Comhbhrón AT the February meeting, the Ard Chomhairle of Republican Sinn Féin extended sincere sympathy to the families of Des Cox Armagh; Kevin McKearney, The Moy, Co Tyrone; Tess Kearney, Dublin; to Anthony O'Malley Daly on the death of his mother Sarah Daly and to Ann Doherty, Omagh on the death of her father. BARRY, Kerry Comhairle Ceantair, Republican Sinn Féin extend deepest sympathy to the family of Kevin Barry, Rock Street, Tralee who died in February. COX, Sincere sympathy is extended to the family of Des Cox, Armagh who died on February 4. I measc Laochra na nGael go raibh sé. From the Liam Mellows Cumann, Dublin Central. COX, Deepest sympathy is extended to the family of Des Cox, Armagh who died on February 4 last. From Cathleen Knowles McGuirk. COX, Deepest sympathy is extended to the family of Des Cox, Armagh city, who died on February 4. Des was a true and faithful Republican and a gentleman in every sense of that term. When the All-Ireland Republican he loved is re-established Des's name will be numbered among those who stood by her against all odds. Ní dhéanfar dearmad air. From Republican Sinn Féin, North Antrim. COX, Sincere sympathy is extended to the family of Des Cox, Armagh who died on February 4. From Comhairle Uladh, Republican Sinn Féin. GARTLAND, Deepest sympathy is extended to the parents, brothers and sisters of Francis Gartland, Dundalk, Co Louth who died tragically during February. From the Willie Stewart Cumann, Republican Sinn Féin, Dundalk. FARLEY, Deepest sympathy is extended to Pete Farley and family, New Jersey on the death of his wife Ellen on January 24. A true Republican, she fought the good fight. Go raibh suaimhneas síoraí dá hanam. From Cathleen Knowles McGuirk. KEARNEY, Deepest sympathy is extended to the family and friends of Tess Kearney, Republican and former secretary of the National Graves Association. Go ndéana Dia trócaire ar a hanam. From the Liam Mellows Cumann, Dublin Central. KEARNEY, Deepest sympathy is extended to the family of Tess Kearney, Republican Veteran and long-time Secretary of the National Graves Association. From John and Margaret Houlihan and Catherine Doherty, Currow, Killarney, Co Kerry. KENT, Sincere sympathy is extended to Phil Kent and family on the recent death of his sister. From the Ard Chomhairle, Republican Sinn Féin. McKEARNEY, The Corrigan/McKearney Cumann, Republican Sinn Féin wishes to extend its sincere condolences to the McKearney family, the Moy, Co Tyrone, on the death of their father Kevin. Mary Queen of the Gael pray for him. McKEARNEY, Deepest sympathy is offered to Maura McKearney and Tommy and Margaret on the recent death of Kevin McKearney, the Moy, Co Tyrone. From Cathleen Knowles McGuirk. McKEARNEY, Sincere sympathy is offered to the McKearney family, the Moy, Co Tyrone on the recent death of Kevin. From the Liam Mellows Cumann, Dublin Central. O'SHEA, Sympathy is extended to Jim O'Shea, St Joseph's Tce, Cahersiveen on the death of his mother on January 29. From Denis Coffey, Marian Place, Killarney, Co Kerry. O'SHEA, Sympathy is extended to Jim O'Shea, St Joseph's Tce, Cahersiveen on the death of his mother on January 29. From Michael Mitchell, Tralee Road, Castleisland, Co Kerry. O'SHEA, Sympathy is extended to Jim O'Shea, St Joseph's Tce, Cahersiveen on the recent death of his mother. From the Brendan Doherty Cumann, Republican Sinn Féin, Currow, Castleisland, Co Kerry. Contents I gCuimhne DUIGNAN -- 10th Anniversary. In proud and loving memory of Leo Duignan, Veteran Republican who died on March 20, 1990. From the Liam Mellows Cumann, Republican Sinn Féin, Dublin Central. KEENAN -- 7th Anniversary. In proud and loving memory of Seán Keenan, Life Vice-President of Republican Sinn Féin. From Micky and Jean McGonigle, Dungiven, Co Derry. Contents Comhghairdeas CONGRATULATIONS to Seán Óg Moore, Republican Prisoner, Portlaoise, Co Laoise on receiving the highest marks in Ireland in a recent examination taken in an Arts degree course in the Open University. From Comhairle Uladh, Republican Sinn Féin. Contents

A bad month for Sellafield

The Chief Executive of British Nuclear Fuels (BNFL), John Taylor, resigned on February 28. Taylor, who held the post for four years, resigned following the publication of a report on February 18 which revealed systematic falsification of data at the Sellafield nuclear plant in Cumbria for more than three years.

