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December 01, 2005

Blair Accused of Breach of Faith

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News about Ireland & the Irish

BB 12/01/05 Blair Accused Of 'Breach Of Faith'
SF 12/01/05 British Challenged On OTR Legislation
SD 12/01/05 Proof SF Signed Up To Killers Being Exempted
SD 12/01/05 12 Things About The NIreland (Offences) Bill…
IO 12/01/05 SF Press For 'Historic' Meeting With Paisley
IO 12/01/05 Irish Expect Plan To Restore Power-Sharing – SF
IO 12/01/05 SDLP On The Attack Over Parades Commission
SF 12/01/05 SF Question SDLP Role In Parades Commission
BT 12/01/05 Orange Leader May Walk Drumcree
BB 12/01/05 Arrest Warrant For Workers Party Leader
BB 12/01/05 Residents In Fear Of 'Giant Rats'
IO 12/01/05 Park To Be Named After Mo Mowlam
IO 12/01/05 Ex Nun's Rape Convict Miscarriage Of Justice
EJ 12/01/05 Transforming Unionism: Trimble & 2005 Election
AN 12/01/05 Judge John P. Dunne Honored As Man Of The Year
IT 12/02/05 €4m Grant To Wipe Out Abbey's Debts

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http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/4490444.stm

PM Accused Of 'Breach Of Faith'

Granting amnesties to British soldiers and security agents
will cause deep hurt to victims of their alleged crimes,
Sinn Fein has said.

Gerry Adams was speaking after meeting Irish PM Bertie
Ahern in Dublin.

He said including security personnel in legislation
intended to allow paramilitary fugitives to return to NI
was a breach of faith by PM Tony Blair.

The NI (Offences) Bill passed through its second stage in
the House of Commons last month.

Mr Ahern has already said he had no advance knowledge that
British soldiers would be included under its terms.

However, Mr Adams said the Irish government should tell the
British government to exclude them from the terms of the
legislation.

"It is in breach of the Joint Communique issued after
Weston Park," he said.

"If this isn't resolved, it will cause even greater hurt to
those people who have been bereaved or injured as a result
of actions here by the British in Dublin city, or Monaghan,
or in my own constituency, or any part of the six
counties."

Mr Adams also called on both governments to come up with a
plan to restore Northern Ireland power-sharing institutions
in early 2006.

"The main focus of our meeting was to see those
institutions put back in place," he said.

"We want to be there with the other parties working through
our mandate and being accountable and answerable to the
populace for doing that."

Sinn Fein MP Martin McGuiness and assembly member Caitriona
Ruane were among the delegation to meet Mr Ahern in Dublin.

Story from BBC NEWS:
Published: 2005/12/01 20:48:07 GMT
© BBC MMV

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http://www.sinnfein.ie/news/detail/12210

British Government Challenged On OTR Legislation

Published: 1 December, 2005

Sinn Féin MP for Newry Armagh Conor Murphy today accused
the SDLP of knowingly telling lies over the issue of OTRs.
Mr Murphy's remarks come after Alex Attwood published his
analysis of the legislation.

Mr Murphy said:

" Since the publication by the British government of their
legislation on the issue of OTRs the SDLP have consistently
claimed that this legislation is the result of collusion
between Sinn Féin and the British government in order to
achieve an amnesty for those members of British State
forces involved in the murder of citizens.

" This is an absolute lie and the SDLP know this. The issue
of OTRs was raised by Sinn Féin and negotiated at Weston
Park in 2001, a process involving the SDLP. There are no
British OTRs. The issue of British State violence and those
involved in it had no part of these discussions. The
British government have unilaterally taken a decision to
attach the provisions for Crown forces onto this Bill, a
fact acknowledged by all parties including the two
governments. We are absolutely opposed to this approach.

" The British government should have legislated for the
agreement reached at Weston Park, an agreement which
covered the small number of republicans displaced as a
result of the political conflict. Sinn Féin is therefore
opposed to the legislation in its current form. The British
government should withdraw the offending clause. That is
what Sinn Féin is seeking to achieve." ENDS

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http://www.sdlp.ie/prattwoodexposeproof.shtm

Final Proof That Sinn Fein Signed Up To State Killers Being Exempted

The SDLP has uncovered final proof that Sinn Fein accepted
state killers getting away with it - and has accused the
British Government of blatant double standards on loyalism.

Speaking at the launch of an SDLP briefing document "12
things they don't want you to know about the NI Offences
Bill", the SDLP's Alex Attwood stated:

"Martin McGuinness and Gerry Adams have both said publicly
that "Sinn Féin did not … accept that members of the
British state forces should be part of this process."

"They did accept it - and we have final proof. We have gone
back to the Sinn Fein/British Government side deal of April
2003. It states that "a qualifying offence would be any
scheduled offence … committed before 10 April 1998."

"Scheduled offences are offences like murder, bomb making,
possession of weapons and are always tried in Diplock
Courts.

"State killings in Northern Ireland are scheduled offences.
That's why people like Guardsmen Fisher and Wright and Lee
Clegg were tried in Diplock Courts.

"So when Sinn Fein signed up to anybody who committed any
scheduled offence before 1998 being able to skip jail, they
accepted state killers getting away with it - now and in
the future. They accepted this in black and white in the
Hillsborough side deal."

Turning to other defects in the proposals, Mr Attwood
stated:

"The IRA had to decommission and commit to end all activity
before the Government would even introduce this
legislation.

"But loyalists will be able to benefit even if they do not
decommission a single bullet. Even if they do not end their
drug dealing, intimidation, "punishment" shootings and
crime. If this legislation is passed, the UDA will be able
to benefit right away.


"For thirty years the British Government has failed to take
loyalist violence seriously - even though loyalists have
been responsible for over 800 murders - most of them
sectarian. So the blatant double standard applied to
loyalist violence, while appalling, is not new.

"What is new is that Sinn Fein is complicit in this too.
Their side deal only required loyalist organisations to
have a ceasefire. Even though the IRA had to decommission,
Sinn Fein did not insist that loyalists should have to do
likewise - or commit to end their crime."

