• IPOW BIRTHDAYS - OCTOBER

• P. Michael O'Sullivan Laid to Rest

• Chicago mourns P. Michael O’Sullivan, Award Winning Photojournalist

• Provos 'Willing to Disarm' by end of year

• Three charged over explosives find in Belfast

• EBAY PROTEST SUCCESS: Para 'Smock' No Longer For Sale

• PROTEST ‘BLOODY SUNDAY’ ARMY JACKET AUCTION ON EBAY
• 120,000 Plastic Bullets purchased since 2002

• Irish POWs to sue Free State 

• Get On With It - Dolours Price

• Ken Barrrett - GUILTY PLEA in Finucane murder

• Innocent accused - Still paying for the mistakes of others

P. MICHAEL O’SULLIVAN, AWARD WINNING PHOTOJOURNALIST

September 22, 2004 (Chicago) 

Chicago mourns photojournalist P. Michael O’Sullivan, nationally recognized for a daringly close-up style of documenting social and political unrest in urban America during the 1960’s and 70’s. O’Sullivan passed away on Sunday, September 19, 2004 in the Hospice Unit at Lincoln Park Hospital, Chicago, Illinois after a short and valiant battle with lung cancer.

Patrick Michael Sean Brian O’Sullivan was born April 15, 1940 in Jackson, Jackson County, Michigan the son of Emmett Michael and Freda (Atchison) O’Sullivan, both deceased.

Mr. O’Sullivan attended grade school, Jackson High School, and Jackson Community College. After college he moved to Chicago, Illinois to live with his sister, Phyllis, and her family. There began his life long love of the city of Chicago.

Following in the O’Sullivan family tradition, Mr. O’Sullivan enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving in the 82nd. Airborne. After his Army years he returned to Chicago and began his career in photography.

Michael learned his craft from his mentor, Mickey Pallas of Pallas Photo Co. Like his idol Robert Capa, whose photographic documentation of the 
Spanish Civil War remains a classic among photojournalists, O’Sullivan quickly earned a reputation for courage and grace under fire. Like Capa, he did it the hard way; behind the lines, without regard for self, pursuing the one elusive image that, once captured, would most eloquently tell the story behind the violence, looting, and burning of American cities. 

In his first major assignment, the Detroit riots, his photograph was chosen from among thousands to be on the cover of Life Magazine.

Mr. O’Sullivan worked on over 350 assignments for national and international, including Time, Life, Business Week, Fortune, Newsweek, Paris Match, The London Daily Express, The Chicago Tribune, and the Chicago Sun Times.

He received over 25 awards for his photographic work, from both the New York and Chicago Art Directors Clubs, and the American Institute of Graphic Arts and Communicating Arts. His work included 25 cover stories, including the Life cover on the Detroit riots and twelve Business Week covers.. But it was exclusive action photographs and interviews with Irish Republican Army (IRA) leaders, soldiers, and their families over several years that became his passion. Profoundly affected by the injustice he witnessed on what has come to be known as “Bloody Sunday,” O’Sullivan dedicated himself to the Republican cause. His proudest achievement was the publication of his book, “Patriot Graves, Resistance in Ireland”, Follet.

In 1982 O’Sullivan crashed his motorcycle in a near fatal accident. He endured many months of hospitalization, therapy, and rehabilitation. Shortly after the accident a group of loving and compassionate friends held several benefits to help cover O’Sullivan’s medical expenses. For over 20 years these friends contributed to a trust fund to assist Michael in an independent living situation. Walking with a cane, wearing his black eye patch, pony tail, and a black beret, O’Sullivan was a familiar figure on the streets of Old Town and the near north side as he took his daily walks for lunch or dinner in one of the 
neighborhood restaurants. Although no longer able to work at his career he never left home without his camera around his neck. He greeted 
friends with a smile, a raised fist, and a hearty “Boy, Boy”.

