16TH REPORT
Northern Ireland's Independent Monitoring Commission has questioned whether the leaders if the paramilitary UDA (Ulster Defence Association)leaders are really committed to moving it away from violence and crime. Publishing its 16th report this afternoon, the paramilitary watchdog said there had been "amazing progress" in the past four years. However, its view on the UDA was very different. It said the organisation would soon be viewed simply as a criminal group unless it acted quickly to change. In April, the IMC found that UDA and UVF members were still involved in crime. At that stage, the IMC said it was time for the UVF leadership to show courage to point it in a new direction.

09/08/07 13:29 EST
PAISLEY STEPS DOWN AS FREE PRESBYTERIAN MODERATOR
Northern Ireland's First Minister Ian Paisley will step down as Free Presbyterian Moderator in January. It`s believed he wished to avoid a split in the church by those who disagreed with his political position. The decision came after a five hour meeting in Belfast on Friday night involving church elders and ministers. On the agenda was a presbytery commissioned-report which dealt in part with concerns over Ian Paisley's dual role as first minister and moderator. It was also expected to hold elections for moderator and other offices, but this will now happen next year. "It was agreed by an overwhelming majority of members that all presbytery offices remain as at present for the remainder of this calendar year," read a prepared statement. "In January all offices will be vacated. Dr Paisley has indicated that he will not be standing for the office of moderator of presbytery."

The meeting had earlier been picketed by protesters who are unhappy about the DUP leader's decision to share power with Sinn Fein. Mr Paisley has been elected moderator of the Free Presbyterian Church every year except one since he founded the church over half a century ago.

09/03/07 12:49 EST
McGUINNESS AND DONALDSON INVOLVED IN IRAQ TALKS
Senior Northern Ireland politicians have been attending talks in Finland in an attempt to bring to an end the sectarian violence crippling Iraq. Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness and DUP MP Jeffrey Donaldson have been involved in four days of discussions. The seminar is being attended by about 30 representatives of Iraq's warring Shia and Sunni Arab factions. They are learning how they might apply the experiences of NI and South Africa to try to end the violence. Besides Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness and the Lagan Valley MP, other local participants include the former Stormont Assembly Speaker, Lord Alderdice, and the loyalist Billy Hutchinson.

08/25/07 11:51 EST
ALLISTER PREDICTS NEW HARD-LINE UNIONIST MOVEMENT
A political movement will emerge to give voice to unionists opposed to the Democratic Unionist Party's sharing of power with Sinn Féin in Northern Ireland, a senior politician predicted today. MEP Jim Allister, who quit the DUP in March over Ian Paisley's decision to go into Government with the republican party, said there was a hunger for an alternative to the current unionist parties. Neither the DUP nor the Ulster Unionist Party - having decided to sit in government with Sinn Féin - were in a position to articulate the views of the many grassroots unionists who do not believe Sinn Féin is yet fit for power, he insisted. However Mr Allister, who retained his seat and sits in the European Parliament as an independent MEP, said he had yet to decide whether he would lead any new movement.

08/24/07 10:34 EST
STEVENS CONSULTED ON COLLUSION
The body set up to deal with the legacy of Northern Ireland's Troubles has announced the start of its engagement with the public. Co-chairs Lord Robin Eames and Denis Bradley are meeting the police Historical Enquiries Team in Armagh. Mr Bradley said they wanted everyone to share their opinions. "We have met with a number of organisations who have already carried out some very commendable work in this sensitive area," he said. The Consultative Group on the Past has already met the Stevens Inquiry Team, Healing Through Remembering and the PSNI's Public Enquiries Branch. They will also meet the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission.

08/17/07 10:57 EST
PAISLEY AND PRIMATE FIND COMMON GROUND
The head of the Catholic Church in Ireland says he enjoyed a meeting of minds with Northern Ireland First Minister Ian Paisley during last year's groundbreaking talks. Archbishop Sean Brady has told an audience in the US that the pair found common ground over poverty and the importance of the family during their Stormont summit. Last October`s Belfast conference was their first formal discussion.