"The British Government has said that it does not like this
legislation - but has to introduce it to honour the deal
done with Sinn Fein. The way out of this mess is simple.
Sinn Fein should call on Tony Blair to withdraw this
legislation. Let's go back to the drawing board and devise
a proper process that deals with OTRs proportionately while
getting truth and justice for victims."
----

NOTES TO EDITORS

Paragraph 4 of the British Government/Sinn Fein side deal
states that:

"Legislation would set out who and what offences qualified
for the scheme. A qualifying offence would be any scheduled
or equivalent offence committed before 10 April 1998. It
would include offences committed by, or in the course of,
escaping, or committed as part of an incident involving a
scheduled offence. A qualifying person would be someone:

• who was not a supporter of a specified organisation;

• who was not currently involved in acts of terrorism; and

• who had not been convicted of a serious offence committed
after 10 April 1998 for which he had received a sentence of
five years or more.

State killings are scheduled offences. Therefore Sinn Fein
signed up to this. Nowhere in the deal is it mentioned that
state killers are not covered.

The only condition required for organisations to benefit is
that they are not specified (ie. the Secretary of State
recognises their ceasefires). The Secretary of State
recognises the UDA ceasefire.

There is no condition requiring decommissioning or an end
to all activity by loyalists in paragraph 4 or anywhere
else.

ENDS
01/12/05

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http://www.sdlp.ie/documents/SDLP_OTR_30nov05.doc

12 Things They Don't Want You To Know About The Northern
Ireland (Offences) Bill…

And One Thing That Needs To Be Done About It

Introduction

The Northern Ireland (Offences) Bill was introduced on 9
November 2005.

Since then there has been a heated debate on what this Bill
does. Everybody agrees that under this Bill, on the runs
will be able to apply to a "certification commissioner" to
confirm that they are eligible under the legislation. Once
they have an eligibility certificate, they really have a
skip jail card. While they can be prosecuted by a special
prosecutor and while they can be tried before a Special
Tribunal, once they have the skip jail card they don't have
to spend a day in court – never mind prison.

But there are vital things that are not being explained
about this legislation. Things that people are
deliberately not making clear.

In this document, we highlight these 12 things that they
don't want you to know, including the final proof that Sinn
Fein signed up to state killers being protected.

1. This Bill is not required by the Good Friday Agreement

Peter Hain, when pressed, admitted this in the House of
Commons:"The right hon. Gentleman is correct to the extent
that the Bill did not flow from the Belfast agreement—the
Good Friday agreement."

The Agreement provided that prisoners convicted of
scheduled offences would be released after a maximum of two
years. But this Bill provides that they will not even
have to spend a day in court, never mind prison.

This Bill arose from a side deal done by Sinn Fein with the
British Government during the Hillsborough negotiations of
March 2003. This built on an earlier and much more
limited side deal done at Weston Park in 2001.

2. SF and the British Government negotiated the side deal
that led to this Bill

The British Government and Sinn Fein both say that this
Bill was discussed with the parties. "This has been part
of the discussions we have had with parties in Northern
Ireland going back several years" – Tony Blair.

In fact, the SDLP was not made privy to the papers at
Hillsborough or at Weston Park. But we suspected enough to
warn against them at both sets of negotiations.

And each time when the side deals were published, we made
public that they were outside the Good Friday Agreement.
We have also made our own positive proposals for truth and
justice.

3. This Bill applies to anybody charged with any one of
the 2,100 killings of the Troubles.

Tony Blair said that the Bill dealt with "an anomaly we had
to resolve in respect of those people who had not been
convicted but had been sought pre-1998."

Sinn Fein's Conor Murphy said likewise after the Bill was
published. He claimed that it "should resolve the cases of
a very small number of people who wish to return home."

Untrue. And they both know it.

This Bill applies to anybody who could at any time be
charged with any one of the 2,100 unsolved killings of the
Troubles – as well as anyone charged with any other crime
in connection with the Troubles. Under laws implementing
the Good Friday Agreement these people faced a maximum of
two years in jail. Now they won't have to spend a single
day in court.

4. This legislation allows loyalists away with past
murders even while they hold onto their guns, deal drugs,
carrying out "punishment" beatings and intimidate. Sinn
Fein signed up to this.

The British Government refused to introduce this
legislation until the IRA decommissioned and committed to
end all activity.

But loyalist killers will benefit from this Bill without
having to:

:: decommission a single bullet or
:: end their drug dealing, crime and intimidation.

Loyalist paramilitary organisations will benefit so long as
they are not specified by the Secretary of State – that is
to say so long as he finds that they have maintained their
ceasefire.

The Secretary of State confirmed this to Mark Durkan in the
House of Commons:

Mark Durkan: "The Bill will benefit not only the IRA but
the loyalist paramilitaries, who have made no moves on
decommissioning whatever, so where is the logic there? …"

Peter Hain: "I agree with the hon. Gentleman's point about
loyalist paramilitaries. Whether they are on the run or
uncovered by the historic investigations, they will of
course find themselves the target of this legislation."

For example, the Secretary of State has not specified the
UDA. So its members should be able to skip even a day in
jail for the hundreds of murders they carried out before
the Agreement. Yet the latest IMC report found that the
UDA:

:: is involved in drug dealing and "punishment"
shootings,
:: has planned and supported sectarian attacks on
Catholic homes and
:: is still recruiting.

Also, the Secretary of State did not specify the UVF this
Summer even though it admitted four murders and threatened
more. It was only when the UVF fired 115 shots at the
police that he specified them. So loyalists will believe
that they can carry out murders while getting a skip jail
card under this Bill.

For thirty years the British Government has failed to take
loyalist violence seriously – even though loyalists have
been responsible for over 800 murders – most of them
sectarian. So the blatant double standard applied to
loyalist violence, while appalling, is not new.

What is new is that Sinn Fein is complicit in this.
Because, like in the Bill, the only requirement for a
paramilitary organisation to get a skip jail card under the
SF/British Government side deal is that it is not
specified.

5. People who have dealt drugs and robbed banks can get a
skip jail card under this Bill

This Bill covers any pre-Agreement offence "in connection
with terrorism and the affairs of Northern Ireland (whether
committed for a terrorist purpose or not)."

So, a person who is charged with doing any of the following
to raise money for a terrorist organisation will be able to
get a skip jail card:

:: drug dealing;
:: racketeering;
:: bank robbing; and
:: counterfeiting

since it will be in connection with terrorism and the Bill
does not require a terrorist purpose. Likewise,
"punishment" beatings will be included. Even when they end
in murder – like the UVF murder of Reverend David
Templeton.

The Secretary of State may deny this. But it will be for
the courts to say what this law means, not him.

