Interview with Bobby Storey… October 16, 2010
Posted by WorldbyStorm in Irish Politics, Northern Ireland, Sinn Féin.trackback
Yes, Bobby, not Andy… …Useful interview in the Daily Mail by Jason O’Toole with Bobby Storey, Belfast Chairman of Sinn Féin and long time Republican.
During his incarceration, it is widely perceived, but never publicly confirmed, that he played an influential role in the peace process; is that true? ‘Certainly, I have played a pivotal role in the peace process in general, as opposed specifically the Good Friday Agreement.’ It was also claimed that he was at the center of meetings in South Armagh to encourage the hardline IRA there to stand down their weapons and obey the cease fire. When asked about this, he replies: ‘I certainly have been part of meetings. I have been part of a series of discussions within Republicanism across the length and breadth of Ireland about Sinn Féin strategy and Republicanism in general and the direction of the party. I’ve spoken to all shades of Republicans the length and breadth of the country.’ There is that description again of ‘Republicans’, rather than IRA, that he filters the interview with. Why is it that he won’t – or can’t – admit to being a member of the IRA? ‘If someone said they were in the IRA, no matter how long they served in jail, they would be arrested, charged and sentenced. Very few people have been convicted of membership… I would also be barred from holding public office for the next five years; I could receive a sentence of up to ten years.’ He accepts that the IRA made ‘mistakes’ during their violent campaign. ‘Certainly, mistakes were made and people suffered. I empathise with anyone – Republican, Unionist, or otherwise – who as an innocent victim suffered through the struggle.’ … Rather than dwelling on details of Northern Ireland’s violent past, he insists that everyone must look to bringing about a peaceful future for this island. For his part, he says he wants to persuade these dissidents to end the violence. ‘We have an open-ended offer to talk to anyone about anything and that certainly involves anyone involved in these groups.’
He’s particularly exercised by the dissident groups…
While he believes that the majority of dissident activities have been with the aim so far of being nothing more than ‘disruptive’, Storey now fears that it’s only a matter of time before innocent people are killed. ‘There’s a serious threat. You’re waiting on a tragedy. We had a pipe bomb near a Catholic school; we had a couple of children injured, the other week, when one of these Republican groups carried out an attack. And then there’s this reactionary stuff from the so-called Real UFF [Ulster Freedom Fighters] in recent days.’ There are between ‘five or six’ serious dissident groups, but Storey dismisses the view that the majority of them are fixated with the political agenda of a united Ireland and insists that many are nothing more than a front for criminal gangs – some with connections to Limerick gangs, as well as one well known criminal who is calling the shots from prison. ‘People have humorously referred the plethora of Republican groups out there like seen in The Life of Brian film, but tragically it is a far more serious matter. It is a collection of mistaken purist traditional Republicanism, adventurism, militarism, criminality and M16 securocrats. You will find that there is no evidence of any support for these groups outside of their own worlds. There is no logic for it. ‘There is criminality permeating throughout this. The Continuity IRA in Belfast have collapsed into an organised criminal gang and went over to Limerick-based leadership. They are linked to one of the feuding gangs in Limerick… Their bread and butter… is in the extortion of either criminals, drug dealers, or the families of criminals and drug dealers.’ What makes him believe that British intelligence have also infiltrated some of these dissident groups? ‘You wonder about the degree and level of the securocrats. Yes, British intelligence. The idea that something on the surface has a Republican ring to it doesn’t wash.’ He disagrees with recent views that these dissident groups are now gearing up for attacks on the mainland UK. ‘I don’t want to say I don’t believe it’s a possibility and then something happens in a couple of weeks time, but… you’re dealing with a phony war with a number of various dangerous elements within it.’
‘Dissident’ Republicanism “is a collection of mistaken purist traditional Republicanism, adventurism, militarism, criminality and M16 securocrats.” This type of crypto-fascism will probably continue to attract some of the disaffected so long as the on-going crisis of capitalism fails to evoke an adequate response from the left.
Is it not Bobby Storey, rather than Andy… Anyway, very interesting stuff here
Yeah, at first glance I said, ah no, more of this NGO shite. Then I saw it was Bobby and not Andy. Still, a lot of shite in it, probably not unrelated to Bobby not being quite the frightening figure he once was to Ardoyne teenagers. Any questions on how Bobby is such a successful part of the hospitality industry these days?