08/15/07 02:01 EST
PAISLEY TO BLOCK IRISH LANGUAGE ACT
The Democratic Unionist Party is to block any bid to have an Irish Language Act passed in the Northern Ireland Assembly, according to a letter signed by party leader Ian Paisley. In the two-page letter, written to mark the first 100 days of the Stormont executive, the First Minister assures party members that the DUP will oppose any legislation that was would enshrine the rights of Irish language speakers. A language act is a key demand from Irish language advocates who say it deserves the protection granted to other minority languages across Europe. "Under DUP stewardship, unionists are now confident that the Union is secure," the North Antrim MP said. "We have transformed the political landscape despite many of our opponents saying it was impossible. Some even attempt to rubbish the significant gains we have made but we have defeated terrorist objectives and safeguarded unionist interests." He added: "The DUP will not support the creation of any such legislation. This was a proposal made by the two Governments (British and Irish at the St Andrews talks) and was never agreed to or even discussed with us. As a result of the changes we secured on the decision-making process in the Assembly, the Irish language legislation would require unionist support in the Executive."

Earlier this year, the Council of Europe called on the British government to develop a comprehensive Irish language policy, including measures to meet the increasing demand for Irish-medium education "as a matter of priority". The Strasbourg-based Committee of Ministers backed the findings of an 86-page report from a Council of Europe watchdog monitoring the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages, which came into force in the UK in July 2001. The Charter commits the British government to safeguard and promote Welsh, Scottish Gaelic, Irish, Scots, Ulster-Scots, Cornish and Manx Gaelic.

08/12/07 11:36 EST
REPUBLICANS MARCH FOR TRUTH ABOUT STATE COLLUSION
Republicans took to the streets of Belfast today demanding full disclosure of the British state role in murders and collusion with loyalist paramilitaries during the Troubles. Thousands of supporters responded to Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams` call to march in a bid to force Britain to acknowledge its involvement in collusion. He told demonstrators gathered outside City Hall that the black ribbon symbol of the March for Truth Rally was being worn in an act of solidarity with all victims, their families and campaign groups. The West Belfast MP declared: "It also sends a clear message to the British state that we are determined to pursue the truth. We are determined to campaign even though it may take a long time, until the British state acknowledges its administrative and institutional use of state violence and collusion."

08/11/07 11:09 EST
APPRENTICE BOYS' MARCH PASSES PEACEFULLY
Thousands of loyalist Apprentice Boys have taken part in their annual parade in Derry today. Prior to the lunch-time march, local Apprentice Boys marched around the city walls before laying wreaths for war victims at the Diamond. A religious service at St Columb's Church of Ireland Cathedral followed. In the main march, about 15,000 Apprentice Boys and spectators accompanied by 120 bands marched through the city center. There were no incidents during the march, which took several hours to pass.

08/10/07 09:51 EST
LOYALIST FUNDING TO STOP SAYS RITCHIE
British Government funding of a loyalist initiative is to stop in 60 days unless the loyalist paramilitary UDA starts to decommission arms. Northern Ireland Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie was referring to money aimed at helping to move the paramilitary organisation away from violence. She announced today that she would not keep supporting the project without clear evidence of decommissioning and reduced criminality. Recent violence in Carrickfergus and Bangor has been linked to the UDA.

08/02/07 14:32 EST
MAJOR NORTH-SOUTH MOTORWAY OPENED
A new GBP£86 million (USD$174 million) road link between Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic will provide a major economic boost to the border region, it was claimed today. Irish Foreign Minister Dermot Ahern, who opened the new nine-mile dual carriageway between Newry and Dundalk alongside Stormont Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness and Stormont Regional Development Minister Conor Murphy, welcomed the joint project. "Economically we were halfway between Belfast and Dublin all our lives," Mr Ahern said at the opening ceremony in his Louth constituency. "It used to work against us. Now I think it will work in our favor. When you see the infrastructure that we have here, hopefully it will be replicated right across the border."

07/30/07 00:30 EST
OPERATION BANNER ENDS AFTER 38 YEARS
The British Army's 'emergency' operation in Northern Ireland comes to an end at midnight tonight after 38 years. Operation Banner is the British Army's longest continuous campaign in its history with more than 300,000 personnel serving and 763 directly killed by paramilitaries. The British Army was officially responsible for the deaths of 296 people during the troubles. However, evidence continues to mount that elements within the British Army directed and colluded with loyalist terrorists in many of the more than 1000 murders they carried out during the Troubles. The British Army also was responsible for arming loyalist paramilitaries. British Army agent Brian Nelson, who also served as Director of Intelligence for the UDA, imported a weapons shipment for the UDA from South Africa in January 1988 and included 200 AK47 rifles; 90 Browning pistols; around 500 fragmentation grenades; 30,000 rounds of ammunition and a dozen RPG7 rocket launchers. Many of these weapons were used in the murders of innocent nationalists in the following decade, including the murder of human rights attorney Pat Finucane. A garrison of 5,000 troops will remain but security will be entirely the responsibility of the police.