And it's not just the SDLP warning about this – independent
NGO British Irish Rights Watch has too:

"This Bill, if enacted, will allow anyone who committed a
crime prior to 10th April to claim that his or her motive
was terrorist and to get out of jail free."

6. The IRA will get its members outside the jurisdiction
back, but people who have been expelled by the IRA will not
be able to return

So long as the Secretary of State finds that an
organisation has kept its ceasefire, it will be able to
benefit.

However, the International Monitoring Commission in its
latest report of 19 October 2005 concluded: "We have no
evidence at this stage that PIRA is generally allowing
those that it has exiled to return to Northern Ireland
safely."

So the IRA are able to get their own people home. But they
are not allowing the people that they have exiled home.

7. Most appallingly, this Bill will give state killers a
skip jail card

State agents – paid by the public – are to be let away with
murdering the public. The state has:

:: killed over 300 in Northern Ireland and done much to
stymie both truth and justice for its victims.
:: colluded with loyalist paramilitaries in committing
murders. One of its agents was even the UDA Director of
Intelligence, who selected people for murder. It appears
from the Stakeknife affair to have been complicit in
provisional murders also – another thing they don't want
you to know.

8. Sinn Fein accepted not only that loyalists get skip
jail cards, but also state killers. We can prove this.

In return for the greater advantage of getting their on the
runs back with no questions asked, Sinn Fein sold out the
victims of collusion that they claimed to fight for. They
let state killers and loyalists totally off the hook –
without even securing truth.

Just look at Sinn Fein's record:

:: The British Government confirmed to us that they had
discussions on their plans with Sinn Fein over Summer.
:: On 9 November, the day after the Secretary of State
announced publicly that the on the run legislation would
apply to state killers, Conor Murphy flew over to
Westminster to welcome it and brief on it and issued a
supportive press release.
:: On 10 November Martin McGuinness was interviewed on
Hearts and Minds. He

- called our objections about state killers "naïve".

- said that he did "not envisage that any people who
were involved in the murders of nationalists ... is ever
going to be brought before a court in this day and age."
(Compare that to what he now says: "we support the families
of victims in their pursuit of justice and truth.")

- admitted that state killers would be able to get the
benefit of the legislation but said that the people who
would "gain most advantage from this are those nationalists
and republicans who are on the run for over 30 years."

Not once did he say that the legislation should not apply
to state killers. The full transcript of his comments is
annexed.

:: It was two whole weeks after the legislation was
published before Gerry Adams said that he was opposed to
state killers being included.

There is final proof – the side deal done by the British
Government with Sinn Fein. It states that "a qualifying
offence would be any scheduled offence … committed before
10 April 1998." This side deal is annexed.

Scheduled offences are offences like murder, bomb making,
possession of weapons and so on. Once an offence is
scheduled, it is tried in a Diplock Court.

State killings in Northern Ireland are scheduled offences.
The killers of Peter McBride were convicted of scheduled
offences. So were other soldiers convicted of murder
during the Troubles – like Lee Clegg. And they were tried
in Diplock Courts.

Sinn Fein, in their side deal, signed up to state killers
getting away with it. So Martin McGuinness and Gerry Adams
are just not telling the truth when they now say:

"Sinn Féin did not support, propose, discuss, or accept
that members of the British state forces should be part of
this process."

They accepted it in the Hillsborough side deal.

9. Killers will benefit from secrecy – and victims will
have no voice

The Secretary of State has sweeping powers to cover up the
truth:

:: He can prevent information about an applicant for a
certificate - or skip jail card - being made public;
:: He can prevent information about the reasons why a
skip jail card is given or withheld from being made public;
:: He can withhold from the certification commissioner
– who decides whether or not to issue skip jail cards –
information on national security grounds;

:: The Special Tribunal will also be able to allow
spooks to give evidence from behind screens – and not have
their identities disclosed. Of course, if spooks are
themselves accused, they won't have to turn up in court at
all.

Meanwhile victims will have no voice – adding to the
unfairness:

:: They were not consulted about these proposals.
:: Victims do not have to be notified until a decision
is taken on whether to issue a skip jail card. They have
no power to lodge objections.
:: There is no provision for victims to be represented
at trials.

10. Prosecutions under this Bill will be hampered –
benefiting killers.

A person who satisfies the basic conditions of the
legislation can be tried before a special tribunal at which
he can plead guilty or innocent.

However, the prosecution will be hampered in putting its
case since the accused cannot be arrested, detained, have
samples taken or be searched once he has a certificate – or
skip jail card. Nor can any premises, whether or not his,
be searched in connection with the offence. Nor can any
power to obtain information be exercised in relation to
him.

11. This Bill robs the public and victims of their best
chance to get truth

This Bill does not just deny families justice, it robs them
– and the public - of truth. Because there is no time
limit in this legislation, the killers of 2,100 have no
incentive to come forward and tell the truth.

They can sit back and wait to see if the police ever come
to charge them – secure in the knowledge that if they do,
they need not worry - they can apply under this legislation
to avoid jail at any time.

An opportunity to at least provide for truth for victims –
and the public - is therefore lost.

12. Victims can be imprisoned for failing to turn up in
court, but killers cannot be

The accused cannot be compelled to turn up at the trial.
Perpetrators will therefore be spared the discomfort of
having to look their victims in the eye. This will help
protect the colluders of the British Army's Force Research
Unit, as well as members of all paramilitary organisations.

By contrast, the victim, if a witness, may be compelled to
appear in the court in a process to which he or she may
fundamentally object. If the victim fails to do so, he or
she may be imprisoned for contempt of court.

WHAT MUST BE DONE

The British Government has made clear that it has little
appetite for this legislation. Gerry Adams, two weeks
after the legislation was published, claimed that he was
opposed to protection for state killers. If that is so,
then there is a simple thing that he must do: Call on Tony
Blair to withdraw this legislation now and go back to the
drawing board.

That means engaging constructively and openly with victims,
parties and the public on proposals for truth and justice
and how to resolve the issue of On the Runs in a
proportionate manner. An important part of this process
would involve establishing the Victims' Forum referred to
in the Joint Declaration so that victims themselves would
have a say on any truth process.

Meanwhile, the SDLP will table amendments to limit the
damage of this Bill. We will work for justice and, where
justice has been forfeited, we will work for truth and
respect for victims.

