The Irish News 2 February 2012
Exclusive - Full scale of abuse against Catholic worker revealed
Seanin Graham, Health Correspondent,

The full scale of the sectarian abuse against a Catholic social worker can be revealed today. Co Down woman Laurena Kane (43) was awarded a £60,000 payout from the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust at the High Court last week but The Irish News has now seen the result of an internal investigation which sets out the case in full.

While the trust did not admit liability until last month, the internal 2009 investigation concludes the "sustained" sectarian comments represented a "serious case of alleged harassment" which the trust failed to address.

The leaked document reveals the contents of interviews with the "chief protagonist" of the abuse - named in court as Barbara Lowry - and six other staff members.
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Open discussion on the Irish economy read full story / add a comment

Let's start with red lines. Here it is, Washington’s ultimate red line, straight from the lion’s mouth. Only last week Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta said of the Iranians, “Are they trying to develop a nuclear weapon? No. But we know that they're trying to develop a nuclear capability. And that's what concerns us. And our red line to Iran is do not develop a nuclear weapon. That's a red line for us.”

How strange, the way those red lines continue to retreat. Once upon a time, the red line for Washington was “enrichment” of uranium. Now, it’s evidently an actual nuclear weapon that can be brandished. Keep in mind that, since 2005, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei has stressed that his country is not seeking to build a nuclear weapon. The most recent National Intelligence Estimate on Iran from the U.S. Intelligence Community has similarly stressed that Iran is not, in fact, developing a nuclear weapon (as opposed to the breakout capacity to build one someday). read full story / add a comment

Occupy Belfast and other activists have liberated the empty and unused Bank of Ireland building on Royal Avenue, Belfast, in opposition to soaring homelessness, lack of affordable social housing and home repossessions. read full story / add a comment

The Workers Solidarity Movement will be hosting a public meeting on fighting the cuts, the vicious class war and the anarchist working class alternative to the status-quo. The meeting is free and open to anyone including those who are interested in helping to build an act...ive and visible anarchist movement in this city and beyond. read full story / add a comment

A dangerous splinter group from the far right British National Party is attempting to spread its tentacles across Britain in the wake of last years acrimonious split with the larger Griffen faction in a row over working conditions, corruption and harassment. And their base is to be Belfast. read full story / add a comment

Occupy Belfast Protest, City Hall Saturday 14th January 1pm Affordable Housing for Everyone- No Evictions, No Repossessions read full story / add a comment

Below is the full text of an email sent to all MLA's on Christmas day. Sorry I'm putting this up a bit late. read full story / add a comment

The sixty million payoff to prison officers in Northern Ireland could be much better spent on addressing the causes of crime such as poverty, social deprivation and prison rehabilitation. Prison officers who served during the Troubles could walk away from their jobs with packages of more than £120,000 plus pension as part of a £60m redundancy programme aimed at ‘modernising’ the service. read full story / add a comment

Documentary Screening and Discussion with Javier Orozco, Colombian Refugee and Trade Unionist Mon. 7th Nov. 7 pm The Red Devil Bar, Falls Rd., Belfast read full story / add a comment

Film screening about the Dale Farm evictions, followed by a discussion about anti-Traveller racism. Organised by the West Against Racism Network. read full story / add a comment

Léacht Harry Holland 2011
"Máirtín Ó Cadhain: A Life in Struggle" le Aindrias Ó Cathasaigh
mar chuid de Fhéile Gaeilge le Bród ag Glór na Móna Tá cáil ar Mháirtín Ó Cadhain mar scríbhneoir, ach ba shóisialaí agus poblachtóir é freisin a chaith a shaol ag troid ar son na cosmhuintire, go háirithe sna ceantair Ghaeltachta arb as dó féin. Tá dhá leabhahr scríofa ag Aindrias Ó Cathasaigh ar an Chadhnach, agus tá cnuasach de shaothar an Chadhnaigh curtha in eagar aige freisin. Beidh an chaint i mBéarla, agus beidh ceol ina diaidh le Gráinne Holland agus cairde. read full story / add a comment

Free Education for Everyone (FEE) in QUB are taking part in the mass screening of the new documentary THE REAL SOCIAL NETWORK on November 1st. The screening will be in the PFC at Queens University, Belfast at 6.30pm - the screening is totally free and everyone is welcome. read full story / add a comment

Film screening about the Dale Farm evictions, followed by a discussion about anti-Traveller racism. Organised by the West Against Racism Network. read full story / add a comment

Assemble in front of QUB Students Union Wednesday 26th October 7pm read full story / add a comment

Jack O’Connor, Jackie McDonald, Carál Ní Chuilín, and John Gray will speak at a unique event hosted in Belfast City Hall on Friday 28th October to mark the 100th anniversary of the arrival of James Connolly in Belfast to organise dockers and mill workers. The evening will begin at 6.30pm with Belfast Mayor Niall Ó Donnghaile unveiling a portrait of Connolly painted by Belfast Artist Frank Quigley. The guest panel will follow with their discussion at 7pm. read full story / add a comment

Public meeting and discussion organised by Anti-Fascist Action.

Fresh Claim Cafe (48 King St.)
7:30pm read full story / add a comment

This Monday, 3rd of October, marks the 30th anniversary of the conclusion of the 1981 Hunger Strike.

To mark this momentous event in our collective history éirígí calls upon all Republicans, Socialists and Progressives to join with them in 'Remembering the Ten'. read full story / add a comment

Teri Cregan
SIPTU

Boots workers have been left with no option but to hold a protest in response to their premium pay being reduced and have organised a day of action outside the companies store in Donegall Place, Belfast on Saturday 8th October from 12 til 2pm. We ask you to come along and show your support for their demands to have basic terms and conditions of employment re-instated.
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In June of this year Art Ability – a community organisation assisting children and adults with disabilities - based in Agnes Street, Belfast, was given just one week’s notice that it’s funding was to be removed. A SIPTU organised campaign has been running since then to secure funding to protect this vital cross community organisation from closure, and to ensure its client’s needs were addressed. This campaign resulted in the initial securing of limited funding which did not fully protect the organisations future.

However, as a direct result of the SIPTU campaign we are delighted to be in a position to report that interim funding has been secured to enable the organisation to continue to operate. Art Ability will now be in a position to apply for further funding for the autumn quarter, and their doors remain open. read full story / add a comment