In his 23 year struggle to overcome his many disabilities Michael taught us so much about love, perseverance, courage, and compassion. For those 
of us who loved him he was our hero.

O’Sullivan is survived by his wife, Victoria (Oltean), a son, Sean Michael, a daughter, Siobhan (Sean) Harvey, and 4 grandchildren, Eleanor, Devlin, Donovan, and Emilia, all of Chicago.

Also survived by 2 brothers, Robert (Lucille) Kirkpatrick of Sesser, IL. and Terrance D. O’Sullivan of Ann Arbor, MI. 2 sisters, Phyllis (Carl) Corona of Glen Ellyn, IL. and Susan (Mike) Callahan of Detroit, MI., and numerous nephews, nieces, and friends.

A memorial service and celebration of life will be held on at Saturday, Sept.25, 4:30 to 10:00 PM at the Irish American Heritage Center, 4626 N. 
Knox Ave. Chicago, IL Phone 773-282-7035

Family and friends are invited to attend and share in memories of Michael’s life. 

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© The Irish Freedom Committee® NewsList - IFC Updates

Provisionals hell-bent to restore the British government to Ireland are now 'willing to disarm' by years end.  These men and women have betrayed everything that the republican movement stands for and if they indeed continue to claim - erroneously and falsely -- that they are representative of Oglaigh na hEireann Irish Republican Army -- then they are eligible for due punishment for Treason under the clearly-spelt terms of the Green Book.

Get On With It - Dolours Price

The Irish Freedom Committee® 
www.irishfreedomcommittee.net

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Irish Times
Monday Sept. 20, 2004

IRA Now 'Willing To Disarm' By End Of The Year

The IRA has effectively promised to put all its weaponry beyond use by the turn of the year in return for firm DUP commitments to share power with Sinn Féin, authoritative Irish sources have confirmed. Gerry Moriarty and Frank Millar report.

At talks in Leeds Castle, the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, and the British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, outlined to the parties a sequenceof gestures by which the IRA could act to demonstrate its peaceful intentions, talks insiders said. This could involve the IRA:

Issuing a "strong" statement saying it was decommissioning and ending activity;

Following the statement with a major act of decommissioning; 

Issuing a timetable of imminent acts of decommissioning.

The IRA may allow an act of decommissioning to be photographed to help establish in a persuasive way the extent of the disarmament, according to sources.

If a comprehensive deal can be worked out in the coming weeks, sources believe the IRA would respond radically and positively and in a manner that could convince "ordinary people" that its campaign of violence was at an end. The disarmament would take place through Gen John de Chastelain's decommissioning body. 

There is huge sensitivity about what might happen in the coming days and weeks. DUP sources refused to confirm the possibility of a visual aspect to decommissioning with one senior figure warning that how media reports were presented could wreck the possibility of a historic deal. "The last thing we want is stories saying the DUP is demanding this or that from the IRA because that's the one sure way of ensuring it won't happen. We're being careful here," he said.

Other DUP sources said any emergent IRA text would be scrutinised for evidence or ambiguity to challenge the belief of Mr Blair and Mr Ahern that they can resolve what they described on Saturday as "the issues to do with ending paramilitary activity and putting weapons beyond use."

Republican sources would not elaborate on what the IRA was prepared to do. But other informed sources said there was a real chance that this time Gen de Chastelain would be believed by unionists when he gave details about further IRA disarmament.

The governments and the parties viewed as highly significant the measured and in many ways positive tone of comments from the DUP leader, the Rev Ian Paisley, after the talks ended on Saturday.

He said he would not be "bluffed" by the IRA but indicated a willingness to test its sincerity. He added: "I believe that a golden opportunity has been available to realise a stable and entirely peaceful future and I told the Prime Minister that in some respects we have never been closer to solving the problems that have plagued us for decades." 

