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Indymedia ireland

Indymedia Ireland is a volunteer-run non-commercial open publishing website for local and international news, opinion & analysis, press releases and events. Its main objective is to enable the public to participate in reporting and analysis of the news and other important events and aspects of our daily lives and thereby give a voice to people.

offsite link Fraud and mismanagement at University College Cork Thu Aug 28, 2025 18:30 | Calli Morganite
UCC has paid huge sums to a criminal professor
This story is not for republication. I bear responsibility for the things I write. I have read the guidelines and understand that I must not write anything untrue, and I won't.
This is a public interest story about a complete failure of governance and management at UCC.

offsite link Deliberate Design Flaw In ChatGPT-5 Sun Aug 17, 2025 08:04 | Mind Agent
Socratic Dialog Between ChatGPT-5 and Mind Agent Reveals Fatal and Deliberate 'Design by Construction' Flaw
This design flaw in ChatGPT-5's default epistemic mode subverts what the much touted ChatGPT-5 can do... so long as the flaw is not tickled, any usage should be fine---The epistemological question is: how would anyone in the public, includes you reading this (since no one is all knowing), in an unfamiliar domain know whether or not the flaw has been tickled when seeking information or understanding of a domain without prior knowledge of that domain???!

This analysis is a pretty unique and significant contribution to the space of empirical evaluation of LLMs that exist in AI public world... at least thus far, as far as I am aware! For what it's worth--as if anyone in the ChatGPT universe cares as they pile up on using the "PhD level scholar in your pocket".

According to GPT-5, and according to my tests, this flaw exists in all LLMs... What is revealing is the deduction GPT-5 made: Why ?design choice? starts looking like ?deliberate flaw?.

People are paying $200 a month to not just ChatGPT, but all major LLMs have similar Pro pricing! I bet they, like the normal user of free ChatGPT, stay in LLM's default mode where the flaw manifests itself. As it did in this evaluation.

offsite link AI Reach: Gemini Reasoning Question of God Sat Aug 02, 2025 20:00 | Mind Agent
Evaluating Semantic Reasoning Capability of AI Chatbot on Ontologically Deep Abstract (bias neutral) Thought
I have been evaluating AI Chatbot agents for their epistemic limits over the past two months, and have tested all major AI Agents, ChatGPT, Grok, Claude, Perplexity, and DeepSeek, for their epistemic limits and their negative impact as information gate-keepers.... Today I decided to test for how AI could be the boon for humanity in other positive areas, such as in completely abstract realms, such as metaphysical thought. Meaning, I wanted to test the LLMs for Positives beyond what most researchers benchmark these for, or have expressed in the approx. 2500 Turing tests in Humanity?s Last Exam.. And I chose as my first candidate, Google DeepMind's Gemini as I had not evaluated it before on anything.

offsite link Israeli Human Rights Group B'Tselem finally Admits It is Genocide releasing Our Genocide report Fri Aug 01, 2025 23:54 | 1 of indy
We have all known it for over 2 years that it is a genocide in Gaza
Israeli human rights group B'Tselem has finally admitted what everyone else outside Israel has known for two years is that the Israeli state is carrying out a genocide in Gaza

Western governments like the USA are complicit in it as they have been supplying the huge bombs and missiles used by Israel and dropped on innocent civilians in Gaza. One phone call from the USA regime could have ended it at any point. However many other countries are complicity with their tacit approval and neighboring Arab countries have been pretty spinless too in their support

With the release of this report titled: Our Genocide -there is a good chance this will make it okay for more people within Israel itself to speak out and do something about it despite the fact that many there are actually in support of the Gaza

offsite link China?s CITY WIDE CASH SEIZURES Begin ? ATMs Frozen, Digital Yuan FORCED Overnight Wed Jul 30, 2025 21:40 | 1 of indy
This story is unverified but it is very instructive of what will happen when cash is removed
THIS STORY IS UNVERIFIED BUT PLEASE WATCH THE VIDEO OR READ THE TRANSCRIPT AS IT GIVES AN VERY GOOD IDEA OF WHAT A CASHLESS SOCIETY WILL LOOK LIKE. And it ain't pretty

A single video report has come out of China claiming China's biggest cities are now cashless, not by choice, but by force. The report goes on to claim ATMs have gone dark, vaults are being emptied. And overnight (July 20 into 21), the digital yuan is the only currency allowed.