It has been a bad couple of weeks for the nuclear polluter. At the beginning of March Germany announced it was halting shipments of MOX fuel rods from Sellafield until safety standards are met. Japan has still not agreed to continue taking fuel from Sellafield while a group of Scandinavian countries expressed concern about the operations of the plant.

(Even Bertie Ahern stirred, belatedly calling for the closure of the plant -- but only during the excitement of the Fianna Fáil Ard-Fheis. And promises there mean nothing.)

The investigation by the Nuclear Installations In-spectorate was begun when the falsification was reported by staff of BNFL.

The Sellafield plant has been shut down temporarily while the NII's report is studied and five process workers have been sacked.

An official from the NII visited the Sellafield plant, which manufactures uranium and plutonium mixed-oxide (MOX) fuel rods, last year.

It was discovered that checks on the rods were not carried out. Records were falsified by copying results from previous tests. The report said: "There is no doubt that data falsification took place, and MOX fuel assembles have been produced and in some cases delivered to the customer with quality assurances documentation which included falsified data".

The report blamed poor design of the Cumbria plant, the tedium of the job and the ease with which the computer dating logging system was manipulated. The report concluded that: "The events which have been revealed in the course of this investigation could not have occurred had there been a proper safety culture within this plant".

Meanwhile, figures released by the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland show rising levels of a radioactive gas over Ireland because of discharges from nuclear plants in Britain and France.

According to the RPII's report, Environmental Radioactivity Surveillance Programme 1997 and 1998, levels of krypton-85 have risen since measurements began in 1993.

The report also noted "considerable variability" in radioactive levels in water, although it said that all Irish water sources remained "in compliance with WHO guidelines".

Most of the krypton-85 gas detected by the RPII from its air monitoring station in Clonskea, Dublin come from Nuclear reprocessing activities at Sellafield, La Hague in France and in Russia according to the institute's chief executive, John Cunningham.

Krypton does not easily mix with other chemicals and tends to remain in the atmosphere for a long time. The main radioactive dose of krypton-85 is delivered via the skin.
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Tess Kearney

The cause of the Irish Republic proclaimed in arms in 1916 and established by the free vote of the Irish people in 1918 has suffered a great loss with the death of Tess Kearney on February 5, 2000.

She was the granddaughter of a Fenian and her father was a committed Republican. He lost his job in the Post Office because he refused to sign an oath of allegiance to the British Crown. The family had to leave Derry and moved to Co Donegal and eventually moved to Dublin when Tess was still a young girl. She had a successful career in banking and subsequently with a Catholic newspaper and was an enthusiastic member of An Óige for a number of years as a young woman.

But her great and abiding interest, which was life-long, was the cause of Irish freedom and the ending of British rule in Ireland and she worked unceasingly to that end. She served on An Cumann Cabhrach for many years and joined the National Graves Association, eventually becoming Secretary of that organisation.

In the last 30 years she played a leading role in the repatriation of the remains of Roger Casement, Barnes and McCormack and Dunne and O'Sullivan from England, the Connaught Rangers from India and Frank Ryan from Germany.

Most recently she made trojan efforts to get the Free State administration to release the remains of Kevin Barry and nine other executed Republicans from Mountjoy prison yard so that the National Graves Association could give them a dignified burial in an honoured place.

Tess was formidable and determined in pursuit of the rights and dignity of the patriot dead.

When the Free State government proposed to build a bus-park at the Croppies Acre, Tess organised the opposition to this disgraceful proposal and routed the Office of Public Works in double-quick time!

The 1798 Memorial Park on the site of the Croppies Acre is an enduring memorial to Tess's determination and unconquerable spirit.

Tess was injured in the 1974 bombing of Talbot Street and in the last ten years she endured indifferent health which got progressively worse in the last 18 months.

Despite this she carried on with her work in the National Graves Association up to the end. People like Tess are a rare breed. She had courage and tenacity in great measure. She loved her country and served it selflessly; she was faithful to the end. The Latin phrase semper fidelis would be an apt epitaph for a life of unselfish service to the cause of Irish freedom.

At the graveside Peig Galligan of the National Graves Association presided and praised Tess's life and work. Geraldine McCabe recited a prayer and a piper played a lament. Flags carried included that of the NGA and the 1798 flag -- a gold harp on a green field. The coffin was draped in the National Tricolour.

Seán Mac Fheorais read Pearse's poem The Rebel, so suited to the spirit of Tess Kearney. Seán Dougan, chairperson of the NGA, delivered the oration, in the course of which he said: ""It says in the Bible 'By their fruits you shall know them'.