Mr Tom Kitt, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, and Northern Secretary Mr Paul Murphy meet the parties at Stormont tomorrow to try to resolve remaining procedural issues. The main stumbling block is devising a system of ministerial accountability acceptable to pro-Belfast Agreement parties and the DUP.

DUP MP Mr Jeffrey Donaldson told The Irish Times that the Prime Minister and Taoiseach had been unable to provide specific assurances about the timetable for the completion of IRA decommissioning, or about the DUP's required "visual aspect" to the verification process.

Mr Donaldson confirmed that an important issue in the continuing negotiation concerns the future status of the IRA. Mr Donaldson said his party had pressed Mr Blair and Mr Ahern on the issue. "We asked for clarity about their intention to stand down their private army and whether after that they would form some sort of Old Comrades Association. But we still haven't got an answer to that," he said.

© The Irish Times

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RTE News
September 19, 2004

Three charged over explosives find in Belfast
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Three people have been charged in connection with an explosives find last Friday in West Belfast.

A 34-year-old man and a 29-year-old woman have been charged with possession of explosives with intent to endanger life.

They are also charged with possession of firearms and articles of use to terrorists.

Meanwhile, a 35-year-old man has been charged with possession of explosives in suspicious circumstances.

All three are due to appear before Laganside Magistrates Court tomorrow.


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Due in no small part to massive response from Irish Freedom Committee supporters, EBay has removed the offensive British Army "Bloody Sunday" uniform from auction.  Our thanks to all who participated in this worthy protest.

The Irish Freedom Committee® 
www.irishfreedomcommittee.net

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Derry Journal
Friday 17th September 2004 

Para 'Smock' No Longer For Sale

The uniform allegedly worn by a Para who opened fire in the Bogside on Bloody Sunday is no longer for sale on the Internet, the 'Journal' can reveal. 

Earlier this week, it was reported that the "smock" a camouflaged outer garment traditionally worn by the Parachute Regiment was on sale on the world wide web for £350. 

The individual selling the item claimed it was owned by a soldier known to the Bloody Sunday Inquiry by the cipher "Soldier S". 

In his evidence to the Saville hearings in mid-May 2003, "Soldier S" admitted firing 12 shots at a "gunman" in the vicinity of the Rossville Flats. 

He also told the London hearings that Bloody Sunday was a "tragedy for everyone." 

The "smock" - when on sale on the popular online auction site - was, according to its seller, "a very rare chance to own a piece of history." 

The sale blurb read: "This is an original 1959 pattern Denison para smock that was owned by a member of the Parachute Regiment that was involved in Bloody Sunday in Derry 1972. 

"Smock is in good condition with a few holes on the woollen cuffs." 

It went on to claim that the "smock" was "used by soldiers in the inquiry." 

The 'advertisement' also included up-to-date photographs of the "smock" as well as images of Paratroopers, in uniform, rounding up people in the Bogside on Bloody Sunday. 
Before its "disappearance" from the website, there had been no bids for the item. 

Throughout the week, the 'Journal' made a number of unsuccessful attempts to contact both the internet seller and the online auctioneers. 

The families of those gunned down in the Bogside on Bloody Sunday say they are "relieved" the item is no longer for sale. 

John Kelly, whose teenage brother was shot dead on Rossville Street, told the 'Journal': 

"Whatever the reason for its disappearance, I'm happy. 

"Whether it's no longer for sale because we highlighted the matter in the press or, perhaps, the person selling it decided to take it off for totally unrelated reasons - I don't care. I'm just comforted by the fact that it's no longer there." 

Mr. Kelly said that, in spite of this most recent development, "it is still amazing the depths some people will stoop to to make money. 

"I find it astonishing that a genuine effort was made to make money out of the massacre of our loved ones." 

Mr. Kelly said he did "take some heart from the fact" that, up to the time of its removal from the website, no-one had entered any bids for the item. 

He concluded by urging the online auctioneers to "closely scrutinise" all future items offered for sale on its site. 