The Saker >>

Public Inquiry
Interested in maladministration. Estd. 2005

offsite link RTEs Sarah McInerney ? Fianna Fail?supporter? Anthony

offsite link Joe Duffy is dishonest and untrustworthy Anthony

offsite link Robert Watt complaint: Time for decision by SIPO Anthony

offsite link RTE in breach of its own editorial principles Anthony

offsite link Waiting for SIPO Anthony

Public Inquiry >>

Lockdown Skeptics

The Daily Sceptic

offsite link Climatism in Europe is Dying Tue Sep 30, 2025 19:00 | Eugyppius
Climatism in Europe is dying as its grassroots support evaporates and Left-wing activists move onto other concerns. Eurocrats are well-insulated from public opinion but they can't ignore it forever, says Eugyppius.
The post Climatism in Europe is Dying appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.

offsite link Blow to Miliband as Reeves Signals Support for North Sea Drilling and Union Boss Calls for Him to Be... Tue Sep 30, 2025 17:36 | Will Jones
Rachel Reeves has signalled support for drilling in the North Sea in a blow to Ed Miliband ? as the boss of the Unite union calls on Keir Starmer to sack the "disastrous" Net Zero Secretary.
The post Blow to Miliband as Reeves Signals Support for North Sea Drilling and Union Boss Calls for Him to Be Sacked appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.

offsite link Wes Streeting Says Nigel Farage is ?Racist? Tue Sep 30, 2025 15:30 | Will Jones
Health Secretary Wes Streeting?has said Nigel Farage is "racist", joining Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson in using the insult of the Reform party and its leader.
The post Wes Streeting Says Nigel Farage is “Racist” appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.

offsite link Is the ?Friend-Enemy Distinction? Right-Wing Critical Race Theory? Tue Sep 30, 2025 13:00 | Noah Carl
Perfectly neutral institutions will never be attainable, argues Noah Carl, but that doesn?t mean that reasonably neutral institutions aren?t worth striving for.
The post Is the ‘Friend-Enemy Distinction’ Right-Wing Critical Race Theory? appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.

offsite link Europe Has Never Looked More Pathetic Tue Sep 30, 2025 11:27 | Will Jones
With Trump's announcement of a peace plan backed by both Israel and Arab leaders, Europe, with its toothless alternative proposal to reward terror, has never looked more pathetic or weaker on the global stage.
The post Europe Has Never Looked More Pathetic appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.

Lockdown Skeptics >>

Sinn Féin objects to Stormont Venue for Gibralter Ceremony

category national | rights, freedoms and repression | press release author Friday March 07, 2008 13:54author by Cael - Sinn Féin Report this post to the editors

Mairéid Farrell Commemoration

A plan by Westminster MP and Stormont Assembly member Gerry Adams to hold a commemoration for an IRA woman in the Long Gallery at Parliament Buildings could be viewed as an insult to her memory, a spokesman for Sinn Féin Poblachtach said today.

RSF OBJECT TO STORMONT VENUE FOR GIBRALTER CEREMONY

A plan by Westminster MP and StormontAssembly member Gerry Adams to hold a commemoration for an IRA woman in the Long Gallery at Parliament Buildings could be viewed as an insult to her memory, a spokesman for Republican Sinn Féin said today.

Des Long from Corbally in Limerick, the Chairman of the Munster RSF Executive said that while Mairead Farrell was undoubtedly a brave Irishwoman and no one could object to her being remembered on International Women’s Day on 8th March, the venue for the event must be questioned.

The fact is she was engaged in a military operation for the IRA when she was killed in Gibraltar twenty years ago, he said. She stood up against British rule in Ireland and was prepared to tackle the British presence.

For Gerry Adams to advocate that her memory be honoured in Stormont – the very building she fought against – must surely be viewed as opportunistic on his part and a perversion of what Mairead Farrell stood for during her lifetime. Let her legacy be the way she died – and let her be remembered by the people of Belfast on the streets of Belfast – not in a building built and paid for by the British Crown!