‘This type of crypto-fascism’- more nonsense. The bigger question is, why can’t the far-left attract the type of youth who join the various dissident groups?
What in particular is shite?
I agree that your question is a good one. Generally speaking national-consciousness tends to be a bigger motivator than class-consciousness. Also, without meaning to write them off, one wonders what interest in deep political thinking a lot of rep dissidents have. I always thought the nationalist instinct was less considered than the socialist one. Which is not to say nationalism is wrong necessarily.
OKay, okay, my mistake. An example of the danger of rattling off a post first thing on a Saturday morning. Freudian slip of the keyboard, so to speak.
Very good question Captain Rock.
‘M16 securocrats.’
The Brits are trying to undermine an agreement they helped establish?
‘You’re waiting on a tragedy. We had a pipe bomb near a Catholic school; we had a couple of children injured, the other week, when one of these Republican groups carried out an attack.’
Never happened between 1970-1997 of course.
A copy of SF Dublin News arrived through the letter box today – a picture of all their Dublin candidates in dark suits – MLM excepted – ranged in a semi-circle in front of Jim Larkin and the headline: Time to Face Down Gangland Dublin….and thems the lads to do it, eh?
I generally agree with your logic but re the first point, I thought a dissident behind some provocative stuff up in county Antrim was outer as an mi5 agent. That sounds vague- I will try to dig out the name.
As to your second point, you are right, but then he is only as hypocritical as any Irish politician who supported political violence at some point but does not do so now. Not many who aren’t like that.
Paddy Murray. Who claimed that he had been threatened by one Denis Donaldson. The Blanket covered all this, although I couldn’t find either name via the search it has on its archives. Some background here
http://sluggerotoole.com/2006/01/11/south_down_ruaned/
That’s the badger Garibaldy. There was some other guy on the loyalist side who was similar – a Pastor of some sort.
Captain whether or not its the case that ‘securocrats’ are in face undermining the agreement, i wouldnt say that there would be anything surprising, in and of itself, in elements of the British security establishment and indeed possibly senior elements within the civil service, having a different agenda to the elected government. In fact, I would nearly take that as a given.
http://www.u.tv/News/Derry-bomb-charge-case-dropped/9fc2bd4d-cbe7-4bf6-9711-f50d049008b9
The above is relevant in this case
I see Captain Rock picks out the reference to the pipe bomb near the Catholic school. That struck me too. I was wondering if anyone thought there was in significance in his going out of his way to describe it as a Catholic school – does this seems to suggest he thinks it was more egregious than leaving it at a state school? Or is that reading too much into it?
As for gangland Dublin. I’d rather people started with the gangland Dáil, instead of going for this sort of cheap populism.
As for far-left groups not attracting disaffected youth. Firstly I suppose they are much less inclined to support this type of stuff than they were in the past, even if “critically”. Eamonn McCann’s recent statement on the utter wrongness of the Provo campaign was striking in that regard.
Secondly, these disaffected youths are mostly in places where the far-left has little presence – Craigavon, Lurgan and the like, although Derry is different.
There’s also the question of whether the type of people attracted to dissident groups are the sort of people that the far-left ought to want to attract I suppose. Storey’s description of them as joining for protection for criminality does seem to be widely accepted in many of their host communities for want of a better word.
Would really like to know who in the SF press office thought this was a good idea…
As regards the SF dublin news thing, to be fair, I get what ye are saying but it is largely a response to a concerted campaign by the herald to link SF to criminality. This isnt about populism in this instance, its about redressing a perception and putting clear blue water between sf and criminals in dublin
Well the word from Ballinacurra is that wee Bobby is talkin shite.
Media Information From
Joe Lynch, RSF Real Sinn Fein
16 Beechgrove Avenue, Ballinacurra Weston Limerick
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Contact Joe Lynch on 061 311457 or email: SeanSabhat53@yahoo.ie
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
CLAIMS AGAINST TRUE REPUBLICANS ARE FALSE
The claims made in the tabloid media against Republicans are yet
again a rehash of previous allegations which in the past have proven
unfounded and totally false.
