Updates
July 28, 2010 - BREAKING NEWS
July 27, 2010
PLEASE CONTACT THE PRIME MINISTER OF SWEDEN, THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE AND THE MINISTER OF IMMIGRATION AND ASYLUM. RE: GERRY MCGEOUGH POLITICAL ASYLUM PAPERS! THIS IS AN URGENT AND IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUEST.
The Government and its Offices
The Government and the Government Offices of Sweden. "The Government governs the Realm. ... The Prime Minister and Ministers ...
www.sweden.gov.se/
July 25, 2010 - BREAKING NEWS
In an article in today's Sunday Independent, Ireland's most widely read
newspaper, it has been revealed that the British have finally admitted that they issued "Pardons" to several Irish Republicans, the so-called "on-the-runs".
http://www.independent.ie/national-news/pardons-given-to-13-ira-fugitives-since-agreement-2271897.html
The admission by the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) is in stark contrast to the earlier position adopted by the British government in March of this year.
In that month, Gerry McGeough went public with the news that secret deals had been done between the British and Sinn Féin in relation to wanted republicans loyal to the SF leadership.
The British immediately denied that such deals had been done and the then Labour government Secretary of State for the North, Shaun Woodward, went on media outlets to rubbish the claims as "nonsense".
Woodward no longer holds his position following Labour's defeat in the recent British general election, and the only "nonsense" about the claims are his denials of them.
Sunday, 25 July, 2010
URGENT & IMMEDIATE ACTION NEEDED
It has now emerged that the chief "evidence" to be used against Gerry McGeough in his trial under the discredited Diplock Court system is comprised of alleged Political Asylum application papers from Sweden.
The British claim that Gerry sought Political Asylum in Sweden in the 1980s and that they have now obtained his application files, which are normally subjected to a 50-year confidentiality protection clause under Swedish law.
In their obsessive need to prosecute and imprison this Irishman, the British are prepared to turn international political asylum refugee laws on their head. The move has widespread implications for the entire concept of political asylum and has now become a major Human Rights issue.
A central figure in this outrage is Swedish Civil Servant Helen Hedebris. Believed to be fanatically pro-British, this individual has been working in close collaboration with the RUC/PSNI over the years and is set to be the chief prosecution witness against Gerry when the Diplock trial resumes in Belfast on September 7th.
It is not clear that the Swedish Authorities were even aware of the fact that Helen Hedebris was working in such close collusion with British agents and supplying them with confidential Swedish government documents.
Please contact the Swedish Prime Minister's Office in the action item below, and demand that the Swedish government intervene in this matter. Express outrage at the fact that confidential political asylum application papers are to be used as "evidence" in
the discredited Diplock Court system in the North of Ireland. This action is a stain on Sweden's otherwise excellent record in the area of international Human Rights. Sweden must demand the immediate return of these documents.
Express disgust also that Swedish Civil Servant Helen Hedebris is to be the chief witness against Gerry McGeough when his politically motivated trial resumes in September.
We need a world-wide blitz of emails and phone calls to the following Ministers in the Government of Sweden:
RE: "GERRY MCGEOUGH POLITICAL ASYLUM PAPERS"
Fredrik Reinfeldt
Prime Minister
Roberta Alenius, Head of Press to Fredrik Reinfeldt
Office work +46 8 405 49 04
Mobile cell +46 70 270 72 17
email to Roberta Alenius
Sebastian Carlsson, Press Secretary to Fredrik Reinfeldt
Office work +46 8 405 11 16
Mobile cell +46 73 769 22 77
email to Sebastian Carlsson
Minister for Justice
Martin Valfridsson, Press Secretary to Beatrice Ask
Office work +46 8 405 47 22
Mobile cell +46 70 274 10 22
email to Martin Valfridsson
Jeanette Mattsson, Assistant Press Secretary to Beatrice Ask
Office work +46 8 405 46 87
Mobile cell +46 76 133 41 55
email to Jeanette Mattsson
Anna Neuman
Office work +46 8 405 10 00
Carl Bildt
Minister for Foreign Affairs
Irena Busic, (Only journalists) Press Secretary to Carl Bildt
Office work +46 8 405 54 73
Mobile cell +46 70 271 02 55
email to Irena Busic
Tobias Billström
Minister for Migration and Asylum Policy
Markus Friberg, Press Secretary to Tobias Billström
Office work +46 8 405 57 96
Mobile cell +46 702 61 30 84
email to Markus Friberg
Markus Friberg, Press Secretary to Tobias Billström
Mobile cell +46 70 309 35 49
Eleonor Johansson, Press Assistant
Office work +46 8 405 24 03
Mobile cell +46 76 112 31 39
e-mail to Eleonor Johansson
July 24, 2010
Gerry's Dipolock Court trial is set to resume on September 7th. He is charged
with membership of the IRA in 1975 and wounding a part-time British soldier in
1981 during the height of the Hunger-Strikes.
First arrested on these charges in 2007 outside an election count center after
he had stood as a candidate in the Assembly elections of that year, Gerry was
put on trial exactly three years later, on March 8th this year. The trial was
suspended after two days while an "abuse of process" application was heard.
Despite ample proof that Gerry McGeough was being discriminated against while
other republicans from the era in similar situations had been given pardons, the
judge, hiding behind British secrecy laws, has ruled that the Emergency Court
trial can go ahead.
Gerry's Spanish wife and their four young children, whose ages range from 9 to
one-year-old, have been deeply traumatized by the persecution the family has
been subjected to and are dreading the prospects of their father, who suffered a
serious heart-attack last year, being imprisoned by Christmas.
The Sinn Féin party leadership, many of whom were IRA leaders during the 1970s
and 80s, and who now administer British rule in the North of Ireland, continue
to ignore the situation.
Since the signing of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement no members of the British
forces have been charged, let alone put on trial or imprisoned, for the killing
of innocent Irish Catholic civilians during the "Troubles".
July 9, 2010
There are a lot of sinister goings-on taking place in regard to Gerry's case at
the moment. However, true to form, the British Diplock court system has imposed
a media ban on reporting and Human Rights lawyers have been physically excluded
from proceedings.
Gerry's supporters are watching developments. In the meantime, the British are
using the upcoming Summer break to push things further into the background.
At a time of staggering financial cuts by the British Exchequer, the Diplock
Court system is spending an absolute fortune in trying to insure that Gerry
McGeough is imprisoned for being an alleged member of the IRA in 1975 and other
Trouble's related issues. One has to question - why is this?
You can download or listen to Gerry's latest interview on WBAI's Radio Free Eireann, by using this link and scrolling down to Saturday July 3 2010 1:00pm: http://archive.wbai.org/
June 25, 2010
Gerry's lawyers have described as "worrying" the attitude of the judge who is to
rule on his Abuse of Process application.
After weeks of inactivity, Gerry was notified by phone on Thursday night, June
24th, that he had to be in court in Belfast the following morning. As a
consequence, he was unable to attend his childrens' school sports day along with
all the other parents.
In court, the judge appeared to agree with the Northern Ireland Office (NIO)
that disclosure of material relating to amnesty cases was irrelevant in this
instance. The Defense was not permitted to know what the NIO had allowed the
judge to read that resulted in this conclusion.
A written report is due next week.
It now appears that the Diplock trial, which was suspended on March 10th, will
resume in September, and the British are confident that they will have Gerry in
jail by Christmas.
The high-level political importance being attached to this case was underscored
by the fact that after the hearing one of the prosecution team, a "Castle
Catholic", was overheard updating a British Intelligence spook on
developments.
Sinn Féin still refuses to speak out on the issue.
June 21, 2010
As the Diplock court system approaches its Summer recess, there is still no indication of any movement in Gerry's case. Unless there is some development this week, it is unlikely that any consideration will be made before September, by which time three-and-a-half-years will have elapsed since Gerry's arrest on 35-year-old charges.
June 13, 2010
Today, Gerry received a slew of e-mails that were sent over the years and have
only NOW just reached him!