ANNEX 1
PROPOSALS
IN RELATION TO ON THE RUNS (OTRs)
APRIL 2003
PROPOSALS IN RELATION TO ON THE RUNS (OTRs)

1. Within a context of acts of completion, the British
Government would bring before Parliament the legislation
necessary to resolve outstanding cases on a basis involving
due judicial process, and showing sensitivity to the
position of victims. The Irish Government would address
similar cases in its jurisdiction. A related issue would
be the complete ending of exiling and allowing those exiled
to return.

2. This paper outlines the proposals for the British
legislation.

3. There would be two elements to the process - a body to
establish eligibility for the scheme and a special judicial
tribunal to hear cases.

4. Legislation would set out who and what offences
qualified for the scheme. A qualifying offence would be any
scheduled or equivalent offence committed before 10 April
1998. It would include offences committed by, or in the
course of, escaping, or committed as part of an incident
involving a scheduled offence. A qualifying person would be
someone:

• who was not a supporter of a specified organisation;
• who was not currently involved in acts of terrorism; and
• who had not been convicted of a serious offence committed
after 10 April 1998 for which he had received a sentence of
five years or more.

5. An individual who believed that he was covered by the
terms of the legislation would apply in writing to an
Eligibility Body. The applicant or his representative would
be asked to confirm that he was not a supporter of a
specified organisation. The Eligibility Body would ask the
Secretary of State for information, including details of
any charges brought in relation to offences allegedly
committed after 10 April 1998, and any information on
whether the applicant is a supporter of a specified
organisation or is involved in terrorism. The information
from the applicant and the Secretary of State would be
considered and a determination reached as to the
eligibility of the individual against the criteria set out
above.

6. The applicant or the Secretary of State would be
entitled to challenge the determination. Where the material
on which a challenge was based was of a sensitive nature,
procedures would be put in place to ensure that it was
safeguarded.

7. Once someone had been declared eligible, he or she would
be free to return to Northern Ireland without risk of
arrest for questioning or charge in relation to a
qualifying offence.

8. Once a certificate had been granted, the matter would be
passed to a Special Judicial Tribunal, with the powers of a
criminal court, consisting of a senior judge (but no jury).
The relevant prosecuting authorities would be able to bring
charges before the Special Judicial Tribunal against any
person whom the Eligibility Commission had declared
eligible. The applicant would not be required to be present
at the trial. He would be able to plead not guilty and, if
he wished, instruct a defence to be mounted.

The Special Judicial Tribunal would not have the power to
remand in custody.

9. In the event of conviction, the Special Judicial
Tribunal would pass sentence, but the person convicted
would immediately qualify for the early release scheme. The
Eligibility Body would exercise the relevant powers of the
Sentence Review Commission under the Northern Ireland
(Sentences) Act 1998. There would be two significant
changes to the Act:

• the existing two year minimum period in custody would be
reduced to zero;
• the requirement that, to qualify, the sentence needed to
be of at least five years would be removed.

10. On receiving a determinate sentence the individual
would be immediately released on licence. The licence could
be revoked and the sentence passed by the Special Judicial
Tribunal effected. This would happen if:

• the cease-fire of the organisation of which the
individual was a supporter broke down, and it therefore
became a specified organisation; or
• the individual became a supporter of a specified
organisation; or
• the individual became involved in terrorism; or
• the individual committed a serious crime for which he
received a sentence of 5 or more years.

In the case of individuals receiving a life sentence, an
assessment would have to be made of whether the individual
was a danger to the public before he or she could be
released on licence.

11. There would be normal rights of appeal against
conviction or sentence.

ANNEX 2
MARTIN MCGUINNESS ON OTRS
BBC HEARTS AND MINDS
10TH NOVEMBER 2005

Noel Thompson: Let's start with OTRs first. Mark Durkan
says you entered into an alliance of sleaze with the
government which has delivered, secured, an amnesty for the
security forces. Are you proud of that?

Martin McGuinness: I think that's a silly comment.

When this began its life it was on basis of On the Runs and
On the Runs specifically referred to nationalist and
republicans who found themselves in difficult circumstances
for over 30 years.

How many RUC men /UDR men or British soldiers could have
been described as On the Runs? None. Why was that? Simply
because they were fortunate in having an undeclared amnesty
bestowed upon them by successive British Governments.

Noel Thompson: And now you have that written on paper

McGuinness: Well how many of them will come forward to
avail of that situation? The people who will gain most
advantage from this are those nationalists and republicans
who are on the run for over 30 years.

I don't envisage that any people who were involved in the
murders of nationalists, and Mark knows this better than I
do, is ever going to be brought before a court in this day
and age.

Noel Thompson: But you've taken that possibility away from
victims?

McGuinness: Victims and relatives of victims know, for
example in the case of the Bloody Sunday families, the
British Army was effectively marched up to Buckingham
Palace and were decorated by the British Queen for their
activities in Derry on that day. So what's the likelihood
of those people being brought before court.

People out there in our community have a good sense what
this is all about. People know this is about resolving an
anomaly which flows from the GFA, prisoner releases. The
fact that there were people found themselves in this almost
limbo situation.

SF has spoken today to a number of victims groups. There
is a lot of anger within victim groups about the way which
this situation is being reported and the fact that
relatives of victims of state violence are being virtually
being ignored in the course of this debate.

Noel Thompson: Mark Durkan is pointing out that it is you
who are putting them in that position by giving an amnesty
to security forces. He wants their voices to be heard

McGuinness: Well Mark is very naïve then if that is the
case. Because these people have effectively had an
undeclared amnesty for over 30 years. Successive British
Governments have stood over murderous activities of some
elements of British intelligence services UDR, RUC, and
British Army and that's a fact and people in nationalist
and republican areas know that.

Noel Thompson: But they also know there have been inquiries
and more inquiries planned?

McGuinness: How many soldiers or how many RUC men have
appeared before court for murders of 100s of Catholics and
nationalists that have taken place over the years - few and
far between

Noel Thompson: And now they never will?