Related Link: http://admin2.7.forumer.com/viewforum.php?f=1
author by WTpublication date Fri Mar 07, 2008 22:22author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Have they forgot about the other women who died during the War? Why not commemorate them all equally?
Is this just another attempt to claw back some vestige of Republicanism because they believe that the writing is on the wall regarding the DUP who no longer want chuckling with the Chuckies and might even move to bring down the Puppet Government in order to save their electoral scalps?
Was even their appearance at the funeral of The Dark another opportunistic attempt to save face? For lets not forget that many of the same people who showed up were those who during his final years had treated him with contempt.
What if Maireid had survived and had taken the same stance as The Dark and the Price Sisters, would she be treated with the same contempt?
It's easy to use someone's name when they are dead.

author by Sharon. - Individual .publication date Fri Mar 07, 2008 23:21author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Hi Hopeful !

Looking forward to the day when you'll be able to do this for yourself -

http://www.indymedia.ie/article/86275

http://www.indymedia.ie/article/86354

http://www.indymedia.ie/article/86199

http://www.indymedia.ie/article/86194

http://www.indymedia.ie/article/86164

- maybe one day....

Sharon.

Related Link: http://1169andcounting.blogspot.com
author by Carlapublication date Sat Mar 08, 2008 07:48author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Mairead's family, who wanted the event to go ahead?

Or RSF?

author by Sharon. - Individual .publication date Sat Mar 08, 2008 09:23author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Hi Carla !

Stormont is the embodiment of the British military and political presence on this island-
a building representative of British imperialism , an ideology which Mairéad Farrell died fighting against.
If Mr Adams and Company insist on commemorating Mairéad - who gave her life fighting against the British writ , not administering it - perhaps they could touch-up their paymasters in the London Treasury for a few bob - thirty pieces of silver should be enough - and hire an hotel function room for a day?

Thanks!

Sharon.

Related Link: http://1169andcounting.blogspot.com
author by WTpublication date Sat Mar 08, 2008 16:17author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Maireid's family should be ashamed of themselves. SF have become a party reduced to grovelling for the crumbs of the table while those they grovel to make much of the fact that they have beaten them into submission and it is they, the DUP who are in control.
The grovelling of McGuinness and Adams after the downfall of Paisley was cringe-worthy at best. The school bully had finally allowed them to be in his gang, isn't he so good?
Don't tell me this is what people died for.

author by ???????????publication date Sun Mar 09, 2008 19:12author address author phone Report this post to the editors

do RSF view volunteers who stayed with the provo's after 86 as 'volunteers'

not trying to be smart. just interested

author by One RMpublication date Sun Mar 09, 2008 19:22author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Wasn't it a leading RSF member and veteran that the McKearney and the Lynagh familes asked to give the oration at the unveiling of the monument to these two Volunteers both killed after 86? The RSF//Republican Movement knows ( and knew) their own.

author by Sharon . - Individualpublication date Sun Mar 09, 2008 21:49author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Hi '???????' !
I'm not speaking on behalf of RSF here , but RSF members that I work with are of the opinion that , after the 1986 split , those that went with the Provos constituted a militia aligned with a Leinster House-registered political party : they were 'volunteers' , yes , but in an organisation which took political direction from a constitutional political party , and one which had registered itself with the State as such.

Hi ' One RM' !
I believe that was Gerry McCarthy , from Cork . His involvement was 'advised against' by the leadership of the above-mentioned party , so I'm told . He was known personally by some of the families and was asked to say a few words , but it never came to pass.

Thanks!

Sharon.

Related Link: http://1169andcounting.blogspot.com
author by Cael - Sinn Féinpublication date Sun Mar 09, 2008 22:48author address author phone Report this post to the editors

I think the view of most Republicans is that there were many good Volunteers who stayed with their units after the split and just consentrated on the war effort. Many of them did not live to realise how the philosophical and, indeed logical, ground had been taken from under them by Adams and Co. Volunteers like Jim Lynagh did realise the way things were going and was preparing to break with the Adams misleadership before his death. I dont know anyone in RSF who dosnt have the height of respect for Volunteers like Jim Lynagh and Brendan Hughes.