"During the last ten years with Tess as its secretary, the National Graves Association was streamlined into an effective organisation, which restored and erected numerous monuments . . . she has left the association in an excellent state to continue our patriotic work in perpetuum. Ní bheidh a leithéid ann arís."

Republican Sinn Fιin was represented at the funeral by Ruairí Ó Brádaigh, President, Peig King, Ard Chomhairle and Frank Graham, Dublin.

Ar dheis lámh Dé go raibh a anam uasal.
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Kevin Barry

The death took place on Tuesday, February 22 at the age of 66 of Kevin Barry, Rock Street, Tralee, Co Kerry after a brave fight against illness.

Kevin was Sinn Féin councillor on Tralee UDC and also a Kerry County Councillor in the late 1950s and early 1960s. He was also a member of the local IRA unit and was very active during the 1957 Campaign.

As an urban councillor it was his proposal to have the new estate in Strand Road called after the great Kerry and Irish patriot Charlie Kerins. Kevin was also a wonderful organiser and his handling of the 5oth Anniversary commemoration of the 1916 Rising was a great example of his organisational ability.

He wore the Kerry jersey with distinction at minor, junior and senior level and was a member of the 1950 All-Ireland winning minor team.

Prominent members of Kerry Republican Sinn Féin attended his funeral on both occasions to church and burial at Rath Cemetery where Denis O'Mahony of Listowel gave the oration.

Republican Sinn Féin in Kerry tenders its sincerest sympathy to Kevin's wife, Lilian, son Kevin, daughters Marina, Anne, Sarah, brothers and sisters.
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Kevin McKearney

Republicans in Tyrone and surrounding areas were saddened to hear of the death on February 6 of Kevin McKearney, the Moy, Co Tyrone.

Kevin was born and grew up in the Moy and played football with Tír na nÓg GFC as well with the county minor team. He came from a family of six boys and three girls of Tom McKearney and Ellen O'Neill.

Kevin McKearney's father was in the IRB and he and his two brothers assembled in Derrytresk, Coalisland at Easter 1916 prior to Eoin MacNeill's countermanding order. They were also very active during the War of Independence.

Kevin married Maura Murray from Co Roscommon in 1952 and they had six children.

Throughout his life he and his family were very active in promoting the cause of Irish freedom in the Occupied Six Counties.

Two of his sons, Seán and Pádraig, died in action as IRA Volunteers and another son Kevin with his uncle Jack McKearney were murdered in the family shop in the Moy by British agents. Kevin died at the spot but Jack died in hospital four months later.

His other son, Tommy, was captured in Coalisland in 1977 by British forces and served 16 years imprisonment for Republican activities, during which time he took part in the first of the H-Block hunger strikes in 1980. His daughter Margaret had to leave home in the 1970s and go on the run.

Not long after Kevin McKearney's murder by British-backed loyalists the parents of his widow Bernadette were shot dead at the hands of the same British agents in Co Tyrone.

At the funeral in the Moy on February 9 the Republican Movement was represented by Ruairí Ó Brádaigh, President, Republican Sinn Féin.

SAOIRSE extends deepest sympathy to his widow Maura, son Tommy and daughters Margaret and Angela.

I measc Laochra na bhFíníní go raibh sé.
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Seán Keenan memorial for Derry

Republican Sinn Féin in Derry held the annual commemoration in honour of Seán Keenan (1914-1993) in the city cemetery on March 5. At the ceremony it was announced that a suitable public memorial to Seán Keenan in Derry will be unveiled after Easter.

Widely-regarded as the father figure of Republicanism in his native city, Seán was interned for over 15 years in the Six Counties without ever appearing in a court. He had a great love of the Irish language, games and music and was a fine singer. Seán was one of the founders of the Derry branch (Craobh Sheosaimh Uí Dhónaill) of Conradh na Gaeilge in 1947.

The ceremony also honoured his late wife, Nancy, who spent almost four years of internment in Armagh jail in the 1940s, and his son, IRA Volunteer Colm Keenan, who was shot dead by the British army with his comrade Vol Eugene McGillan while on active service patrolling Free Derry on March 14, 1972. Seán, Nancy and Colm are interred in the family plot in the City Cemetery.

The ceremony was chaired by Michael McGonigle, former Republican Sinn Féin councillor from Dungiven. A decade of the Rosary was recited by Máirtín Ó Catháin. Flowers were laid on the grave by Seán Keenan's daughter Róisín Barton. A wreath was laid on behalf of the leadership of the Republican Movement.