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© The Irish Freedom Committee® NewsList - IFC Updates

'Bloody Sunday Jacket' On Ebay

Relatives sickened by sale bid

By Ciaran O'Neill
15 September 2004

Relatives of those killed on Bloody Sunday today said they were sickened by an attempt to sell a jacket allegedly worn by a soldier involved in the 1972 shootings.

The smock jacket was today on sale on the Internet auction site eBay for £350.

The anonymous seller claims that the jacket was worn by a soldier, identified as Soldier S at the Bloody Sunday Inquiry, who fired 12 shots during the civil rights demonstration.

The auction is due to end on Sunday but no bids have yet been made for the jacket, which allegedly dates from 1959.

However, John Kelly, whose brother Michael was among the 13 people shot dead on Bloody Sunday, today called on eBay to remove the jacket from sale.

"It is disgusting that someone should try and make money out of what happened on Bloody Sunday," said Mr Kelly.

"This is totally insensitive and an insult to the memory of our loved ones."

No one from eBay was available to comment.

In his evidence to the Bloody Sunday Inquiry last year, Soldier S said that statements he had made about gunfire and bombs being aimed at soldiers were untrue.

The soldier, who was an 18-year-old private in 1972, also said he had no recollection of what caused him to fire 12 shots in four bursts of three at 30-second intervals.

The former paratrooper had told the 1972 Widgery Tribunal into the shootings that he came under fire as soon as he dismounted from his vehicle.

But asked last year whether his statement to the military police on the night of Bloody Sunday that he saw a gunman open fire at paratroopers with about six shots from a ground- floor window of the Rossville flats in Derry could be relied upon, Soldier S replied: "No".

He also admitted there were "a lot of inaccuracies" in the original statements he gave to military police.

He told the inquiry that he later went on to join the SAS and was seriously injured in a firefight in the Middle East in 1974-5.
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CONTACT E-BAY

If you are an eBay Member go here and sign in to leave feedback.  Registration is free. SAMPLE LETTER below to copy and paste.

To submit Feedback:
1. Go to http://pages.ebay.com/help/contact_inline/index.html
2. Click “Ask about biding or buying”.
3. Then click “Bidding or buying”
4. Then click “The problem you’re having isn’t listed”
5. On the new page, click “Email”
6. Copy and paste sample letter into body area. Leave your email address and eBay ID if you have one for a response.

Or write to eBay Headquarters at:
eBay Inc.
2145 Hamilton Avenue 
San Jose, California 95125
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SAMPLE LETTER – Copy and Paste:
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eBay Inc.
2145 Hamilton Avenue 
San Jose, California 95125

To whom it may concern;

I am outraged to learn that eBay has allowed a participant in a mass murder to sell memorabilia associated with his role the deaths of 14 innocent civilians on your website. I refer to the item 'Bloody Sunday Jacket', posted by eBay for auction yesterday, and listed as being worn by British Army “Soldier 5” during the Bloody Sunday massacre in Derry, 1972. “Soldier 5” has admitted to firing 12 rounds at civilians that day.

During a recent tribunal in Ireland, this same soldier admitted that the British Army fired indiscriminately at civilians with no provocation, killing 13 instantly and a 14th who died later.

I note that in your Terms of Use regarding the sale of “Offensive Materials” it is stated that “eBay may... out of respect for the families of murder victims, remove listings of items closely associated with individuals notorious for committing murderous acts within the last 100 years, such as personal belongings of such criminals.”

I strenuously object to the use of eBay to allow profiteering by participants in the mass murder of innocent civilians, and I urge you to remove this highly offensive item immediately. 

