Alan Farrell is a remarkable man. Yesterday, he stood up in the Dail and named two TDs in connection with the killing of prison officer Brian Stack in 1983. This morning I’ve just listened to him explaining to Audrey Carville on RTÉ that he felt completely justified in doing this.
He was asked where he got the information that would suggest Sinn Féin TDs Martin Ferris and Dessie Ellis were involved with this case. He said that he had it from a confidential source, and that the accuracy of this information was then verified by another confidential source. Besides, he said, the names of the two men were already in the public sphere regarding this case. Audrey Carville then asked him if he wasn’t doing what Douglas Hogg had done several decades ago. Mr Farrell said that the name was familiar but he just couldn’t place it; so Audrey Carville reminded him several decades ago Hogg had stood up in the House of Commons and declared that some solicitors were too close to their IRA clients, and three weeks later solicitor Pat Finucane was shot dead. Mr Farrell said that now he remembered the case but there was no comparison between his actions and that of Hogg. The presenter then mentioned the Dublin –Monaghan bombs that killed over thirty people, and noted Mr Farrell’s lack of interest in that case. Mr Farrell….
Sorry, I can’t go on with this. You know what I was going to say in that last sentence anyway: that Mr Farrell made some excuse regarding his lack of interest in the slaughter of over thirty of his fellow-citizens.
There is one reason and one reason only, I would suggest, for Fine Gael TD Mr Farrell’s interest in the Stack case, and that is to do as much damage as he conceivably can to Sinn Féin, regardless of evidence or facts in the case. In this he’s supported by Enda Kenny and Micheál Martin, leaders of Fine Gael and Fianna Fail respectively. Mr Kenny was vocal in the Dail painting pictures of Gerry Adams bringing members of the Stack family in a blacked-out van up to the border to meet IRA leaders. Micheál Martin made similar I-am-aghast statements about the Stack killing and its links, as he saw it, with Sinn Féin.
Can there be a man or woman in Ireland who doesn’t have a sense of here-we-go-again? Time after time, political opponents have made efforts to have Gerry Adams and Sinn Féin linked as tightly as possible with killings that happened during the Troubles. You might say this is commendable, since if people were involved in killings, we at least should know about it. But as it happens, that’s what Gerry Adams said in his speech in the Dail yesterday:
“If the Taoiseach and Micheál Martin are interested in healing the legacy of the past for all families, including the Stacks, the Finucanes, the families of the Dublin /Monaghan bombs and hundreds more, then they could begin by putting in place an International-based independent truth recovery process.”
The periodic outbursts of moral indignation voiced by politicians north and south, invariably directed against Adams and Sinn Féin, has surely by now completed its tedious course. Anyone who cares about truth as distinct from unsubstantiated smears should get behind the need for an independent truth recovery body and show concern for all killings in the Troubles. No wonder the Finucane family feel frustrated. No wonder the relatives of those killed in Dublin and Monaghan call their frustrated campaign ‘Justice for the Forgotten’.
But then kicking the Shinners is so much more fun than lifting the stone of state collusion.
The Blueshirts haven’t gone away. This man is likely to go places in that outfit.
The hypocrisy of the partionist parties of the 26 counties is never ending. Fianna Fáil claim to be “The Republican Party” yet they have even blocked citizens from the 6 north eastern counties of Ireland from a simple task as voting in presidential elections. Fine Gael claim to want to uncover the truth behind the Stack killing. Their actions, or rather lack of, in relation to getting truth/justice for the Dublin/Monaghan families tells us they couldn’t care less about victims. They, in conjunction with pathetic newspapers such as the independent use certain victims families to bash the only political party on this island who want unification and a proper internationally recognised system for dealing with the past.
Maybe some establishment politician will raise the Mary Boyle case in the Dail sometime and allude to the cover up in that case.Former gardai allege that a FF politician asked them not to interview a particular individual.
Great story jude
Grma, James…
Politics. Pure and simple.
What exact connection has Farrell with the case or is he just a stalking horse for his Fuhrer?
Could this be some smart baiting by Gerry Adams and SF ?