The e-mails from a variety of people around the world included one that was sent
in 2004! It was a very mixed bag, some were of a political nature, others
work-related and some simply messages to the family. The number runs into dozens
and a few required urgent responses at the time.
Gerry has always said that his correspondence was being tampered with, but
believed that this was largely confined to the period after his arrest in 2007.
Today's revelation, however, shows that this harrassment/monitoring has been
going on for much longer (a large proportion of the e-mails are from the years
2004-2006), and makes a mockery of the British government's claim that they
could only arrest him at the election count center because they did not know
where he was prior to that.
June 9, 2010
There has still been no movement in Gerry's case and he has received no
indication as to when he is next due back in court.
At the end of this month the Diplock court system effectively shuts down for the
summer, which means that it could be September before this case based on
35-year-old charges will be up for consideration again.
Meantime, Gerry remains restricted by bail conditions imposed following his
arrest in March, 2007.
Sinn Féin refuses to speak out against any of this injustice. This is in stark
contrast to the party's hysterical reaction a couple of weeks ago when it
threatened to pull out of Policing Board arrangements, thereby collapsing the
entire system, because a brother of one of its members was refused a British
government job. Ireland of the equals. Indee
Tuesday June 1, 2010
Now that the Saville Inquiry report on the 1972 Derry Bloody Sunday massacre is
due to be released in a couple of weeks, there is speculation that the British
intend to use the time factor to avoid court proceedings.
This comes as lawyers for the families of some of the thirteen civilians killed
on the day are demanding that soldiers involved in the killings face
prosecution.
In such a senario it's expected that the British government will argue that 1972
is a long time ago and that to bring charges would involve a serious abuse of
process.
There were no such considerations involved In Britain's pursuit of Gerry
McGeough who faces charges of IRA membership in 1975, also a long time ago, and was dragged before a Diplock court this very year on this and other Troubles
related charges.
Where exactly is the much vaunted new era equality in this case? British justice
once again.
Monday May 24, 2010
More than ten days after his last scheduled court appearance was canceled, Gerry has still received no indication as to when his case is next up.
It is now well over three years since he was arrested as a political candidate outside a count center on charges going back 35 years. The notorious Diplock-system trial that began on March 8th has been in suspension since March 10th and no-one seems to have a clue as to when proceedings will resume, if at all?
Meantime Gerry must live his life in a legal limbo. His passport remains confiscated, he cannot travel to the neighboring county of Monaghan, just a few miles from his home, without permission from the RUC/PSNI and he cannot resume his teaching career and livelihood while these "Troubles" related charges from decades ago continue to hang over him.
No other legal system in the Western world would tolerate this nonsense for a moment, and anywhere else this charade would have been thrown out of court years ago. This, however, is the North of Ireland where British "justice", or what passes for justice, prevails and under the Diplock system anything goes.
Meantime, Sinn Féin, the party that could bring an end to this nightmare in a matter of days still refuses to speak out in protest. Why is this party, with all its power, wealth and privilege, so reluctant to speak out against the gross injustices being perpetrated against a fellow republican?
Friday May 14, 2010
Gerry was due to appear in court in Belfast today. However, just moments before
he left home for the 50 mile drive, he received a phonecall to say that
the court officers had made a "mistake" and overbooked the day's schedule.
Although, Gerry's appearance was arranged a month ago, this "mistake" means that
there is yet another delay in the proceedings of this more than three year long
saga on charges going back 35 years.
Observers believe that one of the goals of the British-Unionist-Sinn Féin axis
in this case is to keep Gerry McGeough tied down in this "legal" quagmire for as
long as possible in order to keep him politically inactive.
Friday May 7, 2010
Now that the Westminster elections are over, Gerry McGeough has said that he is
relieved that none of the Six-County nationalist/republican candidates were
arrested at any of the count centers following the poll.
Friday April 30, 2010
Almost a week after the incident, Gerry is still being openly congratulated by
people who are delighted with the way in which he dealt with Sinn Féin president
Gerry Adams during an encounter in South Tyrone last Sunday.
The widely publicized clash occurred when Gerry and some of his children were
leaving St Patrick's church in Eglish following 10am Mass on April 25th.
As the congregation emerged from the rural chapel they found their way blocked
by a cordon of Sinn Féin election workers canvassing on behalf of the party's
out-going Fermanagh/South Tyrone MP Michelle Gildernew.
People were forced to move sideways out the gate because of the SF barrier,
which included Gildernew and Adams.
Upon seeing Gerry McGeough, Adams was seen to almost flinch and held back from
handing out his flyer. Gerry McGeough availed of the unique opportunity to raise
a few issues with the SF president.
In a loud and clear voice he demanded to know why Adams was not speaking out
against the use of Diplock Courts in 2010 for decades-old Troubles related
charges.
A visibly shaken Adams told Gerry to go away, but the Tyrone man refused to
budge and persisted with the questioning. The encounter lasted several minutes
and was witnessed by scores of people.
Members of Adams' entourage hurled abuse and invective at Gerry throughout the
confrontation, but the latter refused to be distracted and continued to focus on
Adams, describing him as disgrace for calling on people to become informers
while refusing to speak out over the injustices being perpetrated against the
McGeough family.
At one point, an Adams bodyguard tried to intervene but quickly backed off when
Gerry McGeough warned him not to patronize him.
Eventually, Adams retreated and McGeough calmly walked away. The dispirited Sinn
Féin crew were then obliged to pack up and leave Eglish.
Within moments of returning home, Gerry was inundated with messages of support
from neighbors and fellow parishoners telephoning or calling by to congratulate
him on his handling of the situation.
Meanwhile, reports of the incident spread like wildfire across East Tyrone and
the neighboring counties of Armagh, Derry, Monaghan and Down. Shortly
afterwards, the media began phoning and the story was suddenly well and truly
"out there".
Saturday April 24, 2010
Once again Gerry's lawyers have been put in the position whereby they have to
lodge a protest with the British over the childish antics of their so-called
"intelligence" services.
The most recent stunt has involved the tiresome old trick of live wire tapping.
This entails loud clicking on the telephone during conversations indicating that
members of British Intelligence are at that very moment tuned into the
conversation as opposed to the regular electronic recording of discussions.
As it is no state secret (indeed) that Gerry's phone is under constant
surveillance, the only purpose behind live wire tapping is that of petty
harrassment.
The well paid functionaries within the British Intelligence system clearly have
a lot of time on their hands.
April 20, 2010
Following a number of hearings at the High Court in Belfast, Gerry's trial has
now been adjourned until after May 14th.
The Northern Ireland Office (NIO) has been given until that date to produce
material that it has prior denied existed.
The delay is significant in that it means that there will be no media coverage
of Gerry's case until after the May 6th British General Election.
Given the volcano of information pertaining to secret deals and backroom
arrangements that is now beginning to emerge because of the trial, both Sinn
Féin and the British government are eager to have the matter kept quiet during
the campaigns for election.
This de facto censorship has been the hallmark of the entire proceedings against
Gerry McGeough since his arrest at a polling station during the 2007 elections
in which he stood as a political candidate.
Were the material that is now becoming available be made public prior to the
election, Sinn Féin would find itself struggling for votes in several areas.
This collusion at the highest levels once again underscores the totally
political nature of the proceedings against Gerry.
April 13, 2010
After an adjournment period of almost a month, a fresh set of hearings relating
to Gerry's case is about to start in a few days.
Already, it is becoming apparent that the British are trying to stonewall and avoid disclosure of information.
It has also become apparent that a policy of not prosecuting people for pre-1998
Troubles related incidents had been agreed between the Northern Ireland Office
(NIO), the Prosecution Service and the PSNI/RUC. This policy was implemented for
about a decade up until Gerry's arrest.
Clearly, the British obsession for revenge against Gerry has turned that policy
on its head.