07/19/07 23:14 EST
WATCHDOG TO INVESTIGATE CONTROVERSIAL KILLINGS
The Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman (watchdog) is to investigate one of the most controversial shoot-to-kill allegations against British security forces there, it was reported this morning. Nuala O'Loan has been asked by the British government to re-open files on the 1982 killing of three unarmed IRA men by Royal Ulster Constabulary officers after a chase through a check point in County Armagh. Gervaise McKerr was killed alongside Sean Burns and Eugene Toman following the pursuit near Lurgan. Their car was riddled with bullets and the case has been subject to the highest courts in the UK and Europe. "The Government has asked us to look at McKerr. But it's quite complex whether we have the legal power to investigate or not," Mrs O'Loan told the Manchester Guardian newspaper. The British government has always denied that the security forces had a shoot-to-kill policy but the families have campaigned for a re-examination.

07/17/07 10:31 EST
NORTH-SOUTH MEETING IN ARMAGH A SUCCESS
The Northern Ireland First Minister Ian Paisley has said the 'ice age' between north-south relations is over. He was speaking after his first meeting of the North-South Ministerial Council in Armagh. Northern Ireland has turned its back on violence, and its politicians must now build a stable and strong future, he said. The Democratic Unionist Party leader said people on both sides of the Border never wanted to return to the days of conflict and tragedy. Dr Paisley added: "I think we have turned the corner. It is up to us to see that now we build something that will be stable and strong. It is a tall order." He said the task rested on the shoulders of the politicians and they were not shunning it. The DUP boycotted north-south meetings during the first attempts at devolution, but its ministers entered into today's first session in five years.

07/16/07 11:39 EST
PREMIERS MEET IN BELFAST PRIOR TO NORTH-SOUTH SUMMIT
Irish premier Bertie Ahern has met for talks with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown in Belfast today before they attend the first British-Irish Council (Bic) meeting to be held at Stormont. Speaking as leaders gathered for the meeting in Stormont, Mr Ahern said Ireland needs to work with the rest of Europe to combat terrorism. Political leaders from across the British Isles are meeting at the British-Irish Council (Bic) to discuss a range of topics, including greater co-operation in the fight against organised crime. Roads and economic development were also on the agenda. It is the first Bic meeting to be held at Stormont, hosted by Northern Ireland First Minister the Rev Ian Paisley and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness.

07/12/07 09:15 EST
JULY 12TH DEMONSTRATIONS PEACEFUL SO FAR
Tens of thousands of Orangemen and women are taking part in marches today celebrating the victory of Protestant King William's forces over those of King James at the battle of the Boyne in 1690. An estimated 400,000 people are expected to attend the various marches and events across the North. Last night, bonfires were lit in loyalist areas as a traditional prelude to the annual July 12 Orange marches. Hundreds of fires, large and small, lit up the night sky as crowds gathered ahead of parades by tens of thousands of members of the Orange Order this morning. A key "feeder" parade passed peacefully through republican Ardoyne in north Belfast this morning on its way to the main demonstration. Republican residents held a small demonstration as they passed. The marching season so far this year has been the most peaceful in decades, but Sinn Fein claimed loyalist paramilitaries had heightened tensions and threatened the father of a Co Derry Catholic after he removed his son`s name from the top of a bonfire in Coleraine.

07/08/07 12:38 EST
DRUMCREE MARCH ENDS PEACEFULLY
Today's controversial Drumcree Orange Order march in Co Armagh has ended peacefully despite members being barred from the most contentious part of the route. The protest at the Portadown March, once the most violent in recent years, was low key. The head of the local Loyal Order district said they had offered to meet face to face with nationalist Garvaghy Road residents, whose opposition has prompted the banning of demonstrators from the area since 1998. This is the fourth year without violence. Portadown District Master Darryl Hewitt said: "We are committed to face to face talks under an independent chairman, with no preconditions. All options are open. (The Parade's commission) sat on their hands for nine months until we went public with our offer of talks a few weeks ago."

07/06/07 13:30 EST
DUP RULES OUT POLICING DEVOLUTION BY NEXT MAY
The Democratic Unionist Party has ruled out devolution of policing and justice to the Northern Ireland Assembly by next May. Senior party member Nigel Dodds claimed there needed to be confidence among unionists that the structures of the IRA had been dismantled. Britain's Northern Ireland Secretary Shaun Woodward has placed work towards the deadline at the top of his priorities after the date was was highlighted in the St Andrews Agreement paving the way to power-sharing. Sinn Féin have pressed for quick action and believe no hurdles remain.