Related Link: http://admin2.7.forumer.com/index.php
author by ????????????publication date Mon Mar 10, 2008 16:18author address author phone Report this post to the editors

thanks. just wondering because the stament above say's she was involved in an IRA mission.

wasn't sure if it was an error or if they recognised the (p) IRA as legitimate in terms of all that 2nd Dail stuff and that the (C) IRA didn't anounce it's existance untill 94, i think. but if some people see them as a militia, from there logic i can understand it

had an uncle in portlaoise in the early 90's and he said RSF used to visit the prisioners. suppose it was based on common respect as opposed to anything else.

author by circles withinpublication date Mon Mar 10, 2008 17:11author address author phone Report this post to the editors

I always got the feeling that there was an rsf affiliated element within the pira (not psf) for a few years after 86. there were certainly more than a few who were known rsf 'sympathizers' (and in many cases strong family conections) and this was not liked by provo hq at all. Volunteers S McElwaine, J Lynagh , P McKearney were three who can be mentioned who were planning on making the inevitable break. There was a definate overlaping for a good two years anyway.

author by Sharon . - Individual .publication date Mon Mar 10, 2008 17:25author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Hi '?????' !

It would have been a PIRA operation , designed to draw attention to the continuing presence , both politically and militarily , of Westminster , in a part of Ireland.
I wouldn't be as quick as you are to apparently dismiss "...all that 2nd Dail stuff.." , as it is one of the strands in our historical past and is , I believe , just as important to republicans as is any other such strand.

The term 'Continuity' was first used in the context we are talking about here in July 1987, by Comdt. General Tom Maguire (who died in 1993 , aged 101) .
At the time of the split in late1986 , some republican prisoners in Portlaoise Gaol and Maghaberry signalled their continuing support for the republican position and RSF and members from the prisoners support group ('Cabhair') would have visited them , so your Uncle is right on that score.

Hope the above is helpful to you - thanks!

Sharon.

Related Link: http://1169andcounting.blogspot.com
author by some heropublication date Mon Mar 10, 2008 17:49author address author phone Report this post to the editors

If the Gibralter bomb had succeed it would have been another Enniskillen, innocent people, including Spaniards would have been butchered simply for listening to a military brass band.

MF had a previous conviction for bombing a hotel, she destroyed many innnocent peoples lives.

Murdering innocent people can never be justified.

author by LMFpublication date Mon Mar 10, 2008 18:25author address author phone Report this post to the editors

"Murdering innocent people can never be justified."

Except, it seems, when the British do it, in which case it is justified all the livelong day.

Ever hear of Sir Arthur "Bomber" Harris? You can see his statue, which was unveiled by the Queen Mother in 1992, in London.

Not Dresden, London.

author by ?????????publication date Mon Mar 10, 2008 19:54author address author phone Report this post to the editors

thanks again. thats interesting, i wasn't aware prisioners split in the prisions. i was under the impression RSF were visiting provo's. My ignorance

i didn't mean to be offence with the "all the 2nd dail stuff" just as i understand it that's what's important to RSF.

author by Some heropublication date Mon Mar 10, 2008 20:42author address author phone Report this post to the editors

So because Britain bombed Dresen, the PIRA were justified in bombing spanish people and other tourists ?

This type of logic is often used by republicans, I once pointed out it was wrong to tar and feather young women in the 1970s, the response, well Britain done it to republicans in 1798 rebellion.

It shows Britain still controls their psychological construct.

author by ????publication date Mon Mar 10, 2008 21:00author address author phone Report this post to the editors

there was no explosives found next or near the giberalter 3 when they where shot. The sas had been tailing them for some time and where well aware of this. although they could have been there doing survailaince, though they all had previous records and i presume the IRA could have sent people there who had no history and bring no attention on themselves or any operation. they could have been meeting someone or they could have been there on holiday for all we know.

incidently this was covered by a ITV docomentry called death on the rock. The british state removed the licence from the production company for making programmes again because the programe stated catogoricly that there was no evidence that the 3 were there to plant a bomb

author by reality checkpublication date Mon Mar 10, 2008 22:53author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Sharon as you said you support the action which was being planned, would you support the right of ETA to plant a bomb in Dublin if a Spanish military band was playing, or are Irish peoples lives more important then Gibralterians, Spaniards and others ?

author by Sharon. - Individual .publication date Mon Mar 10, 2008 23:36author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Hi again , '?????' !