Meanwhile, Sinn Féin is in full canvassing mode for the British General
Election. The party is campaigning on the basis that it has achieved equality
for nationalists in the North of Ireland and that the days of discrimination are
over.
Sinn Féin still refuses to utter a word of protest against the use of Diplock
Courts or make any mention of the nightmare that the British State in Ireland
has put Gerry and his family through over the past three years.
Sinn Féin boasts of retaining its five Westminster seats and even increasing on
that number in the May 6th poll.
April 2, 2010
On the twelfth anniversary of the signing of the Good Friday Agreement, the
Belfast Telegraph newspaper has confirmed Gerry McGeough's claim that Royal
Pardons were issued to select "On-the-run" republican activists.
In a front page report, today's Belfast Telegraph has provided incontovertible
evidence that the British government gave special amnesty status to wanted IRA
personnel in 2000. The paper has revealed a copy of one such parchment, bearing
the English queen's royal crest, granting a pardon to an on-the-run IRA man.
This comes just weeks after Shaun Woodward, the British government Secretary of
State for the North of Ireland, publicly denounced Gerry's claims as "nonsense".
The development proves that Gerry has been discriminated against for purely
political reasons and that there is a determined effort to railroad him into
prison at the highest political level.
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/queen-pardoned-ira-fugitive-14753412.html
March 27, 2010
Gerry McGeough was interviewed on Radio Free Eireann on Saturday 3/27.
You can download or listen to the show by going here and scrolling down to Saturday March 27, 2010 1:00pm: http://archive.wbai.org/
March 24, 2010
In a startling new development, a senior loyalist has confirmed that the British
government agreed to a de facto amnesty deal covering all military actions
carried out during the Troubles.
Speaking to the Belfast based Irish News, Progressive Unionist Party spokesman
William Smith stated that the then British Secretary of State for the North, Mo
Mowlam, "gave assurances in 1998 that no-one would be prosecuted for offences
committed before the signing of the Good Friday Agreement".
He went on to say that "no loyalist, republican or member of the security forces
would be pursued for previous offences".
In light of this latest revelation, Gerry's lawyers have confirmed that they
intend to call Mr. Smith as a witness in his trial. "Our case is that the
(British) government gave assurances to loyalists and republicans that it would
not seek prosecutions in relation to pre-1998 offences", one of them said.
"Mr. Smith was one of the people given these government assurances and we
believe that his testimony will prove that the case against (Gerry McGeough)
breaks that agreement and is politically motivated", he continued.
Initial responses from the British government indicated that they intend to
proceed with their vindictive vendetta against Gerry and continue with the
Diplock court political show-trial in order to railroad this uncompromising
Irish Patriot into prison as quickly as possible.
Sinn Féin still refuses to speak out on the issue.
March 21, 2010
PEOPLE NEED TO CALL:
Ms. Jeanette Lindtzer - Embassy of Sweden - Washington
Phone:+1-202-467 2600
Fax:+1-202-467 2699
She is the direct contact to the Swedish Ambassador's secretary in Washington, D.C.
One person's call to Mrs. Lindtzer:
"I... offered that the entire Swedish diplomatic community should be aware of the underhanded schemes of the British. I then reminded her that the world has always viewed Sweden as a champion of human rights and of the fallout that will occur in the event the British government and its prosecutors are successful using Gerry's asylum papers as evidence against him in Diplock. I impressed on her that this is not a matter of Irish Republicanism but rather a matter in which underhanded British operatives are subverting laws of the Swedish Government and, therefore, denigrating every Swedish citizen."
ALSO CONTACT SWEDISH EMBASSY IN LONDON AND IRELAND:
Swedish Embassy - London
11 Montagu Place
London W1H 2AL
W1H 2AL
Tel: 020 7917 6400
Fax: 020 7724 4174
Email:
ambassaden.london@foreign.ministry.se
Embassy of Sweden - Dublin
Embassy of Sweden
3rd fl, Block E
Iveagh Court
Harcourt Road
Dublin 2 Ireland
Tel:+353-1-474 44 00
Fax:+353-1-474 44 50
Email:
ambassaden.dublin@foreign.ministry.se
Please use this as a sample email request to the Embassies:
I am extremely concerned about the use of political asylum application papers as "evidence" in the trial/case of Gerry McGeough in the already discredited Diplock Special Emergency Court system in northern Ireland. I am requesting that the Embassy of Sweden demand the removal of these papers from the prosecution's file and that they be returned to Sweden immediately. The human rights abuses implicit in this action are staggering in their proportion if your Embassy allows this asylum application to remain in the hands of the Diplock Court.
Sincerely,
March 19, 2010
There has been yet another incredible twist in the saga of Gerry's trial. Amid
deepening intrigue, the presiding judge in the Belfast Diplock Court today
halted the proceedings until April 19th.
The move comes in order to allow the NIO time to present documentation that has
been requested of it by a seperate court order. The NIO has until April 16th to
comply.
Some observers have wondered at why so much time is required to retrieve data
that must be relatively readily available. This has given rise to speculation
that the British government is trying to undermine the growing momentum of
support for Gerry. A break of this length is also being seen as an attempt to
diffuse the anger of people who are increasingly outraged that this trial has
been allowed to start in the first place.
Meanwhile, more and more voices are being raised in disgust at Sinn Féin's total
silence on the issue.
March 18, 2010
On St Patrick's Day Gerry marched in Kilrea, Co. Derry with his local Brantry
Division 207 of the Ancient Order of Hibernians.
Thousands attended the traditional demonstration and all along the route people
shook his hand and called out messages of support. At one point, a section of
the massive crowd burst into spontaneous applause when the Brantry Division
paraded past.
Earlier, individual Hibernians from across Ireland expressed their solidarity
and support for Gerry and his family and spoke of their disgust at what was
being done to them.
March 16, 2010
At a special hearing in Belfast today, the NIO was given four weeks in which to
present documentation that has been requested of it.
March 17, 2010
Lá 'le Phadraig! Gerry and his family wish everyone a very Happy St. Patrick's
Day.
URGENT PROTEST - PLEASE CALL & EMAIL THE SWEDISH EMBASSY TODAY
Embassy of Sweden, Washington
2900 K Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20007
USA
Phone:+1-202-467 2600
Fax:+1-202-467 2699
Email Embassy: ambassaden.washington@foreign.ministry.se
Please use this as a sample email request to the Embassy
I am extremely concerned about the use of political asylum application papers as "evidence" in the trial/case of Gerry McGeough in the already discredited Diplock Special Emergency Court system in northern Ireland. I am requesting that the Embassy of Sweden demand the removal of these papers from the prosecution's file and that they be returned to Sweden immediately. The human rights abuses implicit in this action are staggering in their proportion if your Embassy allows this asylum application to remain in the hands of the Diplock Court.
Sincerely,
READ BELOW AND ACT ON THIS IMMEDIATELY
March 15, 2010
Although a state of utter confusion now surrounds Gerry's trial and there is a
growing realization that it never should have been allowed to start under these
circumstances, certain facts have nevertheless emerged during the process.
It is now obvious to observers that, despite all the hype, the crown prosecution
has not produced a shred of meaningful evidence against Gerry McGeough.
That being the situation, the prosecution has now decided to switch the emphasis
of its case to Political Asylum application papers, which they contend belong to
Gerry---claiming that he sought Political Asylum in Sweden in 1983 and that
these papers were the basis of his application.
Incredibly, the British are prepared to turn international law, human rights
charters and UN refugee policies downsideup in order to railroad Gerry McGeough
into prison.
Aside from the fact that Swedish protocol dictates that political asylum papers
are guaranteed secrecy for 50 years under confidentiality clauses, it has
already been established that the chain of custody regarding this particular
file was broken long ago.
According to Swedish sources, it has emerged that the file being attributed to
Gerry was in the possession of the British in London for the best part of a
decade during the 1990s, during this time British Intelligence services were
free to tamper with it as they pleased. It was then returned to Sweden before
being moved again following Gerry's arrest in 2007.