However for the record and in a personal capacity I wish to state
that true Republicans in Limerick have no links to or dealings
with drug and crime gangs.
In fact we are on the public record campaigning against the
activities of the drug dealers in our communities – we have
consistently campaigned against drug dealing and the awful
waste of human life caused by the use of illegal drugs.
We have pointed out that the aim of the dealers is to
ensnare young people into taking drugs and to this end
we have published and distributed leaflets warning
parents of the dangers posed by drug dealers in the
community.
Therefore the claims made in recent news coverage of
links to drug gangs is wide of the mark. The police
in Limerick have often stated they are aware of how
criminal gangs obtain weapons during the importation
of illegal drugs.
However in the past the media has repeatedly made false
allegations against true Republicans who adhere to the
traditional principles of Irish Republicanism.
No matter how often the tabloid media publishes and repeats
false claims, it will not make them true.
(Ends)
Issued on Friday 15th October 2010
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
For more information contact Joe Lynch on (061) 311457
As far as I understand “Real Sinn Fein” is unconnected to the Real IRA but in fact are a right-wing off-shoot of CIRA linked Republican Sinn Fein based in limerick . What was the exact trigger for the split though? I heard Limerick Reoublican Sinn Fein once tried to pass a motion on “Irish Jobs for Irish Workers” and it got voted down by the rest of RSF. There are also rumours of you guys working with european fascists. and what are your opinions on the CIRA’s rank and file overthrowing the army council in august, (only for the new body not to be recognized by Republican Sinn Fein)? As for giving a general commentary on Bobby Storey’s statement’s, which many would agree with, why would the media care what you have to say given that VERY few people have even heard of your group outside of Limerick?
It appears to me that one of the huge areas that we hear nothing from the dissidents about is the Unionist community and how it might fit into a united Ireland of the dissident’s making were that ever to happen. In what ways are any of these groups engaging with Unionists or politically challenging their perception that the union is still a good thing? Unionism still represents hundreds of thousands of people in the north. Rioting, car bombs and attacks on psni officers will not a united Ireland make nor win many unionists to a republican point of view. John Hume once said Ireland isn’t divided its people are. He was right. class politics has a large role to play in unifying ordinary people and the Tory cuts agenda is just the place to start building cross community unity in opposition. There is a role for all those who believe in a fairer or indeed New Ireland or Second Republic in building that opposition and gaining respect among the unionist community.
and speaking of Catholic schools..
N.I.First Minister Peter Robinson’s call for an end to state-sponsored school segregation, and an end to state financing for Catholic schools, must surely be supported by all progressives and by all true republicans.
I don’t think there’s anything sinister in that “Catholic school” reference. “Republican group leaves bomb near school” suggests they’re callous militaristic headbangers who think it’d be a good idea to restart the Troubles, but “Republican group leaves bomb near Catholic school” suggests they’re clueless callous militaristic headbangers, who think it’d be a good idea to restart the Troubles without any popular support whatever. Which is probably rather more dangerous, unfortunately.
Post No 10 –
and speaking of Catholic schools..
N.I.First Minister Peter Robinson’s call for an end to state-sponsored school segregation, and an end to state financing for Catholic schools, must surely be supported by all progressives and by all true republicans.
You’ll find that republicans won’t support this, I have heard them argue that Catholic education passes on to the children some national values, history, Irish culture etc.
Unfortunately that useful part is engulfed in religious muck but as most republicans are Catholic by default that isnt an issue for them.
The true republicans are unlikely to take any position on such a mundane matter.
By true republicans I mean people who believe in the separation of Church and State as embodied in the first amendment to the constitution of the U.S republic. Peter Robinson now, it would seem, is more republican than Irish republicans,-the latter should more correctly be regarded as nationalists.
The US does fund some confessional schools, albeit indirectly, via school vouchers. The American government also funds ‘faith-based initiatives’.
France, a strictly secular republic, also funds private Catholic schools.
As with any living document the provisions in the U.S constitution separating Church and State often come under attack. But it is generally accepted that the separation clause constrains the state from supporting religion including religious schools. The situation in Ireland of church-owned and church-run schools being financed by the state would be impossible under the U.S. republican constitution.