A split occurred within all sections of the Movement - for instance , Irish republicans in New York had , within days of the split , contacted RSF with a pledge of support for those who "...stand behind Tom Maguire's statement.." , as had representatives of Irish republican organisations in Boston , Massechutas , San Francisco and Chicago , amongst others , whilst on this isle , the Cumann na mBan organisation was one of the first to explain its position in dis-owning the group which left the Movement with Adams : " Our stance today is not something new for us in Cumann na mBan . One has only to look at the Treaty debates of 1922 and our contribution to them . Again in 1932 when Republicans sided with da Valera on the promise that he would close the jails , we in Cumann na mBan stood by the Republic . Also in 1948 and in 1968 we remained true to that fundamental principle.."

And i would hope that events surrounding the 2nd Dail are important to some outside RSF , as well .

Thanks!

Sharon.

Related Link: http://1169andcounting.blogspot.com
author by Sharon. - Individual .publication date Mon Mar 10, 2008 23:52author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Hi 'Reality Check' !

I would need more information regarding the circumstances of the scenario you outlined above - such as knowing if , at the time 'the bomb was planted' , the Dublin Administration had forcibly partitioned Spain , and enforced that partition politically and militarily ? And had that and other Dublin political Administrations a bloody history in Spain at the time 'the bomb was planted' and an equally bloody and imperialist history in other countries ?

Thanks!

Sharon.

Related Link: http://1169andcounting.blogspot.com
author by Be a Republican / Support RSFpublication date Tue Mar 11, 2008 02:27author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Hello its good to see these questions asked by a young person, Id like to add to Sharons reply that besides Cumman na mBann, the leadership of Na Fianna Eireann also issued statement in support of the Republican (ie: RSF's) position and, yes there were many prisoners in Portlaoise, Long kesh and England who fully supported RSF.

There was also one prisoner in the states. RSF maintained excellent relations with the LCR prisoners who also split with the provo leadership at that time, LCR prisoners sent fraternal greeting to each RSF ard fheisanna while they (LCR) were in existence, had articles published in SAOIRSE, and many were helped by Cabhair and it was RSF who organised more than one of their prisoners 'welcome home' partys.

Sharom is also correct about the amount of support in the sates in 86, there were still quite a few veterans from the tan and civil wars who had been through the Republican/reformer split a few times and were nto going to be sell out , as Michael Flannery said at the time "if it was wrong for us to go into leinster house with 40, its wrong for you to go in with 4"

there was no question of sucj men and women supporting adams and his brand of free statism, not for Republuicans a chara and that is stil where people worthy of the name will be found , supporting the true Republican Movment Keep asking questions pay attention read yoru history and you will go to correct way.

Stand by the Republic !

author by Reality checkpublication date Tue Mar 11, 2008 10:19author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Ah right, so what you are saying is the bombing was justified because Gibralter is under British juristiction, so presumably various Islamic groups, whos countries are under British occupation, would be justified bombing a brass band in Northern Ireland, and taking out innocent Irish people as well, as its under British juristiction ?

author by ?????????publication date Tue Mar 11, 2008 15:53author address author phone Report this post to the editors

thats interesting about cumman na mban. i thaught they amalgamated with the army, didn't know they left out right. Do they still exist as a military organisation. had a good few family members in there ranks going way back. theres not many books on them, especialy after the civil war. it's one part of history we've been let down on for information. heard that about na fianna but i was under the impression that it was high ranking members in dublin, not the body it's self.

iam not against anybody, i think all over the world people consontate on differance and ignore everything they have in common and that holds people back. i try and do it the other way around, respect diference but consontrate on what people have in common. thats how i live and advance my republicianism if that makes scence. I respect that some people believe the 2nd dail is as important today as it was in the 20ties, it's not for me.

author by ???????publication date Tue Mar 11, 2008 15:57author address author phone Report this post to the editors

where are you getting this about a brass band. theres a brit military base on giberalter, has been for hundreds of years. It's statigic importance to the mediterarian is why the brits are there with alot more than a brass band

author by Reality checkpublication date Tue Mar 11, 2008 17:49author address author phone Report this post to the editors

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Flavius

Operation Flavius was the name given to an operation by a Special Air Service team in Gibraltar on 6 March 1988 tasked with preventing a Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) bomb plot. The IRA active service unit's members, Danny McCann, Seán Savage and Mairéad Farrell, conspired to detonate a bomb where the band assembled for the weekly changing of the guard at the governor’s residence.