McGuinness: They never would in my opinion. Anyone from
the broad nationalist/republican constituency knows that
the state always defends its service people. Those people
who were involved, even in the importation of arms from S
Africa, - what possibility is there that these people would
ever stand before a court -I think there is no possibility
whatsoever. I am not as naïve as Mark appears to be.
----

Hansard, 23 Nov 2005, column 1535.
Good Friday Agreement, Section on Prisoners, paragraph 3,
implemented by the Northern Ireland (Sentences) Act, 1998
See Annex 1.
http://www.nio.gov.uk/weston_park_document.pdf
Remarks to Commons Liaison Committee, 22 November 2001.
See PA report of same date "Ulster Amnesty essential to
peace process says Blair."
See Vindicating the Rights of Victims at
http://www.sdlp.ie/policy/documents/policydocs.shtm.
Speaking to the Commons Liaison Committee, 22 November
2005, reported by Press Association.
Sinn Fein press release, 9 November 2005.
Clauses 1(1) and 3(2).
Northern Ireland (Sentences) Act, 1998.
Clauses 8(3) and 9.
Clause 3(3). Specified organisation is defined in clause
19(1) to mean the same thing as in the Northern Ireland
(Sentences) Act, 1998 – see section 3(8) of it.
Hansard, 23 Nov 2005, Column 1533.
Seventh report of the Independent Monitoring Commission,
17 October 2005.
Paragraph 4 of the Hillsborough side deal – see Annex 1.
Clause 1(1).
Clause 1(1).
The Stevens report, 2003.
Clause 4(8)(c).
Clause 4(8)(d).
Clause 4(11).
Schedule 1, Paragraph 5.
Clauses 7(1) to (3).
Clause 8(3).
Clause 8(7).

******************************************

http://breakingnews.iol.ie/news/story.asp?j=164482468&p=y64483y74

Sinn Féin Press For 'Historic' Meeting With Paisley

01/12/2005 - 17:37:13

A face-to-face meeting between Gerry Adams and the Rev Ian
Paisley would be truly historic, Sinn Féin claimed tonight.

The party warmly welcomed a first-ever meeting between Mr
Paisley and Irish Opposition leader Enda Kenny in Belfast
tomorrow.

But Sinn Féin's chief negotiator Martin McGuinness added:
"The really historic meeting will be the meeting between Mr
Paisley and Mr Adams."

Party leader Mr Adams earlier said of the talks: "I think
the more dialogue there is, the better. It's for
everybody's benefit that all sides of the political
equation should be talking to each other."

The Sinn Féin leaders were speaking after holding talks
with Taoiseach Bertie Ahern in Dublin.

Mr Adams said the people of Ireland expected the British
and Irish governments to have a plan in early 2006 to
restore power-sharing institutions in Northern Ireland.

Mr Kenny will tomorrow head a four-member Fine Gael
delegation to meet Mr Paisley, DUP deputy leader Peter
Robinson, MP Nigel Dodds and party chairman Maurice Morrow
at Stormont Buildings.

The Mayo TD will also hold talks with a SDLP delegation led
by deputy leader Dr Alasdair McDonnell.

A first meeting between Fine Gael and the Ulster Unionist
Party's new leader Sir Reg Empey is also planned at its
Belfast headquarters.

The Fine Gael delegation includes opposition justice
spokesman Jim O'Keeffe, British-Irish Inter-Parliamentary
Body vice-chairman and Border TD Seymour Crawford and
Seanad leader and Northern Ireland spokesman Brian Hayes.

"Mr Paisley requested to meet Fine Gael when he last
visited Government Buildings on November 18, but it didn't
suit our diary," a Fine Gael spokesman said.

"We were then happy to agree to pay a return visit to
Belfast."

A DUP spokesman said: "The DUP welcomes tomorrow's meeting
and is looking forward to it.

"The party welcomes all engagement with constitutional
parties in the Republic."

Fine Gael said the talks with Mr Paisley will include a
general discussion focusing on the peace process, on-the-
runs legislation, proposed Dáil speaking rights for
Northern MPs and other current issues.

"It will be a get-to-know-you session while also
concentrating on some of the current pressing North-South
issues," a party spokesman said.

Mr Paisley visited Dublin for political talks with the
Irish Government for the first time last autumn and made a
return trip last month.

******************************************

http://breakingnews.iol.ie/news/story.asp?j=12579624&p=yz579678&n=12579738

Irish People Expect Plan To Restore Power-Sharing – Sinn Féin

01/12/2005 - 15:14:49

The people of Ireland expect the British and Irish
governments to have a plan to restore power-sharing
institutions in Northern Ireland in early 2006, it was
claimed today.

Sinn Féin said it was time for both governments to grasp
the momentum created by the IRA ending its armed campaign
and decommissioning its weapons.

Speaking before scheduled talks with Taoiseach Bertie
Ahern, party leader Gerry Adams said today: "The real
problem at this point in time is that the political
institutions are not in place and we need to bring forward
proposals to put them in place."

Sinn Féin's chief negotiator Martin McGuinness added: "The
big objective for everybody is a plan by the two
governments, given the enormous events of this year, to see
the institutions restored as quickly as possible.

"We would want to see them restored next week but obviously
that isn't going to happen.

"There is a reasonable expectation among the people of
Ireland, that, come the beginning of next year, that the
two Governments actually have a plan that they put, not
just before themselves, but also before the Democratic
Unionist Party.''

Mr McGuinness said that the DUP leader the Rev Ian Paisley
had told the British and Irish governments during talks in
2004 that the only issue concerning him was IRA arms.

"The big question is whether Mr Paisley, who tells us he is
a man of God, is also a man of his word," Mr McGuinness
said.

The Sinn Féin delegation to meet Mr Ahern at Government
Buildings in Dublin also included Dáil leader Caoimhghin O
Caolain, MEP Mary Lou McDonald and party MLA, Caitriona
Ruane.

******************************************

http://breakingnews.iol.ie/news/story.asp?j=221320550&p=zzy3zy5xx&n=221321537

SDLP On The Attack Over Parades Commission

01/12/2005 - 16:19:07

The nationalist SDLP tonight rejected claims it lobbied the
British government to have one of its former MPs, Dr Joe
Hendron appointed to the Northern Ireland Parades
Commission.

In a hard hitting attack on the new-look commission which
also includes Portadown Orangeman David Burrows, Sinn Féin
Assembly member Alex Maskey claimed it was biased, with no
representative of the working class nationalist and
republican community on it.


The South Belfast MLA said: "It has instead at least two
members of the loyal orders and two members of the local
policing DPPs.

"Given this bias in make up nationalists and republicans
will be justifiably sceptical of this commission's ability
to reach impartial and fair determinations.

"Another point which needs to be clarified is the role of
the SDLP in putting this new Commission together.

"It would seem that the SDLP has colluded with the British
government to ensure its own representation, in the shape
of Joe Hendron, in exchange for the rest of the Parades
Commission being loaded in favour of the unionist and loyal
order position."