It was no surprise that FF and FG jumped on this as quick as it hit the news. GA was obviously very careful about what he would or should release, and how the other parties would react. Now FF and FG are so very concerned about a case that happened so long ago, and that we need to get to the bottom of this terrible business. Then SF ask them to show the same urgency and interest in other historical cases.
So now FF and FG should show the public how concerned and interested they really are in all these cases, and if they don’t then they are exposed again as the opportunistic hypocrites that they truly are.
Or it could be tensions are getting taut between the two old enemies and an election could soon be on the cards and they are wasting no time in getting their boots ready.
At least we’ve had a preview of what we can expect it seems when it does happen.
No doubt there is political calculation going on in this, just as there is by some who highlight the Finucane case,but it is futile to dodge Gerry Adams role in this case.
He knows at least who the IRA figure was that spoke to the Stack brothers and should surely pass on that name if he cares about the truth being found.
Anthony McIntyre has some interesting thoughts on this at ThePensive Quill
http://thepensivequill.am/2016/12/smell-of-secret-graves-and-decomposition.html
MaryLou must be counting the days…
Giordano, Adams has said he passed the names given to him by Stack to Garda Commissioner O’Sullivan. Stack now denies he ever gave them to anyone. But he had, by his own previous admission, also given those names to Michael Martin. Those names were subsequently leaked from the commissioner’s office. As for that interview, just starting it out with this ‘Sinn Feintology’ crap renders it unworthy of any notice. Note if this doesn’t stink of a pisspoor stunt cooked up between Stack, FF/FG, the right wing press and at least elements in the Garda, then what is it? It’s certainly not any attempt to redress the Stack family’s grievances
PaulI have seen it mentioned that Austin Stack gave the names to Martin but I can’t find any detail on that, say a statement from Stack. Any links?
As to the McIntyre interview it was not him I think using that terminology and I always find he has interesting things to say for example his notion that Gerry Adams is actually behaving as an informer in this case.
Unlike Dessie Ellis, TD, who was in chokey at the time, Esteemed Blog, The Perkin was actually on the South Circular Road on the night of March 25th, 1983.
And not only that, but The Perkin takes this opportunity to admit publicly for the first time that on the same night he committed – murder. (More of which anon).
Like Brian Stack he had been attending the boxing in the National Stadium, and had exited, with a companion, the arena moments after the Prison Officer. In time to see, as in a glass darkly, in the shadows on the opposite side of the South Circular Road the immediate aftermath of an assassination attempt.
A small crowd had gathered, some crouching over a horizontal figure on the footpath (impossible to tell whether the figure was prone or supine) while others were in a standing position, pointing and shouting in the direction of a speed-limit- exceeding motorbike which was headed in the direction of the traffic lights where Clanbrassil Street intersects with the South Circular Road.
A motorbike whose rider gave every impression of being determined to be expediently colourblind where the colour sequence of the Clanbrassil Stree traffic lights were imminently concerned; red, orange, green.
As it happened that is also where The Perkin and his companion were headed, specifically Carr’s Public House at Leonard’s Corner. (No relation or second of Sugar Ray L., despite its proximity to the Irish Sock Exchange). And in a hurry too.
-Now come tell me, Sean O Farrell
Tell me why you hurry so
Hush, a bhuachaill, hush and listen
And his cheeks were all aglow.
Answer: for the boxing had gone on longer than anticipated and thus it was a race against time to make the pub before the barstaff called:
-Time, gentlemen, time.
The reason why the The Rising of the (Bad) Moon is referenced here, is, of course, because of the coincidence of Ceannchomhairle na Dala / Speaker of the Doll House yesterday happened to be Sean O Fearghail / Sean O Farrell. Who tried, and tried in vain, to spike an out of order speaker when his namesake, Alan, attempted to put Martin Ferris, unafraid, and Dessie Ellis, ditto, over a, erm, Farrell.
As has been mentioned (see above) the Sinn Fein TD for Dublin North West was in chokey, the night of March 25th, 1983. Before that he had been in America, before being extradited from Buffalo, New York to An Droimeann Donn Dilis / The Loyal, Brown Moo-cow.