Bomb plot
Their plan was to hide the bomb in a car so as to kill the British Army military band that was assembling for the parade. In order to ensure a parking space in a busy town area, it was necessary to reserve it on the preceding Sunday.

The SAS team was incorrectly informed that the IRA had already placed their bomb and were ready to detonate it. The three were stopped as they walked near the Shell filling station in Winston Churchill Avenue, the busy main road leading to the Airport and the Spanish frontier. McCann was then shot as the SAS claimed he made an 'aggressive move' towards a bag he was carrying. They stated he was intending to trigger a car bomb using a remote control device. After McCann was killed, it was claimed that Farrell made a move towards her handbag and was shot on similar grounds. SAS members again claimed that Savage moved his hand to his pocket and the SAS killed him also.

McCann was shot five times, Farrell eight times, and Savage between 16 and 18 times. All three were subsequently found to be unarmed, and without any kind of remote trigger. Materials for a bomb, including 64 kg of Semtex, were later found in a car in Spain, identified by keys found in Farrell's handbag.[1]

author by think pleasepublication date Tue Mar 11, 2008 17:57author address author phone Report this post to the editors

is there a miltary base there? or just this brass band sitting all alone out on the rock playing songs to the mermaids?

author by Reality checkpublication date Tue Mar 11, 2008 18:11author address author phone Report this post to the editors

The car with the explosives in was to target the military band as they paraded in the town centre, (as they did every week), it was a soft target, the PIRA unit were not attempting to breach the security of military base.

If it had succeded it was potententially another Omagh or Enniskillen.

Farrell had previously been convicted of bombing a hotel.

I dont see what right republicans have to support actions which take out innocent people, which would have happened, yet go on about civil and human rights.

Republican hypocrisy is extraordinary.

author by answerpublication date Tue Mar 11, 2008 18:15author address author phone Report this post to the editors

so is the answer that the British have more than just this brass band there?

author by ?????????publication date Tue Mar 11, 2008 19:41author address author phone Report this post to the editors

in 1987 giberalter had a boarder checkpoint with spain. the car the 3 traveled in like all cars passing the check point was filmed crossing the boarder. the car was checked, there was no wate in the boot of the car as demonstrated by no backward tilt at the back axis. The 3 died, what ever there intentions died with them. the wikipidia article was spin put out by the brit government in the after math. this was later challaged in the death on the rock film by itv.

author by Reality checkpublication date Tue Mar 11, 2008 20:40author address author phone Report this post to the editors



McCann, however, would be dead within the year - betrayed by one of his most trusted associates in the Provisional IRA - shot down with two other members of the IRA, Sean Savage and Mairead Farrell, in Gibraltar.

McCann had every reason to trust 'Ruby' Davison.

They had been charged - along with Sean Savage and four others - with the murder in September 1981 of RUC Constable Alexander Beck.

He died in an IRA rocket attack on his Land Rover as it drove through the Suffolk area of west Belfast.

They were later cleared of involvement in the killing, but Davison was someone McCann believed he could trust.

In early February 1988, the two met in Belfast's Markets area where Davison was the local IRA commander.

A chance remark by McCann when leaving would lead the security forces directly to events in Gibraltar four weeks later.

RECCE

"Davison had said 'cheerio' and said he'd be in touch with McCann, and McCann had replied that he was off to Spain for a while," a former Branch officer told Sunday Life.

"Davison asked how long McCann would be away on holiday and McCann replied that 'this is no holiday - I'm going on a recce (reconnaissance)'."

Within hours Davison had reported this conversation with McCann to his handler in RUC Special Branch.

Alarm bells rang at MI5 HQ inside the Northern Ireland Office's political development unit.

A task force involving Special Branch, MI5 and Army Intelligence met within days and McCann was placed under 24-hour surveillance.

The IRA had been active in attacks across Europe, hitting British targets in Holland and Germany.

The security services knew that a trip to Spain by someone as senior as McCann could mean only one thing - an attack on security force personnel in Gibraltar.

McCann, Savage, Farrell and a fourth IRA member flew to Malaga on Friday, March 4, checked into a hotel using false names and hired a Renault 5 from Avis Car Rentals.