Mr Maskey's comments were labelled farcical, however, by
SDLP policing spokesperson Alex Attwood.

The West Belfast MLA countered: "Gerry Kelly has declared
Sinn Féin believe the Parades Commission is 'obsolete'.

"This was said publicly, on the record, and has never been
withdrawn.

"Sinn Féin's latest comments are hollow and contradictory.
Their concern about the new makeup of the Parades
Commission are in open contradiction of their views that it
is obsolete.

"The SDLP will judge each and every member of the
commission against the exact same standards.

"Will they stand by the principles developed by the
previous commission around genuine dialogue, respect for
reconciliation and a proper assessment of the rights of
all? Will all members stand by the proper principles and
thinking of previous commissions around contentious
parades?

"We will judge each member against these standards. Be it
the new chair, David Burrows, Joe Hendron or any other
member."

Mr Attwood said the new commission, which will be chaired
by former trade union negotiator Roger Poole, had a
different complexion from its predecessors.

He insisted the SDLP would resist any approach which
engineered different outcomes on contentious parades and
that disregarded proper standards and principles.

The West Belfast MLA continued: "The SDLP has a proven
record around the commission.

"Sinn Féin have only a proven unprincipled approach to the
work of previous commissions.

"Unlike Sinn Féin on on-the-runs and state killings, the
SDLP has not colluded with the British government on the
appointment of the Parades Commission.

"Unlike Sinn Féin, our biggest ally and best friend is not
the British government.

"The SDLP have no nominee on the Parades Commission and
made no representations that any one individual should join
the Parades Commission, whoever that individual might be.

"Each member and all members of the Parades Commission need
to get parading decisions right. That is what the SDLP is
working to do."

******************************************

http://www.sinnfein.ie/news/detail/12207

Sinn Féin Question SDLP Role In Establishing Biased Parades Commission

Published: 1 December, 2005

Sinn Féin Assembly member Alex Maskey said today that the
newly constituted Parades Commission is clearly biased in
terms of its make up. Mr Maskey also questioned the role of
the SDLP in putting this new body together.

Mr Maskey said

" The new Parades Commission has no representative of a
working class nationalist or republican community directly
affected by the issue of sectarian parades. It has instead
at least two members of the loyal orders and two members of
the local policing DPPs.

" Given this bias in make up nationalists and republicans
will be justifiably sceptical of this Commissions ability
to reach impartial and fair determinations. Another point
which needs to be clarified is the role of the SDLP in
putting this new Commission together.

" It would seem that the SDLP has colluded with the British
government to ensure its own representation, in the shape
of Joe Hendron, in exchange for the rest of the Parades
Commission being loaded in favour of the unionist and loyal
order position." ENDS

******************************************

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/story.jsp?story=671397

Orange Leader May Walk Drumcree

By Chris Thornton
01 December 2005

Portadown Orangeman David Burrows may soon walk the
Garvaghy Road after all - in his new capacity as a member
of the Parades Commission.

Burrows, who has been barred from parading along the road
since 1998, is due to visit the contentious parade route
with other commission members early next year.

Incoming chairman Roger Poole said today that he wants the
commission to "walk the areas of contention" - which
include the disputed Portadown route.

"It will help us get a real feel for things," Mr Poole said
today. "It might also help us with mediation if people see
us out there and really interested."

The appointment of Mr Burrows, who once led the Drumcree
protest lodge, and a second Portadown Orangeman, Donald
MacKay, have raised concerns among nationalists about the
direction of the commission.

Garvaghy Road residents spokesman Breandan MacCionnaith
said the new commission is "very unbalanced" because it
includes Orangemen and no residents' representative.

But both Mr Burrows and Mr MacKay said they are prepared to
listen to residents' concerns.

"I'm mindful there are multiple perspectives on this which
I believe should be listened to," Mr MacKay said.

Both men said they had not cleared their appointments with
the Orange Order's Grand Lodge.

"I never asked anyone," said Mr Burrows, although he said
he discussed the appointment with members of his family and
some friends.

The Orange Order and two other marching organisations said
they were interested to see the new line-up but said the
commission remains "fundamentally flawed".

Sinn Fein and the SDLP expressed concerns about the line-
up. Former SDLP MP, Dr Joe Hendron, is the main nationalist
voice on the new commission.

Mr Poole said it is "particularly important" that the
commission now has two Orangemen who understand "the
cultural importance of parades".

See pages 4 and 12

******************************************

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/4489844.stm

Arrest Warrant For Party Leader

A warrant has been issued for the arrest of the Workers'
Party President Sean Garland after he failed to appear at
court in Belfast.

Mr Garland, 71, from Navan in County Meath, is facing
possible extradition to the US on counterfeiting charges.

The US government alleges he and others bought, moved and
either passed as genuine or re-sold high quality
counterfeit $100 notes.

Last month his bail was varied to let him go to Navan for
medical treatment.

A short time later, Mr Garland issued a statement from the
Irish Republic saying he did not intend to return to
Belfast to face the court.

Mr Garland was arrested in Belfast in October on the eve of
his party's annual conference and appeared in court the
next day, where he was released on bail.

When the extradition hearing resumed on Thursday, the court
was told Mr Garland was not present and the judge issued an
arrest warrant.

The judge adjourned the hearing until the New Year and said
that he would deal with applications to collect bail money
totalling £30,000 at that time.

'Super dollars'

The money represented cash lodgements of £10,000 each which
three bailsman had to pay into court before Mr Garland was
freed.

At the hearing in October, Mr Garland's defence lawyer said
his client "strongly protested" his innocence.

The US government indictment also alleges that Garland
arranged with North Korean agencies for the purchase of
some of the counterfeit notes, known as "super dollars",
and enlisted others to disseminate them within the UK.

A BBC investigation last year claimed that ex-KGB officers,
the Russian Mafia and the North Korean government were also
involved in the counterfeiting operation.

Story from BBC NEWS:
Published: 2005/12/01 17:28:45 GMT
© BBC MMV

******************************************

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/4487526.stm

Residents In Fear Of 'Giant Rats'

Rats reported to be "the size of cats" are taking over an
estate in Belfast, according to residents.

The giant rats have been seen jumping out of bins and even
going into houses at the Inverary estate in the east of the
city for over a month.

Residents said it was like "living in a horror movie".