And it was to that country which one’s thoughts strayed while earwigging the raic, ri-ra agus ruille buille (see under hulabaloo, Gregory ) which ensued in the Doll House yesterday when both Political Wings of Independent House were high of the High Moral Horse of, erm, Harrisment.
Specifically, to another scene of political violence which, curiously, not unlike the National Stadium, also featured a coincidence of names: Booth, in one case, and Booth in the other.
John Wilkes Booth in the case of the American venue and the Polling Booth in the case of the Irish one.
It is not the only similarity between the two melodramatic events: the consignment to near oblivion of the actual events which provided the setting for both assassinations. Who today recalls the name of the play performed in Ford’s Theatre on the fatal night of April 14th, 1865? Roughly the same amount of folk who recall the actual boxing event which was held in the National Stadium on the night of March 25th, 1983?
In the former case, for the record, it was ‘Our American Cousin’ by English playwright, Tom Taylor. Timing is everything (almost) in the Theatre and never more so than on that particular night. JW Booth, who knew the play like the back of his handkerchief, picked his moment with the cold calculation of, actually, an actuary.
He knew the funniest line in the play, the line which would provoke the guffaw quotient to hyena level, thus giving him the vital nanoseconds of cover, the line which, in its own way, was as impactful as ‘To be or not to B for Booth’, the line uttered by Harry Hawk (see below) halfway through Act 111, Scene 2:
-Don’t know the manners of good society, eh? Well, I guess I know enough to turn you inside out, old gal – you sockdologizing old man-trap !
In the aftermath of the Lincoln assassination, a key role in the pursuit of the assassin was played by a man whose name has since become mud – Dr. Mudd. The Perkin will not reveal the name of the Detective Inspector who contacted him four days later, except to say it was neither Mudd nor Bucket.
It happened as follows.
One’s companion got a telephone call in his office on the Monday after the Friday from the Gardai to say ‘he had been spotted in the National Stadium ‘ and ‘could he give an account of his movements’. And, finally, ‘who was the companion he was accompanied by”.
On the Tuesday, with all the inevitability of a second shoe falling on the floor of the bedroom above, The Perkin got a ring in his office (topfloor suite: furnishing: neo-grotesque; view: panoramic).
-Mr. Warbeck, could you describe in detail what you witnessed on the evening of March 25th, 1983 on the South Circular Road?’
-Be delighted to do one’s bounden duty, Superintendent.
Ever eager to be of assistance to the Guardians of the Peace / An Garda Siochana, The Perkin duly picked an imaginary spot on the spotless wall of his office, crossed his Gucci shoes on the mahogany desk, and settled down to be a veritable , erm, Assistant’s Assistant.
-One witnessed, for starters, the bill of fare of the Irish Senior Boxing Champions which featured a dozen bouts, sort of. The ‘sort of’ is explained by a walk over granted to Gerry Hawkins (see above) of the Holy Trinity Boxing Club. Most of the bouts were won (and lost) on points including those involving such dab-handed dabblers in the sock exchange as Paul Fitzgerald, Roy Webb, Billy Walsh and Kieran Joyce.
The story of the night for the Brothers Storey of the Holy Family Boxing Club did not,alas, end in glory. Sammy, for instance, had to concede a walk over to Tom Corr of Ardboe or thereabouts; while Gerry Storey suffered a ko at the horsehoe gloves of Tony de Loughrey of Limerick.
And that is as far, alas, as the Perkin’s primed witness got: a pity because one was about to mention the victory of Brian Byrne (Garda!) at light-middleweight, WITHOUT mentioning his nickname ‘The Octopus’ on account of his swarm and charm-free style of grapple –cum- combat.
Do ears glaze over in the same way that eyes do? That is the distinct impression which the Answerer received on the other end of the phone from the Questioner:
-Thank you, that will be all, click.
Nothing to hear there, then, move along.