07/06/07 10:40 EST
BRITISH ARMY DOCUMENT SAYS IRA UNDEFEATED
An internal British army document examining 37 years of deployment in Northern Ireland contains the claim by one expert that it failed to defeat the IRA. The admission is contained in a discussion document released by the Ministry of Defense after a request under the Freedom of Information Act. The 100 page document analyzes in detail the British army's role over 37 years. It focuses on specific operations and gives an overview of its performance. The six-month study, covering the period 1968-2005, was prepared under the direction of the then chief of general staff, General Sir Mike Jackson. The document, obtained by the Pat Finucane Centre, points to a number of mistakes, including internment and highlights what lessons have been learned. It describes the IRA as "a professional, dedicated, highly skilled and resilient force", while loyalist paramilitaries and other republican groups are described as "little more than a collection of gangsters".
(Document available at Ministry of Defence)

07/05/07 12:00 EST
ORDE WARNING OVER TROUBLES PROBE
Inquiries into Northern Ireland's troubled past are posing a major threat to the police force's current crime-fighting capabilities, the chief constable claimed today. Sir Hugh Orde revealed more than £14 million (USD$28.01 million) of his budget this year will be spent on meeting the demands of fresh probes into controversial murders and unsolved killings spanning more than three decades. He has 288 staff searching for files, records and involved in all other work emerging from a raft of tribunals and investigations set up in a bid to reach closure. But Sir Hugh told a meeting of his Policing Board in Belfast: "This is one of the biggest threats to delivering our commitment to current policing, how we deal with the past."

07/03/07 17:36 EST
PAISLEY AND ADAMS MEET FOR TALKS IN BELFAST
Northern Ireland First Minister Ian Paisley and Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams held talks in Belfast today. The two men led party delegations for what was billed as the start of a series of meetings. When the two men first sat down together shortly before the restoration of devolution in May it made worldwide headlines. Things have moved on so far and so fast that this meeting took place without any advance notice and merited just a two-sentence comment by Mr Adams and another two from a DUP spokesman. Mr Adams said the initial discussion was what he hoped would become "a series of meetings between the DUP and ourselves as the political institutions bed down and develop further".

06/28/07 14:23 EST
IRISH GOV.T DISAPPOINTED AT SENATE VOTE
Irish Foreign Affairs Minister Dermot Ahern has expressed his disappointment at the US Senate vote on immigration reform in the US. In a major setback for President Bush, the Senate refused today to advance legislation that would have brought lawful status for many of the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants, including tens of thousands of Irish people. The bill's supporters fell 14 votes short of the 60 needed to limit debate and clear the way for final passage of the legislation, which critics attacked as offering amnesty to illegal immigrants. The vote was 46 to 53 in favor of limiting the debate. In a statement released this evening, Mr Ahern said: "This set-back will not diminish our determination to secure the fair deal for the Undocumented Irish and their families."

06/28/07 02:02 EST
WOODWARD REPLACES HAIN AS NORTHERN IRELAND SECRETARY
Shaun Woodward has been named as the new Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. The former Conservative previously worked in the Northern Ireland Office as a security minister and will be seen as a safe pair of hands by new British Prime Minister Gordon Brown. Woodward`s appointment comes on a day of huge change at British Cabinet level with nearly all of the 23 positions going to new people. Woodward replaces Peter Hain as the Cabinet member responsible for Northern Ireland. Hain is moving to take over the Work and Pensions brief, however, he is keeping his role as Secretary of State for Wales. Peter Hain had hoped to win the election as Deputy Prime Minister, but he lost out in the six way contest to Harriet Harman.

ARCHIVE

Read the full stories at The Irish American Information Service

9 Aug 2007
POLL SHOWS SUPPORT FOR PAISLEY-McGUINNESS LEADERSHIP
A new survey released today showed that almost half of DUP supporters believe Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness is doing a good job in his position as deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland. The Democratic Unionist Party faithful`s vote of confidence in the Derry City parliamentarian was matched by republican praise for Mr Paisley`s performance at the head of the North`s power-sharing administration.

The survey found Mr McGuinness achieving a 48% approval rating from DUP voters for his work as Deputy First Minister at Stormont. But Mr Paisley scored even higher among those on the other side of the political divide. A total of 54% of Sinn Fein supporters declared the DUP leader has done a good job since being installed as Northern Ireland First Minister.

The findings of the Ipsos MORI poll further cement the success of the coalition Executive formed in the north in May. Even then many questioned how Sinn Fein and the Democratic Unionists could make such an unlikely partnership government work. The survey also showed Mr McGuinness has slightly more backing from among his own supporters (69%) than the 63% of DUP voters endorsing Mr Paisley`s performance.