They have to keep doors closed at all times and their
children are not allowed outside to play.

One man reported that the rats had attacked his dog.

Local people believe the problem began when the transport
company, Translink, carried out work at a railway line
close by.

They have called on the council and Translink to eradicate
the problem immediately.

They are like cats. They are stone deaf, they fly up and
down the road and play tig with the buses

Jane Ormer and Gail Leemer

In the meantime, they said they have been forced to deal
with rats which are big and fearless. They come out in
broad daylight and they have even attacked a dog.

"We see rats daily," said June Brown from the local
community centre.

"One of the mothers was coming to the mother-and-toddlers
and a rat came out and walked alongside her pram.

"The baby was actually delighted to see this furry friend.
She did not want to react in case she frightened the
child."

Ms Brown is concerned for the safety of children after the
rats attacked a dog.

"My concern is that if a rat attacked a dog and a child is
not frightened and approaches it, then it might attack the
child."

Her colleagues, Jane Ormer and Gail Leemer said the rats
had no fear.

"They are like cats. They are stone deaf, they fly up and
down the road and play tig with the buses.

"They come out in daylight. Nothing seems to scare them. If
a bus was coming, the rat would just dilly dally along the
road.

"Nothing seems to deter them. They don't seem to be
frightened of human people."

Children

Ronald Parkhill said rats were "up and down the street all
hours of the day and night".

"Refuse men emptied the bins - when they opened the lids,
the rats were jumping out of them," he said.

Mr Parkhill said he was frightened for his son, Craig, 2,
who has had the infection, MRSA.

"My main concern would be with my wee baby son. I just
don't let him out at all," he said.

"Obviously we are concerned about the infections that the
rats would carry. We don't like him out in the grass or
shrubbery .... It is a nightmare. He is just more or less a
prisoner in his own home."

Many residents believe the problem started when Translink
dug up an old fence making the rats homeless.

Translink has set down traps and the council's pest control
has put out poison.

Residents want the problem eradicated as soon as possible.

Story from BBC NEWS:
Published: 2005/12/01 09:55:35 GMT
© BBC MMV

******************************************

http://breakingnews.iol.ie/news/story.asp?j=3494865&p=349488x&n=3494957

Park To Be Named After Mo Mowlam

01/12/2005 - 18:01:59

A children's park built in the Stormont Estate at the
suggestion of Mo Mowlam is to be named in her memory, it
was revealed today.

The news came as a celebration of the life of the former
Northern Ireland Secretary was held at Hillsborough Castle
in Co Down – the place where she liked to throw weekend
house parties.

Some 200 guests were invited to the celebration, hosted by
current Ulster Secretary Peter Hain, and attended by Mo's
husband Jon Norton and family.

Mr Hain, Armed Forces Minister Adam Ingram – Security
Minister in Belfast during the Mowlam tenure – Baroness
Blood and Mr Norton all spoke during the evening to pay
tribute to the contribution she made in advancing the peace
process.

Video messages from British Prime Minister Tony Blair,
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, Hillary Clinton and Rory Bremner
were also broadcast to the gathering.

Mr Hain said he had been privileged to know Mo Mowlam, both
as a colleague and friend.

"She was a courageous politician who was driven by an
innate determination to fight injustice."

He added: "She was also unique. No politician, no Cabinet
Minister was, or will ever be, quite like her – a real
people's politician."

Ms Mowlam, he said, had made a huge contribution to the
political process in Northern Ireland, and among her many
achievements was the crucial role she played in the signing
of the Good Friday Agreement in 1998.

"During her time as Secretary of State, Mo Mowlam played a
key role in making Northern Ireland a better place to
live," he added.

Her ability to break down barriers with her informal manner
and warm personality, and her gift of making people feel at
ease, endeared her to so many, he said. She would never be
forgotten.

Ms Mowlam, who died in August, was Northern Ireland
Secretary for two and a half years.

The gathering included many people she met during her term,
including politicians, journalists and workers from the
voluntary and education sectors.

******************************************

http://breakingnews.iol.ie/news/story.asp?j=122307150&p=yzz3x7675&n=122307752

Ex Nun's Rape Conviction Was Miscarriage Of Justice, Rules Court

01/12/2005 - 16:00:55

A former nun who was sentenced to life imprisonment for the
rape of a young girl was today declared the victim of a
miscarriage of justice.

Nora Wall, 57, was convicted in 1999 along with a homeless
man of the attack on the girl at St Michael's Childcare
Centre in Cappoquin, Co Waterford on an unknown date in
1987 or 1988.

But the conviction was quashed days after the verdict after
it emerged that a witness at the trial had been called
contrary to the Director of Public Prosecution's direction.

At the Court of Criminal Appeal today Justice Nicholas
Kearns, presiding, said Ms Wall should not have to wait a
minute longer for the verdict.

"The court is quite satisfied there are newly discovered
facts which show there has been a miscarriage of justice in
this case," he said.

He said the court would deliver its full written judgment
at a later date.

Ms Wall was congratulated by members of her family and
other supporters.

She stood up and went over to Patricia Phelan, the woman
who had given false evidence against her in the trial, and
embraced her.

Both women burst into tears.

******************************************

http://enjoyment.independent.co.uk/books/reviews/article330548.ece

IRISH ACADEMIC PRESS, £14.99. ORDER (FREE P&P) ON 0870 079
8897

Transforming Unionism: David Trimble And The 2005 General Election,

by Michael Kerr

The rise and fall of 'the most contradictory man I ever
met'

By David McKittrick
Published: 01 December 2005

This is a briskly written, honest and valuable book centred
on the enigmatic figure of David Trimble, the former Ulster
Unionist (UUP) leader described by the author as "the most
contradictory man I ever met". Kerr is not alone, since a
great many remain perplexed by a figure who for a decade
was at the centre of Northern Ireland politics. The saying
of Enoch Powell, Trimble's one-time party colleague, that
all political careers end in failure could hardly be better
illustrated than by Trimble's fate.

Until the 2005 general election, he was the Nobel laureate
who headed Northern Ireland's most important party. But the
poll brought disaster. Trimble lost his Westminster seat
and his party suffered meltdown. Now it has only one
Commons seat, while Ian Paisley's Democratic Unionist party
has nine MPs. This book sheds much light on exactly how
this came about.

Michael Kerr worked for the UUP for six years, keeping a
diary and interviewing key players. He has affection and
respect for Trimble, but what he exposes is a chaotic,
amateurish shambles.