To conclude: the security conscious media south of the Black Sow’s Dyke kept strangely mumm with the fall in the level of security within the confines of the Doll House. Back in the, erm, day, when the ball-bearing eyed Captain of the Guard was Cathal O’Leary, former centre back on the Dublin team which defeated Londonderry in the All-Ireland Final of 1958, one would not have got/ gotten away with the behavior of the Brothers Stack in the exalted corridors of The Bastion of Democracy .
(The Perkin, sadly, speaks from experience).
-I bear orders from the captain
Get you ready quick and soon.
One refers to the somewhat less than laudatory plaudits heaped upon Fear na Feasoige/ The Bearded One: sticking to the v-words, which ranged from vicious to vile.
Does, erm, Senator Austin Stack of the Barony of Irony not have a certain je ne sais quoi about it? There is a precedent, you know: see under ‘sockdologizing old man-trap’ above.
To really conclude:
Murder?
Ah, yes. The Perkin is happy to man up – belatedly, be it averred – and admit to murder on the night of March 25th, 1983 on the South Circular Road. The venue was Carr’s Public House and the victim was – a pint.
As to the identity of the victim: The Perkin will not reveal the brand of pint he murdered, until he first sees his Solicitor, m’lud.
Fascinating footnote to history, Perkin. Worthy of the TV series of yesteryesterday, ‘You Are There’…
The clip of him making the statement in the Dail is quite revealing. Those two IRA thugs look like they want to knee cap him or have him disappeared like the old days.
Tremendous courage shown by Mr Stack in standing up to the Republican death squads and their operators.
“Tremendous courage shown by Mr Stack in standing up to the Republican death squads and their operators”. I would now like to wager the sum of £100, jb, that not a hair on the head of Mr Stack is disturbed, let alone harmed, by what you refer to as the “Republican death squads and their operators”. And after you’ve said No to the bet, maybe you’d tell us the personnel of these Republican Death Squads (and, of course, their operators0…
It isn’t a fair bet, he is as bald as a koot! (I resisted a rather easy comparative joke there, as we all now know your views on personal abuse – i.e. OK against Unionists, not OK against Republicans…is there any area of the Republican world view that doesn’t involve double think? It must be draining!).
As to who the members of the Republican death squads were, (as I refer to them…like you refer to Unionist death squads…there’s the double think again!), I have no idea. The cowards wore balaclavas. As to who their operators were, I also don’t know. Ex IRA men, like Brendan Hughes and McIntyre both suggest that Gerry Adams was one, but I assume that they are / were self-promoting fantasists in Republican circles now?
Assuming Gerry DOES know who the murderers were, do you think he should pass those names on to the Guards?
Haa haaa – at least you have a sense of humour, jb…I’ll take that for a No, then, as expected. And you don’t know who these Republican death squads are, or their operators. Right. So that’s why you mentioned them. But I do like your take on balaclavas, Joe Bloggs…
As to GA giving the names of those who killed Mr Stack – if he knows them, yes, in the context of a general truth recovery process. Don’t forget the family of Pat Finucane and the families of the Forgotten – I’d think there must be some very respectable people who could throw some light on who masterminded the deaths of their loved ones. So bring on the truth recovery process and I’d be totally in support of GA and other republicans being fully involved.
Oh – nearly forgot. For the record, I don’t support murder squads of any denomination. So don’t say that again.
Jude
So what would happen were Gerry to pass on the name of the shadowy Mr X
Well Mr X assuming he is still living could either deny everything,calling Gerry a liar (outrageous suggestion),or admit he was present but give no useful information to the guards, or even more unlikely he could tell the full truth.
In any of these scenarios Gerry could stand up and say he had discharged his duty as a citizen and his conscience was now clear,on this issue at least.
So why wait for a truth recovery process which may never come along?
“So why wait for a truth recovery process which may never come along?”
Why would it never come along Gio?….
Ryan
Perhaps because none of the groups involved except for victims really want it?
But in the meantime don’t you agree Gerry could pass on that name to help the investigation? Why would he not?
truth process like s/africa..
dont mention the mandela necklaces but..look at the state of the place.