Wreaths were also laid on behalf of the Keenan/Toner Cumann, Republican Sinn Féin, Derry by Veronica Taylor and by Damien McGonigle on behalf of the John Mitchell Cumann, Dungiven; and by Jimmy McElhinney on behalf of Comhairle Uladh.

The oration at this year's commemoration was delivered by Donegal Republican and Ard-Chomhairle member of Republican Sinn Féin, Joe O'Neill.

He said that Seán Keenan had kept the Republican tradition alive in his native Derry for almost seven decades and remained an inspiration to all who followed in his footsteps.

"Seán Keenan opposed British rule all down the years and so do we today in Republican Sinn Féin. We did so before the Stormont Agreement and we will continue to oppose British rule after it and until foreign occupation is 'finished, over and done with in our country," he said.

The actions of the British government in suspending Stormont on February 11 without any consultation with Irish people or representatives showed to the world that Britain still does what it likes in relation to Ireland, in true colonial fashion.

"Republican Sinn Féin is prepared to debate with any political organisation about the way forward to peace with justice in Ireland. We believe the four-province federation proposal in ÉIRE NUA provides an alternative to the current process of copper-fastening British rule. It is the alternative to further conflict on this island," he said.

The suspension of Stormont also meant the failure of constitutional nationalism and constitutional nationalists like John Hume, McGuinness and Adams. "The plug was pulled on Stormont because Britain wanted it, regardless of Irish people's wishes."

He pledged Republican Sinn Féin's continued leadership to the people in opposing British rule. The memory of Republicans such as Seán Keenan will give us strength in the struggle ahead, he concluded.
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What They Said

I will defend to the end their right to have a different view from mine. — Martin McGuinness.
I uphold absolutely the right to dissent from our position. I am against harassment of anyone for their political views. — Gerry Adams.
— Both quoted recently at a meeting in New York, Irish News, February 17, 2000. Tell that to the Republicans beaten and harassed in their homes by the Provo militia.

The republican (sic) people want to see meaningful dialogue, progress, peace and a resolution to this conflict. The only way to achieve that is by the participation of everybody in institutions which have been hard-fought over the past number of years to be established.
— Brendan 'Bik' McFarlane, former Republican prisoner, Irish News, February 21, 2000 appeals for Stormont once again.

The prospect of American support moving from groups sympathetic to the peace process to dissident republicans (sic) is, however, seen as a real danger.
— London Times, February 23, 2000.

The most energetic group, the Irish Freedom Committee, which describes [Provisional] Sinn Fιin supporters of the peace process as "ex-Republicans", claims to be taking over the role once played by the Irish Northern Aid Committee or Noraid.
— London Times.

The importance of Garvaghy Road to the decommissioning issue cannot be overstated. It is the modern version of the Bombay Street test which says that decommissioning can never happen as long as there is a risk of loyalists taking advantage of undefended communities. These possibilities seem to point to only one conclusion. If the Good Friday Agreement is not restored soon it may never be.
— Ed Moloney, Sunday Tribune, March 5, 2000.

Those who've gained most from the Coalition's [Fianna Fαil and PD] policies favour the American way: small government, less government, no government worth the name. Their slogans are simple: whatever you say, do nothing. If the State owns it, sell it.
— Dick Walsh, columnist, Irish Times, March 4, 2000.

Life, loot and the pursuit of profit are best left to the market. If you feel like singing, do sing a song that makes sense in the real world: deregulation once again. And privatise, privatise, privatise.
— Dick Walsh.

But that indomitable scourge of EU militarisation, Green MEP Patricia McKenna, pledges she will be taking legal advice on the issue and demanding a referendum on what she insists are developments that go well beyond what the people voted for on Amsterdam. No one, she says, was given a chance to vote on the idea of a 60,000-strong Rapid Reaction Force.
— Irish Times, March 4, 2000 (Paddy Smyth reports from Brussels on the debate about a common EU defence).

Last week well-known figures in the republican world [Tony McIntyre, Tommy McKearney and Brendan Hughes] have emerged in writing; men who served some of the longest prison sentences in the '70s and emerged in the '90s. They are asking openly why all the killing, why the zillions of years thousands of men and women spent in prison if it was only to settle in 1998 for less than they could have got in 1973?
— Wednesday with Brian Feeney, Irish News, March 8, 2000.

The secretary of state's underhand attempt to subvert the Parades Commission by rushing into law one section of the European Convention on Human Rights without even consulting the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission reinforces nationalist suspicion that not only has nothing changed but that elements in the NIO intend to prevent any change.
— Brian Feeney.

Unreformed courts presided over by a mainly unionist judiciary are exactly the right forum to decide whether Orange marches should go through Catholic districts, aren't they? Real confidence building stuff, eh?
— Brian Feeney.
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