Thank you;

(YOUR NAME/CITY HERE)

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© The Irish Freedom Committee® NewsList - IFC Updates

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Press Release from the United Campaign Against Plastic Bullets, Relatives for Justice, Pat Finucane Centre

September 16, 2004

PSNI Has Purchased 120,000 Plastic Bullets Since 2002

‘Money to Burn’ Protest at Policing Board


The PSNI has purchased 120,000 plastic bullets between early 2002 and August 2004 it has emerged. The information is contained in a letter from the PSNI to Relatives for Justice. According to official statistics 50,000 plastic bullets were purchased in 2002, the first year where the Policing Board had statutory authority for policing, a further 50,000 were acquired in 2003 and 20,000 in 2004. 80,000 of this stock have been fired in training though no plastic bullets have been used in public order incidents since September 2002.

Kathleen Duffy, whose 15 year old son Seamus was killed after an RUC officer fired a plastic bullet in 1989, has expressed,

“surprise and anger that the PSNI continues to purchase and train with what is a confirmed child killer. We welcome the fact that none have been fired for some time but the news that the PSNI is still training and firing thousands of these lethal weapons will shock many relatives who have lost loved ones. Security Minister Jane Kennedy said last year that plastic bullets would be withdrawn by the end of 2003 but 70,000 have been purchased since she made this statement. ”

In a joint statement the United Campaign Against Plastic Bullets, Relatives for Justice, and the Pat Finucane Centre have called on the Policing Board to “do the decent thing and ban these weapons.”

“As organisations which offer support to those who have lost relatives due to plastic bullets we are calling on members of the Policing Board to justify the £1 million*plus spent on plastic bullets since 2002. The Board has been responsible for policing here since November 2001 yet we can find no single instance where Board members have questioned this continuing expenditure on a weapon which has caused untold misery and loss in this community. Why has the Chief Constable not be called to account at Board meetings for this? Was this done on a nod and a wink basis between the Board and the PSNI? 

The three groups announced plans for a ‘Money to Burn’ protest at the entrance to the Policing Board HQ on Thursday at 12 noon.

A million pounds of fake notes will be symbolically burnt by relatives and campaigners. Rhona Toland, whose 11 year old nephew Stephen Mc Conomy was killed by a plastic bullet in 1982 in Derry said,

“Stephen would have celebrated his 33rd birthday on Thursday. Instead he never even saw his 12th. For him and all the other relatives we are asking, we are demanding, that the Board does what the PSNI are refusing to do; announce an outright ban on plastic bullets. It is simply not good enough to say that none are being used at present. If they are not going to be used then why spend over a million pounds on purchase and training since 2002? Altnagelvin Hospital badly needs an air ambulance which would cost a million pounds. A&E departments have been closed in rural areas and some kids are still in pre-fab classrooms. There are so many better ways to spend a million pounds than on plastic bullets.” 

*A plastic bullet costs approximately £7 (parliamentary reply to Kevin Mc Namara MP)

£7 times 120,000 (2002-2004) = £840,000 plus training time.

Training- 80,000 units fired (2002-2004) at 10 mins per expended unit = 13,333 hrs 

Cost to PSNI 

13,333 hrs @ average £13 per hr (mid range trained officer lower grade) £173,329

A conservative estimate of purchase & training since 2002 = £101,3329

Since the Patten Report was published the RUC and PSNI have purchased 250,000 plastic bullets (1/4 of a million)

See www.serve.com/pfc for annual purchase 1999 -2001

See also www.relativesforjustice.com for further background 

Contact 02890 220100 RFJ or 02871 268846 PFC 07989323418

“The board can direct its staff to carry out reviews to ensure that the money provided by them to the police service has been used efficiently”

Policing Board Annual Report (Page 30 2001-2002)

“The policing board sees accountability for financial resources by those who use them as an important step in improving financial management of the police”

Ibid (Page 28 2001-2002)

Policing board principal activities:

*To set the budget for policing and monitor expenditure.

Ibid (Page 64 2002-2003)

“Due to the significant shortfall in funding the Police service was unable to ‘balance the books’ for 2002/2003, and as a result a forecast over spend of £15 million was declared at the start of the financial year”

(Report of the Chief Constable 2002-2003)

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More outstanding commentary from veteran republican writer Doloirs Price, as published in today's issue of The Blanket.