Of course I don’t know them but I am confident they exist. 3000 odd murders weren’t elaborate suicides! (Although I wouldn’t put it past the Anderstown News to run that as investigative piece).
I don’t think I ever said you supported death squads, did I?
As for truth recovery without conviction I am assuming the double think is as follows, but clarify as necessary:
Republican Death Squads: truth recovery, no conviction;
Loyalist Death Squads: truth recovery, conviction under GFA;
State forces (UK) actual / collusion: full conviction! Compensation to families etc.
State forces (ROI) actual / collusion: full conviction! Compensation to families etc. (unless collusion with IRA, then no conviction).
” (Although I wouldn’t put it past the Anderstown News to run that as investigative piece).”
Why wouldn’t you put it past the Anderstown News Joe? Do you regularly read the paper?
“Republican Death Squads: truth recovery, no conviction”
There has been Republicans convicted under/after the GFA Joe.
“Loyalist Death Squads: truth recovery, conviction under GFA”
You fail to remember Unionist paramilitaries supported the GFA and knew its terms, as did many Republicans.
“State forces (UK) actual / collusion: full conviction! Compensation to families etc”
The number of State Forces members convicted of murders/crimes, or even in court, can be counted one 1 hand Joe, that’s despite the State Forces being directly involved in over 300 killings, the vast majority civilians, including children. That’s not counting collusion. There is even “shock” at the thought those soldiers who murdered 14 people on Bloody Sunday would dare be put in court for their crimes….so yes, the State Forces should be in court just like any Republican/Unionist paramilitary would, they were far from neutral “peace keepers”.
“State forces (ROI) actual / collusion: full conviction! Compensation to families etc. (unless collusion with IRA, then no conviction).”
Joe, I’m getting the feeling your on this blog to get something off your chest…
The reality is the double think is on the part of the British Government Joe, backed up by political Unionism and I’m in no doubt you have no issue with that kind of double think.
Also – just as an aside, does truth recovery only cover murder, or does it apply to bank robberies, punishment beatings, knee cappings, rape etc?
“Also – just as an aside, does truth recovery only cover murder, or does it apply to bank robberies, punishment beatings, knee cappings, rape etc”
I doubt very much Westminster would agree to Independent Truth recovery on rape Joe, they already dismissed any suggestion of having an independent investigation into Kincorra, who knows what that would unearth! They couldn’t risk the truth about MI5 agents, MP’s, Unionist politicians, Orange men, Unionist paramilitaries, etc molesting children coming to light. Of course, there’s also allegations British Royalty were involved in Kincorra……wouldn’t be the first time child abuse allegations were levelled at the House of Windsor….
You don’t think the UK state forces run death squads joe?
What is all the cover up and secrecy about then?
The lawyers have got them by the short and curlies and are tugging away.
It is always a good sign when unionists get their knickers in a twist 🙂
Why do you hate Gerry Adams so much gio?
jessica
I can’t say that I hate him. I have more respect for McGuinness who has been relatively open about his past.
Yes I know the argument as to why Gerry has to keep up the charade but for those of us who lived through the troubles it is rather hard to swallow.
It is also clear that this kind of thing will continue to haunt him and drag New Sinn Fein back into the past from which they are trying to escape.
But as I have often been told that is a matter for SF.
On a personal level I find him to be devoid of charm wit or indeed civility. One of the last of a deluded breed I hope.
Saw Alan Farrell last night doing his party piece and he reminded me of the little man who married the tall woman – somebody put him up to it!
I had never seen or heard of him before, and now he has served his boss’s purpose, I don’t think he will ever be heard of again.
Well, we cant all be blessed with your charm and wit gio, Not so sure about your civility which could be considered to have a unionist bias.
Ahh you almost said something nice to me, then just spoiled it at the end.
Saw Austin Stack making his interruption at Gerry Adams’ press conference today when he accused Gerry of lying.
See him on Prime Time also claiming Gerry was telling lies.
But he still wants Gerry to go to the Garda to make a statement.
What would be the point of someone making a statement when you don’t believe him?