Generally, two thirds (67%) of those questioned across Northern Ireland last month believed the former political foes were working well together so far. That`s nearly three times as many as the 24% who predicted the pair could make a success of sharing power in a similar poll carried out late last year. Even when split by religion the DUP and Sinn Fein chiefs get healthy ratings from the other side.

A total of 54% of Protestants felt Mr Paisley has done well so far, just above the 50% of Catholics offering praise. While 55% of Catholics said Mr McGuinness had performed well, 44% of Protestants said he was doing a good job. Well over half (60%) of Protestants believed the DUP was right to go into government with Sinn Fein, compared to 76% of Catholics. But the DUP has still to manage a sizeable element of nay-sayers harboring reservations about the move. Although 58% of the party`s supporters were in favor, another 27% said it should not have happened. So-called don`t knows made up the rest. By contrast, 80% of Sinn Fein voters endorsed the power-sharing decision.


8 May 2007
Northern Ireland Executive
Ian Paisley
First
Minister
DUP
Martin McGuinness
Deputy
First Minister
Sinn Féin
Nigel Dodds
Enterprise, Trade
and Investment
DUP
Peter Robinson
Finance &
Personnel
DUP
Reg Empey
Employment
& Learning
UUP
Michael McGimpsey
Health, Social
Services &
Public Safety
UUP
Conor Murphy
Regional
Development
Sinn Féin
Caitríona Ruane
Education
Sinn Féin
Arlene Foster
Environment
DUP
Edwin Poots
Culture, Arts
& Leisure
DUP
Michelle Gildernew
Agriculture
Sinn Féin
Margaret Ritchie
Social
Development
SDLP

26 March 2007
Paisley and Adams statements

Ian Paisley:
"After a long and difficult time in the province, I believe that enormous opportunities lie ahead for Northern Ireland. Devolution has never been an end in itself but is about making a positive difference to people`s lives. I want to make it clear that I am committed to delivering not only for those who voted for the DUP but for all the people of Northern Ireland. We must not allow our justified loathing of the horrors and tragedies of the past to become a barrier to creating a better and more stable future. In looking to that future, we must never forget those who have suffered during the dark period from which we are, please God, emerging. We owe it to them to craft and build the best future possible and ensure there is genuine support for those who are still suffering."

Gerry Adams
"We have all come a very long way in the process of peace making and national reconciliation. We are very conscious of the many people who have suffered. We owe it to them to build the best future possible. It is a time for generosity, a time to be mindful of the common good and of the future of all our people. I am pleased to say that collectively we have created the potential to build a new, harmonious and equitable relationship between nationalists and republicans and unionists, as well as the rest of the people of the island of Ireland.

Full text of both statements


9 March 2007
Results of NI Elections
Party % +/- Seats +/- Party % +/- Seats +/-
DUP 30,1 +4,4 36 +6 UKUP 1,5 +0,7 0 -1
SF 26,2 +2,6 28 +4 Con 0,5 +0,3 0 0
UUP 14,9 -7,7 18 -9 SEA 0,3 0,0 0 0
SDLP 15,2 -1,8 16 -2 UKIP 0,2 +0,2 0
AP 5,2 +1,6 7 +1 PBP 0,1 +0,1 0
GP 1,7 +1,4 1 +1 OTH 3,2 +0,4 1 0
PUP 0,6 -0,6 1 0

22 Jan 2007
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
References in English  

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

Two versions of Irish history

Abortion Referendum March 7, 2002

IRA Statement on Decommissioning April 8, 2002

IAIS Election Analysis 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
Twelfth report - October 2006
Thirteenth report - January 2007
Fourteenth report - March 2007
Fifteenth report - April 2007
Sixteenth report - September 2007

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

Danish Irish Society

Wesley Johnston's History of Ireland
Ireland History in Maps
North West Ireland - Gaoth Dobhair

The CAIN Project (The Northern Ireland Conflict)
The Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland

The Bloody Sunday Inquiry
BLOODY SUNDAY 26 Years On ...
BBC News Bloody Sunday Inquiry
CAIN Web Service 'Bloody Sunday', Derry 30 January 1972

Independenr Monitoring Commission

Sinn Féin Homepage
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 Irish Times
The Wild Geese (USA) Irish soldiers in exile



December 16, 2001  Top

About my homepage

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?

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.


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Opdateret d. 1.1.2009

© Paul-Frederik Bach