There is now a strong suspicion in some quarters that pro-British operatives
within the Swedish system colaborated in the transfer of these papers to the
Diplock Court in Belfast where they have been allowed to become the central
evidence against Gerry.
The human rights abuses implicit in this action are staggering in their
proportion. From now on, if a refugee turned up in Sweden fleeing from
persecution in North Korea, for example, that person could eventually find
themselves back before a court in N. Korea with their political refugee
application being used as "evidence" against them by the very people they were
fleeing from in the first place. That's how serious a matter this is.
Gerry's supporters are calling on people to contact their local Swedish Embassy
and lodge a strong protest against the use of political asylum application
papers as "evidence" in the already discredited Diplock Special Emergency Court
system. They should also request that the Swedes demand the removal of these
papers from the prosecution's file and that they be returned to Sweden
immediately.
March 13, 2010
Gerry has shared a small family experience which people are describing as
"heartbreaking". Apparently, his 7-year-old son got up at 6.30 one morning
during the week just as his father was getting ready to leave for the court in
Belfast, some fifty miles away.
In a serious and studied manner the child explained that he had come up with an
idea. He said that he was going to dig a hole in one of the fields and put
planks over it so that it could be used as a den where "Daddy could hide". That
way they wouldn't be able to put him in jail.
The real victims in this sadistic saga are the young children whose lives have
been plunged into turmoil because of what the British forces in Ireland are
doing to their father.
Meanwhile Sinn Féin leaders are excitedly packing their bags this weekend as
they prepare to fly off to the United States for the St.Patrick's Day
celebrations. There they will be wined and dined while they tell audiences that
things have improved in the North of Ireland and that the "Nationalist nightmare
is over".
One of Sinn Féin's party slogans is "cherish the children of the Nation
equally". Clearly, this does not apply to Gerry McGeough's children, given that
not one single Sinn Féin leader has uttered a sound of protest about the outrage
that is being perpetrated upon Gerry and his family by the British state in
Ireland.
March 12 - 5th day of trial.
In what appears to be yet another "first" in the Diplock Court history, Gerry's
trial has now been adjourned until Monday, March 22nd. The interruption of a
trial of this nature is regarded as being highly unorthodox.
The move comes in the wake of a hectic day, during which a High Court Order was
issued demanding that the NIO release documentation crucial to the Defense case.
The NIO has until Tuesday next to hand over this material, which they have so
far refused to do. Journalists are watching events with a keen interest, amid
speculation that the NIO may attempt to invoke special legislation in order to
prevent the release of information that is being described as "highly
sensitive".
March 11, 4th day of trial
Gerry's trial has been halted. This latest move has come about as a consequence
of his legal team arguing that they cannot put up a proper defense until they
have full disclosure of all relevant material.
The Diplock Trial has been stopped while his lawyers attempt to get a court
order forcing the Northern Ireland Office to release vital material which is
crucial to the defense arguement. To date the NIO has refused to even
acknowledge the existence of this information. Now, it is hoped that they will
be forced to release it. This latest dramatic development begs the question as
to why the trial was allowed to begin and proceed in the first place given the
absence of documentation central to the defense case.
Human Rights lawyers have been made aware of the development and will be present
at the hearing seeking full and unrestricted disclosure.
March 10, 3rd day of trial
There has been a significant development in the on-going saga of Gerry's trial.
Two major Human Rights groups have given notice to the Diplock Court that they
are sending in their own lawyers as observers to monitor the proceedings.
Gerry has welcomed the move by the Commission for the Administration of Justice
(CAJ) and British Irish Rights Watch (BIRW). A lawyer from the CAJ was in court
today and this presence is set to continue.
March 9, 2nd Day of Trial
Gerry has completed a second grueling day in the Diplock Court. He compares the
experience to being held captive in an Orange Lodge, such is the general
anti-Catholic, anti-Irish atmosphere of the place.
To date, much of the "evidence" has consisted of reading the statements of dead
people into the record. Under the Diplock system's "Hearsay Laws", the
statements of witnesses who have in this case died of old age decades ago may be
accepted as evidence. Needless to say, cross-examining these people presents
something of a challenge. British Justice at it's finest.
March 8, 2010 - 1st Day of Trial
Opening statements and then the rest of the day was focused on Vincent McAnaspie.
Watch for the Gerry McGeough ad in the March 8th edition of the Irish Echo
March 7, 2010
In a sensational front page story the Dublin-based Sunday Tribune newspaper has
exposed a secret deal between the British government and Sinn Féin over the
granting of "Royal Pardons" to dozens of "on-the-run" IRA members, due solely to
their loyalty to the Sinn Féin leadership.
The news broke just a day ahead of Gerry's scheduled appearance before a Diplock
Court in Belfast on a series of Troubles related charges, some dating back 35
years.
According to the report there exists a list of 216 on-the-runs. Gerry's name is
among them, but only 47 have been granted this special treatment. Several of
these were wanted for killings and bombings carried out during the Troubles, but
have now been given assurances that no charges will be brought against them.
The news comes amid growing anger among nationalists in the East Tyrone area at
the discrimination involved in Gerry's case and the complete indifference of the
Sinn Féin leadership towards his family's plight.
The British government has operated a secret scheme granting royal pardons or immunity from prosecution to hand-picked ex-IRA members wanted for killings, bombings and other paramilitary activities, it has been claimed.
Of 216 'on the runs', 47 have been told they are free to return to the North with no ...
more
Ex-IRA gun-runner and former Sinn Féin ard comhairle member, Gerry McGeough, goes on trial in Belfast tomorrow charged with IRA membership in 1975 and the attempted murder of a UDR man in 1981.
In a bizarre case, McGeough will become the first republican on trial for historical ...
more
Woodward denies IRA 'on the runs' given pardons (BBC News)
Tyrone republican Gerry McGeough told the Sunday Tribune 47 of the 216 fugitives were told they could return. Mr McGeough, who is to stand trial for IRA ...
more
March 6, 2010
Gerry McGeough was a guest (by phone) on Radio Free Eireann 99.5 FM on Saturday 3/6
Click to listen to the interview with Gerry
You can listen to the entire show (Saturday March 6, 2010 1:00pm
) at: http://archive.wbai.org/
March 3, 2010
A judge has now been selected to preside at Gerry's trial. He is Ben Stevens, an
Englishman who is renowned as a pro-crown judge. Once again, the cards have been
heavily stacked against Gerry. Not only is he being denied a Jury Trial but has
also to contend with a single judge within the notorious Diplock system who is
known to be extremely partial towards the prosecution.
Gerry's lawyers, meanwhile, have conceded that the entire case is being driven
with a vindictiveness that is "beyond persecution".
February 19, 2010
The case against Gerry has degenerated into further farce with the announcement
by the Prosecution that one of Gerry's books is to be used as evidence against
him.
Defense lawyers have been told that the novel "Defenders", published in 1998, is
now to be factored in to the Prosecution's argument. The highly acclaimed novel
set in Tyrone during the Troubles centers around the life of a rural Irish
community struggling against the excesses of the British forces of
occupation-army, police and intelligence services.
As the proud author of the book, Gerry is entitled to be called as an expert
witness in his own trial in order to explain to the English crown prosecution
that a novel is actually a work of fiction.
Meanwhile the trial, which is now scheduled to begin on March 8th, will see dozens of witnesses called from several countries take the stand. This is
guaranteed to make it one of the most expensive trials in the entire history of
the Diplock Court system.
January 19, 2010
Urgent
In the latest desperate attempt to fabricate evidence against Gerry, the English crown prosecution has informed his legal team that they intend to use the BBC television programme Panorama as part of their case.
Specifically, the prosecution plans to focus on the 1997 series "Provos" by Peter Taylor (screened as "Behind the Mask" in the U.S.).
Although leading members of Sinn Féin also appeared on the programme, there is no indication that any of them are to face charges or prosecution for having
done so.