"Panic stations at dawn," reads one entry. "DT bursts into
the war-room screaming at us." One of his MPs had objected
to the campaign slogan, so the posters had to be scraped
off the campaign coach. The posters were hastily sand-
blasted but all the paint came off too: "War-room is in
complete pandemonium."

In one sense this simply confirms what close observers
knew: that the UUP lost the election long before it was
called. This was partly because of its excruciating lack of
organisation, partly because for years it had been shedding
votes in the manner of autumn trees shedding leaves.

As Kerr points out, Trimble had the foresight to realise
that Unionism needed to modernise as the IRA ran down its
campaign. He also had the boldness to take on the
formidable task of persuading conservative Protestants to
face up to change.

But he lacked some basic political skills, and faced
formidable negotiating opponents such as Tony Blair, Gerry
Adams and Bertie Ahern. He had no clever Mandelson to spin
for him, and was weak in dealing with his party's many
dissidents. Most of all, perhaps, he lacked the ability to
inspire his followers. Yet it is too early to write his
epitaph, for that depends on Ian Paisley. If Paisley
should, in time, make a deal, Trimble could argue that he
brought to Unionism a new culture of negotiation.

This is a briskly written, honest and valuable book centred
on the enigmatic figure of David Trimble, the former Ulster
Unionist (UUP) leader described by the author as "the most
contradictory man I ever met". Kerr is not alone, since a
great many remain perplexed by a figure who for a decade
was at the centre of Northern Ireland politics. The saying
of Enoch Powell, Trimble's one-time party colleague, that
all political careers end in failure could hardly be better
illustrated than by Trimble's fate.

Until the 2005 general election, he was the Nobel laureate
who headed Northern Ireland's most important party. But the
poll brought disaster. Trimble lost his Westminster seat
and his party suffered meltdown. Now it has only one
Commons seat, while Ian Paisley's Democratic Unionist party
has nine MPs. This book sheds much light on exactly how
this came about.

Michael Kerr worked for the UUP for six years, keeping a
diary and interviewing key players. He has affection and
respect for Trimble, but what he exposes is a chaotic,
amateurish shambles.

"Panic stations at dawn," reads one entry. "DT bursts into
the war-room screaming at us." One of his MPs had objected
to the campaign slogan, so the posters had to be scraped
off the campaign coach. The posters were hastily sand-
blasted but all the paint came off too: "War-room is in
complete pandemonium."

In one sense this simply confirms what close observers
knew: that the UUP lost the election long before it was
called. This was partly because of its excruciating lack of
organisation, partly because for years it had been shedding
votes in the manner of autumn trees shedding leaves.

As Kerr points out, Trimble had the foresight to realise
that Unionism needed to modernise as the IRA ran down its
campaign. He also had the boldness to take on the
formidable task of persuading conservative Protestants to
face up to change.

But he lacked some basic political skills, and faced
formidable negotiating opponents such as Tony Blair, Gerry
Adams and Bertie Ahern. He had no clever Mandelson to spin
for him, and was weak in dealing with his party's many
dissidents. Most of all, perhaps, he lacked the ability to
inspire his followers. Yet it is too early to write his
epitaph, for that depends on Ian Paisley. If Paisley
should, in time, make a deal, Trimble could argue that he
brought to Unionism a new culture of negotiation.

******************************************

http://www.antonnews.com/illustratednews/2005/12/02/news/

Justice John P. Dunne Honored As Man Of The Year

Justice John P. Dunne was recently honored by the Brehon
Society as "Man of the Year." The Brehon Society of Nassau
County is an organization composed principally of lawyers,
judges, and other law-related personal. The members strive
to use their talents to protect, defend and extend human
rights, primarily, but not exclusively, in the north of
Ireland.

Justice Dunne was honored for his work in founding Irish-
Americans in Government as well as the Brehon Society of
Nassau County. Justice Dunne has also worked to increase
contact between the Republic of Ireland and the United
States in government, politics, the judiciary and legal
profession. John Dunne has served with distinction as
Justice of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, and
prior to that, County Court Judge since 1991.

******************************************

http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/ireland/2005/1202/632525871HM6ABBEYFUNDING.html

€4m Grant To Wipe Out Abbey's Debts

Deirdre Falvey, Arts Editor

The Abbey Theatre's debts are to be cleared by a special
grant of more than €4 million announced yesterday by the
Minister for Arts, John O'Donoghue, as part of overall
additional arts funding totalling €15.72 million.

The Abbey grant is part of extra funding of € 5.233 million
to the Arts Council, and is in response to its request for
funding to allow the theatre to "move forward". The theatre
is being restructured internally after a series of
financial crises, and a new board is expected to be in
place by early January. Its projected loss for 2005 is
€900,000, bringing the cumulative deficit to approximately
€3.4million, which will be cleared by the grant. The
Minister has also awarded the theatre an extra € 500,000
for refurbishment.

The rest of the money awarded to the council yesterday
(€1.2 million) is for funding opera, traditional arts and
festivals.

Savings over the course of the year across the department's
budget mean that more than €15 million can be redeployed.

Mr O'Donoghue said the substantial funding for the Arts
Council would enable it to put the Abbey "on a more secure
financial footing and to clear the existing operational and
bank debt. It demonstrates the Government's and the
council's commitment to a successful future for the Abbey."

Outgoing chairwoman of the Abbey, Eithne Healy, welcomed
the "superb news for the Abbey" and thanked the Minister
for "this major commitment to secure the future of the
theatre . . . We wish the new board and Fiach [
MacConghail, the Abbey director] every success."

Mr MacConghail said the "massive vote of confidence and
strong support for the Abbey as Ireland's national theatre
and its civic and artistic role in Irish society" would
give his team "the impetus to continue to create good
theatre for Irish audiences".

Other beneficiaries of additional funding include the Irish
Film Board (€1.5 million); the Chester Beatty Library
(whose extra €385,000 includes €310,000 capital funding);
and Irish Museum of Modern Art (an extra €530,000,
including €310,000 capital funding). The National Concert
Hall receives €287,000, the James Joyce Cultural Centre
€100,000, and 12 arts and cultural projects across the
country are to receive a total of €4.28 million, including
Dún Mhuire theatre in Wexford, Garter Lane arts centre and
Spraoi, both in Waterford, Graffiti theatre company and
Triskel arts centre in Cork.

© The Irish Times

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