Just after 3.30pm on Sunday, March 6, the IRA members left the car near to where members of the Royal Anglian Regiment band were due to play 48 hours later.

Within minutes, all three IRA members were shot dead.

A dozen-strong SAS team had been awaiting their arrival on the Rock since February 19.

All three IRA members were unarmed. One witness claimed they were shot as they were trying to surrender, and their deaths have caused controversy ever since.

In a statement read to the inquests, one of the SAS soldiers said McCann had looked towards him in a split second before the shooting began.

He added: "I was just about the shout a warning to stop and at the same time I was drawing my pistol and the effect overtook the warning.

"He looked straight at me. We literally had eye-to-eye contact and the smile went off his face.

"It's hard to describe. It's as though McCann had a realisation of who I was, as though I was a threat to him."

The SAS officer claimed he opened fire believing McCann was going to detonate a device in the Renault.

SEMTEX

That car, however, was empty. Spanish police in Marbella later recovered more than 100lb of Semtex explosive from a Ford Fiesta rented by Farrell in the name of Catherine Smith

author by ???????publication date Tue Mar 11, 2008 21:14author address author phone Report this post to the editors

i can guess as well. maybe they were meeting basques, maybe they were moveing weapons maybe they wanted to see the airplane run way with apublic road running through it.

author by Sharon. - Individual .publication date Tue Mar 11, 2008 22:52author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Hi 'Reality Check' !

You wrote - "Ah right, so what you are saying is the bombing was justified because Gibralter is under British juristiction... "
Where did I say that ?
This is what I said in reply to the scenario you put to me -
" I would need more information regarding the circumstances of the scenario you outlined above - such as knowing if , at the time 'the bomb was planted' , the Dublin Administration had forcibly partitioned Spain , and enforced that partition politically and militarily ? And had that and other Dublin political Administrations a bloody history in Spain at the time 'the bomb was planted' and an equally bloody and imperialist history in other countries ?"
Where exactly - in the above - did I refer to 'Gibralter and British jurisdiction' ?
Are you deliberately attempting to waste my time by constructing a 'straw-man' argument or does that post you wrote belong in a different thread ?
"Ah right" : I think I know.....

Hi '?????' !

Cumann na mBan still exist , yes , and , as usual , they will have a representative present at the Republican Easter Commemoration on Easter Monday next (March 24) in Dublin , at the GPO at 2.30pm (leaving the Garden Of Remembrance at 2pm) .
And I understand that the Second Dail 'may not be for you' - indeed , there are parts of our history which I don't 'agree' with , but I would not dismiss them as 'unimportant' or whatever.

Thanks!

Sharon.

Related Link: http://1169andcounting.blogspot.com
author by Against ultra nationalismpublication date Wed Mar 12, 2008 11:31author address author phone Report this post to the editors

I always find it amusing when people claiming to be socialists, support the actions of people, whos leaders in their real lives are often smugglers and millionarire pig farmers, ie ultra capitalists.

And support attacks on working class people being bombed on their way to work on the tube or drinking in a pub, for the crime of being born in England.

author by Cael - Sinn Feinpublication date Wed Mar 12, 2008 14:16author address author phone Report this post to the editors

You are taking about the Adamsites there, who I agree, are not socialists.

Related Link: http://admin2.7.forumer.com/index.php
author by Godotpublication date Sun Mar 16, 2008 19:34author address author phone Report this post to the editors

For the record (and so we don't have to once again debate every aspect of these incident's here): the European Court on Human Rights found the British Government guilty of these murders in 1995.

You can read their findings here: http://www.gibnet.com/texts/gibira.htm

author by Scepticpublication date Mon Mar 17, 2008 14:40author address author phone Report this post to the editors

A breach of Article 2 , in this case the use of more force than was absolutely necessary to the point of lethality is not murder as Godot asserts. No lawyer would construe that. Moreover the decision not to pay compensation to the relatives was a defacto statement that a tort had not taken place. Much of the cotemporaneous legal comment on the judgment was to the effect that while excessive force might have been used, strong action against these parties was nonetheless justified by the British authorities in the circumstances. It is beyond question that had the IRA team succeeded in their mission that would have been an act of multiple murder under any legal order operating in Europe at the time.

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