This new bizarre move is being seen in some quarters as yet another attempt to censor the views of Irishmen who speak out against the British presence in their country. To do so could involve Diplock court proceedings years into the future.
January 10, 2010
Gerry would like to wish all his supporters a very happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year and to thank all of you for your continued support.
As of this posting, Gerry's trial date has been moved to March 10, 2010. Unfortunately Gerry is not in good health and has been under the doctor's care for some time now. It will be three years this coming March since Gerry's arrest, and to date no concrete evidence to sustain the charges brought against him by the RUC/Crown has been forthcoming. Gerry has not been able to work in close to three years, and he cannot leave the north to visit friends or family, to seek work, or to just go about his daily life.
Everyone who believes in justice and the right to a speedy trial should be outraged that Gerry has been denied both over the past 3 years. The fact that the Crown and the northern Ireland judicial system has allowed this injustice to continue only goes to prove that the RUC and the diplock courts have not changed their corrupt policy when it comes to Irish Republicans.
Helen McClafferty
October 19, 2009
A trial date for Gerry McGeough has been set for March 8, 2010. This date is significant as it marks exactly three years from the day of the 2007 election poll count which led to his arrest.
A clear political message is being sent here. Dare to question British rule in
Ireland (even by peaceful political means) and Sinn Féin collaboration with that
rule and you can expect your life to be undermined for years before being
brought before a sham Diplock court and railroaded into jail.
Helen McClafferty
October 1, 2009
Gerry McGeough will be back in the hospital next week for another medical procedure related to his heart issue. Supposedly there will be a court ruling next Friday, October 9, 2009, aimed at paving the way for the trial to commence. We'll keep you all updated as things happen.
ACTION: Contact your local AOH and ask them to look into this miscarriage of justice. Contact your local Brehon Law Society and ask them to get involved with Gerry's case. Tell them to go to Free Gerry.com. Gerry and his family need our support more then ever now.
Thank you,
Helen McClafferty
July 30, 2009
Gerry McGeough had a heart-attack on Friday night July 24th. He was released
from the hospital yesterday after having undergone a medical procedure.
He is still quite weak, under a lot of medication and advised to do nothing but rest
for a week or so until further evaluation.
Your prayers that Gerry returns to his normal good health and for an end to the 2 1/2 year harassment
of him and his family by the RUC and Crown are greatly appreciated.
June 15, 2009
The British government have "unexpectedly" extended the legislation allowing for Diplock Courts for another two years. The Diplock system was supposed to have ended for good by July 2009. Some observers see this as a blatant move to ensure that Gerry McGeough is "tried" under this notorious emergency legislation. Gerry's trial date has now been indefinitely postponed until the RUC and the British Crown "get their so called evidence against Gerry together", which they have not been able to do for over 2 years since Gerry's initial arrest.
How would you feel if you were in Gerry's position? Arrested over two years ago on obviously trumped-up charges. held under house arrest for over two years while every month your trial date is postponed due to the RUC's lack of evidence to actually bring you to trial? However, instead of throwing this bogus case out of court and allowing Gerry to go free, so he and his family can live in peace, the Crown continues it's usual modus operandi, which is to incarcerate, harass and bring unsubstantiated charges against Irish Republicans who do not verbally support the status quo and tow the line.
June 12, 2009 -- hi from Gerry
This is the first time Gerry has had Internet access since April 9th...phone tapping and mail interception have been part of the on-going hassle he and his family have to deal with since his arrest/release two years ago. The RUC and Crown are so pathetic. One would only wish that while they are desperately trying to find or create evidence they can use against Gerry to support their flimsy allegations, the Dublin authorities, in the interim, would go after them for their files on the Dublin/Monaghan bombings?
The justice system in the north of Ireland is still one-sided and only reserved for a selective group
who are loyal to the Crown.
MAY 1, 2009 - IMPORTANT READ!
The Crown has postponed yet another trial date in the case of Gerry McGeough. It is two years on and the PSNI still has not been able to gather enough evidence to substantiate their trumped up 25-year-old charges against him. These two years of continuous postponement to bring Gerry to trial is nothing more then deliberate harassment to inflict mental and emotional torture on him and his family for as long as they can get away with it.
Not only is Gerry and his family being deprived of a normal life...vindictive articles are popping up all over the Internet vilifying Gerry as a Nazi supporter, using traditional Catholic and Pro-Life organizations to "recruit" new members to the IRA and any other malicious slander that can be spread about him. It seems that these anti-Gerry McGeough articles appear a few weeks prior to all his re-scheduled trial dates. Make no mistake about this...it is being done on purpose to discredit Gerry in anyway possible in order to chip-away at Gerry's support base and give the Crown further excuse not to just throw the case out of court. There is NO SMOKING GUN here! Gerry deserves to be free and exonerated. The problem is that Gerry is NOT FOR SALE in the north of Ireland and therefore his beliefs and his outspoken Irish Republican views are considered a threat to those who did sell out and to those still in control of the fate of a re-united Ireland!
P.S. This is only one of those scathing articles:
J. Christopher Pryor: Gerry McGeough: An Omen of the Future
Please reply to this article. Mr. Pryor seems to think the IRA is now recruiting members from traditional Catholic and pro-life organizations. Otherwise he's a mouthpiece for MI5.
Helen McClafferty
March 12 2009 - IMMEDIATE ATTENTION/ACTION REQUIRED
The new trial date for Gerry McGeough is now June 7, 2009. Every two weeks, since April 2007, the court has been postponing Gerry's hearings and trial date while they continue to keep him under house arrest. They have had close to 32 years to bring these charges against Gerry and not until he decided to run in the 2007 elections, as an Independent in Tyrone, did they decide to arrest and charge him. To date, they still haven't gathered enough credible evidence to prove their charges against him. What does that tell you?
If you really want to help Gerry, contact the Brehon Law Society and the Lawyer's Alliance Group and ask them to get involved, as they have done so often in the past for other Irish Republicans who faced similar injustice by the diplock courts in the north of Ireland. You can contact your local city Brehon Law Society by looking them up on the internet. In the meantime, here are a few contact numbers in the New York, Philadelphia, area to start with: Ask them to contact Gerry's attorney direct at Aidan@kevinwinters.com to see how they can help.
Thank you very much.
March 1 2009
Gerry McGeough's trial date has been set for May 5, 2009. Please pray for Gerry and his family that he will receive the justice and freedom he deserves.
February 2009
Gerry McGeough's wife Maria gave birth to a little girl, Nora Luz Bridget, 6 lbs 11 oz, born February 2nd.
Due to a Barrister's strike in the UK, Gerry's trial has been postponed indefinitely .
December 25, 2008
Happy Christmas to all of you and your families,
The message I sent last week was in relation to the trial. They have given us a date of February 2nd for the opening of the Diplock trial. We are due to have a baby on February 1st. Our struggle now is to have this date changed as my wife needs me around during this crucial period. After 28 years, British vindictiveness can surely wait a little longer.
In addition, new charges have been added to the list. I am now also charged with membership of the Provisional IRA in 1975 when I was the ripe old age of sixteen.
Thanks for all your help and God Bless.
Beannachtaí,
Gerry
November 26, 2008
Gerry McGeough appeared in court again today in Belfast. Things look good for
Vincent McAnespie, the Irish Republican who was arrested along with Gerry in March 2007, as the main charge against him is about to be dropped. We wish him the best.
However, in contrast, Gerry McGeough was arraigned and may face trial alone next year. The question here is, why is the Crown so harshly pursuing Gerry on the same charges they are about to drop against Vincent McAnespie?
September 22, 2008
Gerry McGeough's publication, The Hibernian Magazine, has been closed due to the continued harassment/house arrest and continued severe constraints imposed on Gerry by the British Crown. It will be two years come April 2009 that Gerry was arrested for trumped-up politically motivated charges dating back 25 years ago, and he has still not been brought to trial and his persecutors have not been able to prove their case against him to date. However, he continues to remain under house-arrest and is subject to almost daily appearances in court now while he sits and waits for the British crown to fly in retired RUC from all over the world to give testimony against him. The Diplock Court is most certainly still alive and thriving in the north of Ireland.