The Irish Freedom Committee® 
www.irishfreedomcommittee.net

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The Blanket
http://lark.phoblacht.net/getonwithitdp.html

Get On With It

Dolours Price • 14 September 2004 

I have had a premonition. I know what is going to happen in Leeds Castle. Usual suspects, gather to dance around one and other, side step, forward, back, swing that partner round. They won't be wearing cowboy boots or jangling spurs, no, it is more than a premonition. I know what is going to happen in Leeds Castle.

For ten years now the Provisional Sinn Fein party have been standing with its hands up, but yet will not speak the the words, "We surrender". Not this time, not in the leafy ambience of Leeds Castle.

I know that we are all bored up to our oxters with the pretence, their dalliance, their constant refusal to accept what they signed up to. They agreed Partition, they agreed "Northern Ireland", a British State; they agreed to settle for fair play within that British State, they agreed equality, they have been 'elected' to the Assembly in "Northern Ireland", so what is their problem?

They either participate or they don't. If they don't then they insult the people they are supposed to represent, the Nationalist people of that "Northern Ireland" who only wanted a fair crack of the whip. A house, a job, equal rights within that State. A vague yearning for a United Ireland somewhere towards the end of the list of necessities.

Now, in the early 80s, I and many Republicans were told that by standing for election we would 'shut up' our opponents who said we had no mandate for the "Armed Struggle". That meant that we had to get a mandate. I went about in a car calling on people to, "Vote Sinn Fein, vote Gerry Adams". 

Well, it was just to show our mandate for armed struggle, to rid Ireland of the British presence and to move forward to the United Ireland we were dedicated to, fought for, died for, and we lucky others spent some years in prison for.

I ferried people from polling station to polling station: 'vote early vote often'. It was a slick operation and the red haired guy in the wheel-chair had voted three times in the same polling station before the RUC arrested him for personation. We only wanted a mandate, not democracy.

Gerry Adams is recorded as saying, "Republicans need to be prepared to remove the issue of the IRA and of IRA arms as an excuse for Unionists to block political progress in the 'Six Counties'." (An Phoblacht/Republican News, 12 August 2004) Gerry, as you have recognised, there is no such State as the 'Six Counties', there is only "Northern Ireland", United Kingdom, Britain, British Colony, Empire. Need I go on? Get honest, get real Gerry.

My translation of what Gerry Adams is saying, and saying gently so as not to panic the grass-roots is, "They will go away, you know." And they will. The IRA will disband (as the Provisional military wing), the guns will be sealed in concrete and that phase will be over. A few will get the political jobs, others will get satisfactory jobs (community work and the like), some will get shops to run, taxis to drive, a racket here, a scam there. It is the way of the world.

But not yet, not at Leeds Castle. There is still pretending to be done. Pretending that you have any say in the matter while Tony Blair and Bertie Ahern compose the statement they want you to make.

Congratulations, Dr. Paisley, Robinson and Co. You got what you wanted, Stormont back, "Northern Ireland" secure and the Fenians in their place. 

Not this Fenian and a good few besides. We don't recognise the "Northern" state, never have, never will.

It will take time to recover from the mugging we got in the dark alley the Provisional leadership led us up. It has always been so. I remember in prison painting on hankies, "it is always darkest before the dawn". I can't see clearly before myself. I will wait until the fog lifts. Others will move on, settle into their new improved lives, but nothing tumultuous will have changed on our Island. Except for a few thousand dead, comrades killed or dead after the torture of long starvation, thousands of years in prison between us and all for what? Another pit-stop at Leeds Castle? 

Gerry, Martin, Gerry, etc, etc, take a lesson from Gary Gilmore, get on with it. Complete the sell-out now and give our heads peace! 


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