On 27th July 2006 after a trial lasting almost a month the jury in the case of Det. Sgt. John White took just under one hour to throw out the case against Mr. White. For five years Garda Sgt. White had an accusation hanging over him that he planted a sawn-off shotgun at a Travellers encampment. Charged on June 20th 2001 he had always denied the claim. As White left the courthouse in Letterkenny he told waiting reporters that many of his former colleagues let him down and the only ones who had helped were some of the uniformed members of the force. This assertion from White would seem to suggest that the Garda organisation contains an inner core, namely the Special Branch. Many within the Special Branch of the Gardai have been involved in controversy for decades. There exists within the Special Branch a culture that are prepared to lie and perjure themselves to secure convictions against any individual that they want out of the way. read full story / add a comment

Suicide by dousing oneself in petrol is a relatively recent option.
Logically since refined petroleum has only been available to the mass population for a relatively short time. Just as long as Irish people have enjoyed the institution of the christian brothers they have been able to purchase parafin and diesel.

The first newspaper headline grabbing suicide with petrol was on October 5th 1963 in Saigon, a buddhist monk Quang Duc had had enough of the South Vietnamese government led by Ngo Dinh Diem.
His action was copied more times than anyone cares to remember.
In May 1966, 5 such suicides were recorded in just one week. a 17 year old girl followed a 19 year old girl who herself followed another monk.

The South Vietnamese government was unpopular, so the USA went in to sort it out. read full story / add a comment

The Afghan hunger strike brought into sharp focus the new Ireland into which our country has been transforming over the last 10 years. Our booming economy and relatively high wage levels have drawn many thousands of immigrants into the country in search of a better life here. Much as the Irish once looked to America for the promise of a happier future, so many people from less well off countries now look to Ireland. read full story / add a comment

The British Monarchy is a basic cause of Irelands problem: abolishing the monarch would help end Ireland's British problem read full story / add a comment

On the 30th of July over 2 million people closed down the centre of Mexico City. Their demand: A fair vote by vote recount of July 2nd's Presidential Elections which they believe have been stolen by the governing PAN (National Action Party). Since then protestors have remained camping on the motorways and on the streets amidst the skyscrapers. The International Media have remained very quiet on the issues. Please read and feel free to contact me. This article was written on the 10th of August. Fiachra read full story / add a comment

Following the Port Tunnel Hole,more money is going down another great Fianna Fail Black Hole on the M 50 read full story / add a comment

We need to dump the officials and bring councillors into power in local government read full story / add a comment

Students’ Unions' treatment of workers should be condemned

Two students’ unions have been sharply criticised in recent weeks for the
treatment of their staff. read full story / add a comment

The shamefull farce of the SEELB budget continues. The Department of Education through the appointed "Hitmen" Commissioners are pushing ahead with their despicable agenda of cuts and closures. read full story / add a comment

This summer , the tribunals damning of Garda behaviour in Abbeylara,
In the Morris Tribunal and the annual scree of reports by government
appointed committees ensure that the old aversion to ensuring
humane treatment of prisoners, children in care and citizens in trauma
is part of this right-wing governments modus operandi.

The annual reportage of below-standard and inhumane treatment
of the vulnerable in our society is drained, leaked and given media
attention in the absence of the Dail and after the outrage: 'a storm in a tea-cup'
the well-furnished TD's can return to the hallowed halls of Kildare Street, assured
of it's vote majority . read full story / add a comment

Sunday Independent stirs up a bit of fear with sensationalist and incorrect reporting. read full story / add a comment

As i walked away from a thouroughly entertaining game between Shelbourne FC and Cork City at Tolka Park last Friday, the whole evening was soured when I came face to face with the sickening reality of shambolic policing. read full story / add a comment

As the hypocritical farce which was the 26 county states dishonest attempt to misrepresent and hijack the anniversary of the Easter Rising fades for another year the real work of reclaiming the republic for the people carries on in the background . The National 1916 commemoration Committee was founded in 2001 with the express purpose of commemorating and remembering the ideals , aims and sacrifice of the 1916 rising in a dignified and fitting manner as the 100th anniversary of this momentous event draws ever nearer . It is essential Irish people are made aware of the yawning gulf between the aims of 1916 and the reality of the corrupt, servile neo-colonial 26 county state , which stands in fundamental opposition to everything 1916 was about - the sovereign ownership of Ireland, its territory and resources, by the people of Ireland . With the ongoing foreign occupation of our northern territory , the theft of our national resources - gas , oil and the imminent privatisation of our water resources in the north , the use of Shannon to facilitate mass murder , kidnap and imperialist ventures throughout the globe it can be stated quite honestly that Ireland today remains a subjugated land , outside of the ownership of the Irish people . Irish sovereignty in all its forms has been cast aside by native capitalists in ignnominious servitude to foreign masters and landlords . The National 1916 Commemoration Committee urges all Irish citizens to stand against these multiple usurpations of our sovereignty , to reject the states hypocritical ceremonies in future and stand with them in commemorating the ideals and aims of 1916 . It is essential this debate is kept alive and as part of our attempts to do so we present this article examining the motivations and aims of the 1916 leaders . read full story / add a comment

Detail of the destruction of the natural environment which will happen if Shell’s proposed pipeline and refinery is not stopped by people power. read full story / add a comment

With a press release in one hand and a baton in the other, will they take power in Mayo?
An analysis of recent developments in the Corrib gas conflict, particularly the Cassells report, as we can see public relations overdrive and preparations for repression going hand in hand. read full story / add a comment

Geologist view on Oil Exploration in Ireland read full story / add a comment

This is a parody of a U2 song, spurred by Bono's involvement in the purchase of a video game company that contracts with the US military, and is about to release a video game based on mercenaries taking over the nation of Venezuela. read full story / add a comment

Has anyone noticed how an increasing number of national projects are now managed by proxy on behalf of the State?

Increasingly, the service providers are US headquartered multinational "consultancy companies", with interests divergent across a broad spectrum of "engineering services", "environmental consultancy", "construction" etc.
read full story / add a comment

Folks, Pat Rabbitte, Leader of the Labour Party said some not very nice things about me on a recent visit to Limerick. I dont have the full copy of the text but his comments were mostly about my indiscipline regarding various comments i have made about the state of Labour movement, my opposition to the mullingar accord, etc etc etc

Hope its ok to publish my response here. I have sent same to local media read full story / add a comment

what are we coming to read full story / add a comment