The Hibernian Magazine was a refreshing and rare publication in today's society when "anything goes" and loyalty and love of one's country and religion are something of the past - something to be mocked and ashamed to speak about. The Hibernian Magazine was not only dedicated to the reunification of Ireland and all that is Irish, but it was also dedicated to Catholicism and it was NOT "politically correct", which made it stand out both in Ireland and abroad.
Please pass this information on to everyone you know and tell them about the freegerry.com web site. We cannot allow Gerry to become, yet another victim, of the British crown and their Diplock courts.
July 31, 2008
Gerry McGeough was in court again today. The PE (Prelimenary Enquiry) is set to begin on September 1st. It involves the cross-examination of witnesses. The British are flying in
ex-RUC personel from Russia, Washington DC and other locations. They are clearly
prepared to go to considerable expense in trying to establish a case against Gerry, which
they have not been able to accomplish since March of 2007.
PLEASE TAKE ACTION NOW:
Write, phone or e-mail:
Shaun Woodward-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (NORTHERN IRELAND OFFICE)
Block B Castle Buildings,
Stormont Estate,
Belfast Northern Ireland BT4 3SG
General Enquiries:
Tel: (028) 9052 0700 Fax: (028) 9052 3333)
Press Enquiries:
Belfast Tel: (028) 9052 2077
... ask him how this type of activity can be justified when British agents are not being similarly prosecuted ?
ALSO - PLEASE CONTACT SINN FEIN - TELL THEM YOU WANT JUSTICE FOR MCGEOUGH AND YOU WANT THEM TO SPEAK OUT ABOUT GERRY'S MISCARRIAGE OF JUSTICE! 'IT'S TIME TO SET GERRY FREE!
Sinn Fein
44 Parnell Square
Dublin 1
Ireland
Tel: (353) 1 8726100/8726932
Fax: (353) 1 8733441
Email: sfadmin@eircom.net
Sinn Féin
53 Falls Road
Belfast, BT12 4PD
Ireland
Tel: 02890 223000
Fax: 02890 223001
Email: sfadmin@eircom.net
And this is what they call "justice" in the north of Ireland?
July 10, 2008
Gerry was in court again yesterday. He was given an adjournment for another three weeks while the prosecution attempts to assemble more papers for its case.
This case should have been thrown out of court by now as the prosecution has failed to prove it's case against Gerry McGeough for more than a year and a half now.
However, the prosecution continues to stall and postpone Gerry's right to at least an expedient trial in lieu of throwing the entire case out, which is what should have been done six months ago, when the judge realized that the Prosecution had failed to produce a shred of evidence to substantiate their arrest of Gerry McGeough in the first place.
URGENT UPDATE 5/29/08
Gerry McGeough appeared in court again on Tuesday 5/27 only to have his case postponed again until June 27th at which time the British crown said they are going to set a trial date for the Fall based on alleged evidence submitted to them by the Dublin government? Gerry's attorney's are outraged and sources close to them feel that the British crown is trying to use Gerry as a "scape-goat" to set a precedent for them to be able to now go after anyone once associated with the IRA who is still on the run both abroad and in America even re-opening the file on the murder of a British Captain Robert Niarac.
Please get this word out to your contacts and please continue to check the freegerry.com web site for updates. Gerry's case should be of VERY SERIOUS CONCERN TO ALL Republicans regardless of what political party they support in the north of Ireland.
May 23, 2008
Gerry McGeough appeared in court on 5/16 and no one from the prosecution side showed up. Gerry's case was then postponed until May 23. As of today, 5/23/08, Gerry has been given another postponement until May 28th.
The prosecution has failed to prove their case/charges against Gerry in over a year now and yet this arrogant and blatant continuation of postponement after postponement is nothing more than sheer harassment and arrogance by the PSNI/RUC.
It's time to set Gerry McGeough free and dismiss this case once and for all. It's turned into a circus performance by a bunch of clowns representing the British crown. Why hasn't Sinn Fein spoken out about this injustice?
It would be great if all of you emailed or wrote Gerry Adams and asked him EXACTLY what Sinn Fein is doing to HELP Gerry?
PLEASE CONTACT SINN FEIN - TELL THEM YOU WANT JUSTICE FOR MCGEOUGH AND YOU WANT THEM TO SPEAK OUT ABOUT GERRY'S MISCARRIAGE OF JUSTICE! 'IT'S TIME TO SET GERRY FREE!
Sinn Fein
44 Parnell Square
Dublin 1
Ireland
Tel: (353) 1 8726100/8726932
Fax: (353) 1 8733441
Email: sfadmin@eircom.net
Sinn Féin
53 Falls Road
Belfast, BT12 4PD
Ireland
Tel: 02890 223000
Fax: 02890 223001
Email: sfadmin@eircom.net
And this is what they call "justice" in the north of Ireland?
May 12, 2008
PLEASE TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION
Write, Call or Fax
William C. Thompson Jr.
Comptroller of the City of New York
1 Center Street,
New York, New York 10007
Phone: (212) 669-3500
Fax: (212-669-2707
“URGE HIM NOT TO SUBSIDIZE
INJUSTICE AND TO URGE THE
CROWN TO HALT THE 25 YEAR
OLD PROSECUTION AGAINST
GERRY McGEOUGH”.
Also, please contribute to
Gerry’s Family Fund
May 1, 2008
Why should Americans fund British
persecution in Ireland?
Americans
are now being asked to invest tax-dollars in the British controlled North of
Ireland, but are we being told the full truth about what is going on there?
Some
months ago, the British government announced that none of its soldiers or police
operatives would ever face prosecution for their involvement in the killing of Catholic civilians,
either directly or through collusion with loyalist paramilitaries, during the
period of conflict known as the Troubles. Yet ten years after the signing of
the Good Friday Agreement, when everyone is being asked to “move-on”, the British government continues to
hound and attempt to prosecute Irish Republicans for incidents that allegedly
occurred decades ago during those same Troubles.
Last
year, Tyrone man Gerry McGeough stood as an Independent Republican during the
March 2007 Assembly Elections. As he left the count center in Omagh following
the poll, McGeough, who is the editor of The Hibernian magazine, was arrested
in a major RUC/PSNI operation with the mass-media only yards away. The very public arrest was an act of
blatant political intimidation. Gerry
was interrogated and charged with the wounding of a British soldier during the
Hunger Strikes in 1981. He was thrown in prison and only got
bail after an intense legal struggle.
More
than a year later, he
and his family face continued persecution from the British authorities. His movements are restricted by tough
bail conditions and the family is kept under regular surveillance. Although
they have not produced a shred of evidence against him, the British require
Gerry to make regular court appearances and they propose to set a trial date
for him this month in a case that is now 27-years-old and which they have shown
no interest in before prior to his running for election in 2007.
How does any of this
help the Peace Process? By
nurturing such vengeful injustice the British are sowing the seeds of future
Rebellion. Why should Americans invest-in and fund this kind of misrule?
Please write, phone or
e-mail:Shaun Woodward-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (NORTHERN IRELAND OFFICE Block B Castle Buildings, Stormont
Estate, Belfast Northern Ireland BT4 3SG General
Enquiries Tel: (028) 9052 0700 Fax: (028) 9052 3333) Press Enquiries Belfast Tel: (028) 9052 2077... ask him how this type of activity can
be justified when British agents are not being similarly prosecuted and why
should US dollars finance any of this?”
Please also contact William C. Thompson Jr, Comptroller of the City of
New York, 1 Centre Street, New York, NY 10007 Phone: (212) 669-3500 Fax: (212)
669-2707 and advise his office of this terrible injustice before taxpayer
dollars are invested in Northern Ireland. For more information go to
freegerry.com web site.
