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Collapse of charges against Matt Conway

category national | miscellaneous | news report author Saturday January 18, 2003 18:06author by Republican

Statement by Des Dalton, Kildare Republican Sinn Féin January 15, 2003

The collapse of the case against Kildare man Matt Conway, a member of the Republican Sinn Féin Ard Chomhairle, who walked free today, Wednesday 15, from the Non-Jury 'Special Criminal Court' in Dublin was welcomed by Kildare RSF spokesman Des Dalton,Athy. In a statement he said that this further highlights the fact that the trial of the seven remaining men, including RSF Vice-President Des Long, on IRA membership charges, based entirely on the word of a Police chief superintendent with absolutely no supporting evidence, is nothing short of a "Political show-trial which would put Columbia or Stalinist Russia to shame".

"From the beginning this trial has been part of a concerted campaign by both the 26 County State and their 'Political Police' to sabotage Republican Sinn Féin's legitimate political work, in an attempt to silence all opposition to British Rule in Ireland .

The other seven men face the same charge as Matt Conway and therefore the case against them must also be suspect. The fact of the matter is that in the 26 County State today the word of a policeman can imprison people and this power is being abused by the bringing of spurious charges. This is a gross assault on the Civil and Human Rights of all Irish people." Des Dalton said.

Related Link: http://www.saoirse.rr.nu

Comments (4 of 4)

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3 days late. If you didn´t go to Shannon you´re not JEDI.
author by -publication date Sat Jan 18, 2003 20:22author address author phone

We all have legitimate political work to do.
and our rights to association and freedom of expression are human rights.

Justice
author by Despublication date Sat Jan 18, 2003 21:34author address author phone

I am not a supporter of RSF, in fact I totally disagree with their politics. However, from a civil liberties point of view, I am completely opposed to any person being convicted of any offence simply on the word of a police officer without supporting evidence.

Hands Off
author by Mac Tomaispublication date Sun Jan 19, 2003 00:14author address author phone

Hands off the Geriatric IRA. Living fossils are good for the tourist trade.

Not a RSF supporter either
author by Phuq Heddpublication date Sun Jan 19, 2003 04:03author address author phone

but there's definitely a different standard of "justice" applied to those boyos than to others. The "Special Criminal Court" is a Kafkaesque institution. (Have the Heavy Squad been prosecuted yet?).

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