True republicans should advocate that the principle and policy advocated by Peter Robinson should also be applied in the ‘Republic’ of Ireland.
The US Supreme Court (Zelman v. Simmons-Harris, 536 U.S. 639 (2002)) has upheld the constitutionality of school vouchers and their compatibility with the first amendment.
And as I said, France also funds private Catholic schools. Does that mean that France isn’t a republic?
There are numerous Supreme CT decisions regarding what is permitted or not under the first amend. The court uphold some laws and shoots down others. There is an ongoing political and legal struggle over constitutional interpretation. But its a certainty that the U.S Supreme Ct would never uphold the type of state-sponsored sectarian apartheid that exists in schools in Ireland.
A republic, as much as i can discern, is merely a non-monarchical form of government. The specific constitutional provisions vary from republic to republic. The type of provisions that in my opinion would constitute a ‘real republic’ are those in the U.S. Bill of Rights.
The word ‘republican’ as in ‘Irish republican movement’ means very little. Historically it meant nationalists who believed in physical force to win independence. Many who no longer believe in violence still call themselves republicans, such as for exameple, Gerry Adams and Michael McDowell.
The Robinson proposal to end state-sponsored sectarian apartheid should surely be welcomed as a progressive step towards the separation of Church and State, and the modernisation of church-state relations in Ireland, north and south.
I wonder if it would have had a better reception if the idea either didnt originate from Peter Robinson, or if he had announced it at somewhere other than a DUP event?
The Irish system would not be constitutional in the US, because the first amendment bans any direct state funding to religious schools. Indirect state funding to religious schools, such as provided by school vouchers, is constitutional. If in theory we were to transplant the first amendment to Ireland, we could complement it with a school voucher system and still maintain taxpayer-funded religious schools without falling foul of the seperation of church and state, as interpreted by the US Supreme Court.
In France, private Catholic schools are fully funded by the taxpayer. If France is a republic, then clearly support for denominational education is compatible with republicanism.
The US constitution has many benefits but it’s also culture-specific. The US Bill of Rights was written over 200 years ago and up until the 1960′s American public schools enforced a broadly Protestant ethos. More recent human rights documents stress explicitly that educational choice should lie with parents, not politicians. Article 26 (3) of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights states that “Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children”. The Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union (Article 14 (3)) also establishes the “right of parents to ensure the education and teaching of their children in conformity with their religious, philosophical and pedagogical convictions”. The European Convention on Human Rights also requires the state to “respect the right of parents to ensure such education and teaching in conformity with their own religions and philosophical convictions”.
Does Peter Robinson have a position on the separation of the Protestant religion from the British state?
That should be the first point to sort out so as to show a bit of sincerity and even-handedness.
A couple of weeks ago, I heard Mr. Storey described as the Provos’ Rottweiler, intimidating all those along the Falls for the glory of the GFA.
A pivotal role during the peace process…that would be one way of describing it.
Given the large numbers of schoolteachers in the U.S who were Irish-American or Jewish its doubtful that a ‘Protestant ethos’ was enforced in the public schools.
Parents right to send their children to a school of any religious denomination they chose is also guaranteed by the first amend. to the U.S. constitution.
France has banned the burqa; such a curtailment of religious expression would be unconstitutional in the U.S,-although of course such expressions are contentious issues. The current U.S justice dept. is clearly on the side of the right to religious expression:
“The feds sued on behalf of 10 bus and subway workers who were transferred to less desirable jobs because their religious beliefs require them to wear the headgear “unsullied by logos,” according to court papers.”
http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2010/09/29/2010-09-29_transit_workers_headgear_suit_gets_judges_nod.html
What is or is not a republic is not defined by any specific constitutional provisions.
In no way can the very limited U.S supreme ct. rulings on some govt.aid to religious schools be interpreted as a claim that Ireland’s state-financed sectarian system of school segregation would pass muster under the U.S Bill of Rights.
The U.S supreme ct.”has approved some types of aid to religious schools that should not have been approved. But even on the most accomodationist reading of these cases, school voucher systems are illegal.”
http://candst.tripod.com/tnppage/vouch3.htm
Shane,
“private Catholic schools are funded by the taxpayer”….provided they stick to the State’s educational curriculum which rules out creationism and rules in secular philosophy!
This is in France