April 2, 2008
From the Fermanagh Herald:
A date for a Preliminary Enquiry into the case against a candidate in the Fermanagh/South Tyrone election has been fixed for 21 May this year.
Gerry McGeough, who stood as an Independent Republican for this constituency in last year's Assembly elections, faces trial on the charge of the attempted murder of a part-time UDR man in June 1981.
McGeough from Carrycastle Road, Gortmerron, Dungannon, was dramatically arrested after leaving the elections results count at Omagh Leisure Centre. Later that day, his co-accused, Vincent McAnespie (45) of Aghabo Close, Aughnacloy, was also arrested.
The case against the two men has experienced a number of difficulties and delays. These led to Resident Magistrate, John Meehan issuing a warning to the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) to deliver results or he would dismiss the charges without prejudice.
At the most recent hearing, a defence solicitor said he was satisfied progress was being made and the case was now back on target. A lawyer for the PPS said the Investigating Officer was due to travel to Sweden to retrieve a file from the Immigration Office. All other information, including details sought from Germany had now been received. A date for both McGeough and McAnespie to face Preliminary Enquiry has been fixed for 21 May, after which the case moves to trial at Crown Court.
http://www.nwipp-newspapers.com/fh/free/314539388154057.php
March 17, 2008
News: John McDonagh will interview Gerry McGeough on-air Monday, March 17th between 12:30-3:00pm EST. You can listen to the stream here.
In this week's Irish Voice:
THE NATIONALIST NIGHTMARE
HAS NOT ENDED FOR MANY REPUBLICANS
Since the Stormont Assembly elections in
March of last year several prominent Republicans, many from the East Tyrone
area, have been subjected to arrest and on-going intimidation by the British
crown.
An Independent Republican candidate opposed to the
RUC/PSNI, Gerry McGeough, was actually arrested at a count centre in Tyrone
while the votes were being counted in March 2007.
Despite having campaigned openly for weeks, appearing regularly on television
and live radio, the British crown claimed that it was the first opportunity
they had to arrest him. Gerry was interrogated for days and subsequently
charged with participation as an IRA volunteer in a gun battle with British
crown forces. He and other Republicans were flung in jail and it was only
after a number of weeks and a considerable legal struggle that Gerry managed to
secure release on bail.
Since his release Gerry has, on average, appeared in
court on a monthly basis for over a year now.
At each appearance the “crown” has failed to produce any evidence against him
and on every occasion his case is put back for another month or so. In the
meantime, he is obliged to live his life under heavy bail restrictions, which
affect all the family. In addition to this, he and his family have been
subjected to intense surveillance and harassment from the British authorities,
and his lawyers have catalogued a long list of incidences. One recent example
involved a massive British military helicopter landing beside the rural school
that two of Gerry's young children attend just as pupils were being collected
by their parents. Personnel on board took photographs before the helicopter
took off.
Ten years after the signing of the Good
Friday Agreement when is the nationalist nightmare REALLY going to end? Go
to the Freegerry.com web site for details/updates and to make a donation to
help Gerry’s family.
Thank you
Helen McClafferty & Martin Galvin
February 26, 2008
Gerry McGeough returned to court again today, February 26, 2008 only to have his case put back for three more months. The PSNI has failed to prove its case against Gerry after almost one year now, yet the court has not thrown the case out - which further attests to the fact the diplock court system still remains in place in the north of Ireland. It appears now it is becoming nothing more than a "payback" to Gerry for not falling in line with the new "policing policies" during his campaign as an Independent candidate in last March's 2007 elections in South Tyrone.
October/November 2007
Gerry appeared in court two times in the month of October, only to have his case hearing postponed once again for another two weeks. At the last hearing, the prosecution said they needed more time as they had a letter for the German authorities ready from some months ago, but only just discovered that they forgot to post it until a few days ago... so now we must wait for that outcome. These are all delaying tactics that would never be tolerated anywhere else. Unfortunately, in the North, the judges pander to the RUC/prosecution and allow them their delays.
Cases like this can drag on for years, and had Gerry not gotten bail, thank God, he would have had to sit in jail for the almost endless duration. If only the north of Ireland had a political party with some backbone...
Keep you posted. God Bless.
September 20, 2007
Gerry is up again for another court hearing next Wednesday, September 26th, having last appeared just a week ago on Sept 12th in court. The RUC and the British Government has failed to prove a case against him since he was arrested back in March. However they continue their harassment of him and his family by refusing to drop these bogus charges against him. Instead, they keep remanding him to court hearings from week to week and month to month only to dismiss the hearings over and over again because the RUC fail to show and produce evidence to support the charges he was initially arrested on when he ran as an Independent candidate in South Tyrone on an anti-PSNI platform. Every time Gerry has to go to court his legal expenses keep mounting.
August 15, 2007
Gerry McGeough was in court again today. His case has now been put back until mid-September. However, in the interim, the RUC have forwarded his file to the British crown prosecution, meaning that a decision will now be taken as regards going forward to "trial" in the Diplock court. We should begin to see things move at the September hearing for good or for bad.
At that time we will know if the British intend to take Gerry to trial on 25 year old trumped-up charges. Gerry is still not allowed to travel to his place of business and his attorney fees are mounting. Please keep Gerry and his family in your prayers and any financial support is still needed and very much appreciated.
August 7, 2007
Gerry's interview in Magill
Page 1
Page 2
July 18, 2007
Gerry had another court appearance today. Again, the RUC did not turn up, and the hearing to either dismiss his case or go to trial has been put back to mid-August.
June 23, 2007
Audio: Radio interview with Gerry McGeough.
Gerry discusses the campaign of harassment and surveillance he's currently being subjected to, and how the Twenty-six County government is supplying information to help convict him in the Six Counties. He describes both himself and Roisin McAliskey as political targets in what he calls "a very serious situation going on here in Tyrone whereby the British forces are clearly targeting Tyrone and various people, myself included, as part of what appears to be some kind of vendetta and perhaps some means by which they think they can stifle Tyrone, being as we have a maverick reputation of being quite willing to speak our minds."
June 18, 2007
This urgent action must be brought to the attention of the Minister of Justice in Ireland:
Lawyers for Gerry
McGeough have lodged a complaint with the British authorities over what they describe as harassment and the totally unnecessary invasion of their client's privacy. This latest move stems from the on-going surveillance operation being carried out on McGeough by undercover British operatives, and was brought to light when a journalist made a phone call to McGeough's home. The journalist recognised the clicking sounds that interrupted the conversation as being indicative of a "live wire tap". In other words, British Intelligence agents were at that very moment monitoring the call.
The development is the latest in a British campaign against McGeough, which has included night-time monitoring of the family home in rural Tyrone by British military helicopters, and suspected interference with mail originating from abroad.
June 18, 2007
PLEASE CONTACT:
MINISTER FOR JUSTICE
Mr. Brian T. Lenihan
94 St. Stephen's Green
Dublin 2 Ireland
PH: +353 1 602 8202
FX +353 1 661 5461
Email:
info@justice.ie
Tell Them: DO NOT ALLOW THE GARDA TO ASSIST THE RUC/PSNI IN THE CASE OF GERRY MCGEOUGH OR ANY OTHER IRISH REPUBLICAN IN VIEW OF THE FACT THAT GERRY AND OTHERS WILL BE SUBJECT TO A DIPLOCK COURT AND JUSTICE FOR THEM WILL NOT BE SERVED.
Explain that the RUC has not been able to build a case against Gerry McGeough since his arrest back in March and are now looking to the Garda to help them. Ask the Minister for Justice in Ireland to say NO to the RUC.
June 13, 2007
Gerry McGeough appeared in court today and was told that the RUC/PSNI are still waiting for the Gardaí to provide them with requested "evidence" in his case. Another hearing has been scheduled for July 18th. To date, the RUC/PSNI have not been able to build a case based on the so called trumped-up charges they originally arrested him for back in March 2007. It just goes to prove how vindictive they are toward Gerry by continuing to pursue this matter in spite of no concrete evidence to substantiate their charges. It's apparent by now that they just wish to make his life miserable by keeping him under house arrest, running up his attorney fees by having him attend unnecessary court hearings several times a month without any resolution to his case.