Of course there will be a truth recovery process, how else will you ever admit you are a unionist gio?
“He said that he had it from a confidential source, and that the accuracy of this information was then verified by another confidential source.”
Using Alan’s logic, then anyone could accuse anyone of anything and say they have it from a “confidential source” and that information came from yet another “confidential source”. Of course we all know Alan’s “confidential source” is really a figment of his own imagination or Enda Kenny’s. We have seen these tactics deployed before North and South against Sinn Fein in order to damage them and they have failed again and again.
I don’t know what’s more disturbing, the fact the British Government, a sovereign government, are deliberately and openly denying Truth and Justice to thousands of people in the North, both Catholic and Protestant, or the fact that the Irish Government see’s petty politics as more important than getting Justice for 30 of their own citizens (many of them children, both born and unborn) murdered by a neighbouring state. Politics here, North and South (and in London) truly is rotten to the core.
I spoke to Micheal Martin once over twitter, he just replied to one of my tweets where I said something like “Don’t forget the people in the North”. He replied that Fianna Fail wont. Micheal has yet to prove it….
““If the Taoiseach and Micheál Martin are interested in healing the legacy of the past for all families, including the Stacks, the Finucanes, the families of the Dublin /Monaghan bombs and hundreds more, then they could begin by putting in place an International-based independent truth recovery process.””
100% Correct. An International based Independent Truth recovery process into ALL sides is a must. But sit back and watch the British Government and Political Unionism fight this very fair proposal tooth and nail, they have ALOT to hide…..
Well from one Irish citizen in the north Ryan, the message I would like to have put across to him would be that both Fianna Fail and Micheál Martin can go fuck themselves and shove a united Ireland up their arses.
“Well from one Irish citizen in the north Ryan, the message I would like to have put across to him would be that both Fianna Fail and Micheál Martin can go fuck themselves and shove a united Ireland up their arses”
I understand your frustration Jessica but I don’t think that’s the right way to go about things. Sometimes it does feel as if the Irish Government are just as much against the people in the North as the British Government is but its my belief we have more friends in the Dail than enemies.
We should never become disheartened by the attitude of some in the South Jessica, every political movement has faced opposition from people on their own side of the fence. The likes of Garret FitzGerald was an utter disgrace in my opinion but I’m thankful that the truth is coming out about him and its going in the History books. I’m just glad my name doesn’t have shame attached to it like his will.
At this stage I thinks it’s save to say that people that like Adams will not be swayed and those that dislike Adams don’t need to be swayed.
This is a case of don’t look at this (I.e water charges) look over there instead (Gerry Adams). It works every time.
“At this stage I thinks it’s save to say that people that like Adams will not be swayed and those that dislike Adams don’t need to be swayed.
This is a case of don’t look at this (I.e water charges) look over there instead (Gerry Adams). It works every time.”
You have your eye on the ball Cal. We also must remember that another General Election is coming sooner rather than later in the South. The demonizing of Adams is starting off early this time. Expect Austin Stack to pop up again when SF are out canvassing, the cameras will be out to catch it all for RTE News at Six.
It isn’t my frustration Ryan, don’t be so naïve.
I know very few people who don’t feel the same, many life long Sinn Fein supporters but no more.
Most feel betrayed by Sinn Fein but that just doesn’t make sense to me.
Are you telling me the people in Belfast don’t feel the same as we do in Armagh?
I believe they are blaming Sinn Fein because that is who we have always looked to, to defend us against the worst excesses of unionism
In my view, the blame goes right to Dublin.
Don’t get me wrong Ryan, Dublin is my capital, I still want and support an Irish nation and we will have one.
But it isn’t going to happen while either Fine Gael of Fianna Fail are in power. They are our enemies every bit as much as the Tories are in England and should be treated as such.
You may as well have been asking Theresa may not to forget about you in the north as Michael Martin.
I wouldn’t even speak to them again, never mind give any names or further information.
In fact, Sinn Fein should pull out of all of their truth recovery programs until the two states are able to join in with some of their own.
One sided reconciliation is making favourites out of victims over political expediency.