Please don't forget to make a donation to Gerry's family fund as he is still not allowed to come and go to work freely and his attorney fees are mounting day by day.
June 9, 2007
Audio: Gerry McGeough discusses both his case
and the case of Roisin McAliskey. Gerry, who was himself imprisoned unjustly and illegally for years in an underground bunker in Germany before the case simply collapsed, discusses what could be in store for Roisin if she were to be returned to Germany. Roisin, a resident of County Tyrone, is the mother of two young children and the daughter of former British MP and outspoken activist in Northern Ireland, Bernadette Devlin McAliskey. In a repeat performance of what happened to her 10 years ago, Roisin is once again facing extradition to Germany, where she could spend 2 1/2 years in maxium security prison without even going to trial!
May 22 2007:
Gerry's court hearing on May 16th was postponed again until sometime in June, while the RUC looks into his past during his residency in Dublin, while a student at Trinity College 4 years ago. These antics by the RUC-PSNI are pure and simple harassment and are meant to keep Gerry on a short leash. What the RUC still don't get is that there is NO SMOKING GUN here, but they refuse to admit to their trumped-up blunder. In the meantime, Gerry still cannot leave the 6 counties and must report once a week to the Remand Center.
May 21 2007:
Gerry McGeough, a prominent Republican who was a candidate in the recent Stormont Assembly elections, and who was held in Germany on Irish Republican charges from 1988-92 and acquitted, reacted to the arrest of Roisin McAliskey as follows:
" I call for the immediate release of Roisin McAliskey on the German extradition warrant on decade old accusations. Having experienced first hand the conditions and court procedures which an Irish Republican would undergo in Germany, I call for her release as a matter of justice.
During the election I feared that Republicans should not back the RUC-PSNI and that the crown was attempting to lure Republicans into a position where we, and not the British, would be held to account. It saddens me that with this arrest, as well as those of Brian Arthurs and Vincent McAnespie, that these fears are so soon being realized in Tyrone".
May 11, 2007:
Gerry McGeough and his attorney appeared in court last week with regard to the RUC-PSNI's pending case against him. However Investigator Harkness of the RUC, who was supposed to appear in court to present any further finding by the RUC to justify this outrageous arrest, did not appear. Gerry's hearing has now been postponed until May 16.
In the interim, Gerry's home, which is in a very remote farm section of Tyrone, is being constantly buzzed by British Army helicopters in the middle of the night, and army personnel are being dropped on Gerry's farmland to keep surveillance on Gerry's house. Gerry said "it's like a scene out of a SWAT movie". These actions by the Crown Forces are totally uncalled for, and leave no doubt that Gerry McGeough and his family are being harassed for his Republican views.
April 18, 2007 Update:
The Police Ombudsman of Northern Ireland, Mrs Nuala O'Loan's, office contacted me by phone on 4/17/07 to discuss my email complaint about the politically motivated arrest of Gerry McGeough. She has assigned an officer to investigate his case, which Gerry McGeough confirmed with me today has been done, and her office will get back to me in a few days.
Although her department cannot comment on the "charges" against Gerry, they will certainly investigate any "misconduct" by the RUC, especially the blatant lies they told in court about Gerry being wanted in Germany and the USA and saying he was a member of the 32 County Sovereignty Movement. Gerry is not affiliated with any organization.
Letters, calls, emails, faxes to Mrs. O'Loan's office to ensure follow up of this politically motivated arrest is important. Your correspondence from the USA CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE! Go to the ACTION link on this page for details.
Thank you,
Helen McClafferty
April 9, 2007
THANK YOU FROM GERRY
I want to personally thank all those who not only helped me obtain bail last week, but to those who have donated so generously to my family fund thus far. Your support and prayers mean a great deal to me and my family and I can't thank you enough. At present, I am on remand to the six counties and must report in three times a week. This restriction alone is causing me and my family financial hardship as my place of business is across the border and therefore I cannot go to my job to conduct business as usual. The charges against me have not been dropped to date and I can only hope for the best. If the crown-forces wish to pursue a case against me, then I will have to go to trial. In the mean time, Helen and Martin will keep everyone updated about my situation through this web site and, again, my family and I are more than appreciative of your continued support.
God bless.
Gerry McGeough
Gerry is out on bail now, but he is remanded to the 6 counties and cannot go to his place of business which is across the border. This remand is causing him financial hardships. Please continue to financially support Gerry's family through their time of need until these trumped-up charges are dropped and he is allowed to continue to work and live freely in the north of Ireland.
Go here to see how you can help.
Thank you,
Helen McClafferty & Martin Galvin, Esq.
Saturday March 31st
1:30pm - 3:00pm
In His Own Words: Out on bail, Gerry McGeough discusses his recent incarceration. Listen to the interview with Gerry or to the entire show: Radio Free Eireann Saturday, March 31, 2007.
Back To
Old RUC Ways
Martin Galvin
• 4 April 2007
HARKNESSING BACK TO OLD RUC WAYS
Someone once
memorably remarked that in politics there are three categories of lies:
"Lies, damned lies and statistics. " Presumably, the author of this maxim
never had the opportunity to witness an RUC-PSNI member performing in a
British crown court which dispensed, or more accurately, dispensed with
justice in proceedings against an Irish Republican. Even the briefest
glimpse at the bail application of Gerry McGeough, as with tens of
thousands of other British crown court proceedings against suspected
Republicans over the past thirty years, would have revealed a whole new
category of untruth that must stand alone.
The key
RUC-PSNI performer against Gerry McGeough was Superintendent Harkness, who
now appears to have orchestrated both the stage-managed arrest of the
Independent Republican candidate outside the election count centre on
quarter-century old charges, as well as the moves to delay and deny a bail
release on those trumped-up charges. Harkness is thought to have served
with the infamous DMSU divisional mobile support unit, in making his way
up the ranks of the RUC-PSNI. During his election campaign Gerry McGeough
had argued that it was wrong in principle for any Republican pledged to
remove British forces to back the British crown constabulary and that in
practice the renamed RUC-PSNI would continue to act as the cutting edge of
British repression. Harkness is exactly the sort the British crown will
task with selecting, training, and commanding new recruits and ensuring
that such recruits fit the mold of the old RUC. Many had argued that the
arrest had made McGeough's point more eloquently than his own words. Now
Harkness was about to supply further eloquence.
The initial
bail hearing had been adjourned because of last minute claims by the crown
prosecutors that McGeough had jumped bail in the United States and was
wanted in Germany. McGeough's solicitors had been forced to request a
postponement rather than proceed without any advance notice that such a
claim would be raised and certainly without any time to obtain court
records refuting such claims. Harkness apparently provided this
information to the crown prosecutors, who appeared to pass on anything
Harkness said without question, no matter how improbable or inaccurate
Within a day
the defense solicitors had documentary proof that the claims about America
and Germany had been blatantly untrue. David Lewis, the solicitor who
handled McGeough's case in America had supplied a formal affidavit
attesting that the Tyrone Republican had been commended by Federal Judge
Sifton for honoring his bail conditions, even being kept at liberty and
allowed to report for a 3 year sentence that would exceed anything he
faced in the six counties under Stormont Deal limits of 2 years. German
authorities also supplied formal documents notifying him that there were
no charges in that jurisdiction.
It was
staggering. It would have taken little time or trouble in an age of
computerized watch lists for British crown constables or prosecutors to
check with their American and German counterparts and determine whether
Gerry McGeough had ever jumped bail or faced open charges in their
jurisdictions. Surely there had been sufficient time during the
investigation and planning of the arrest on these ancient charges to make
such an inquiry. Surely during the extended time when Gerry McGeough was
being interrogated at Antrim barracks, someone checked. Surely during the
days between formal charges and his High Court bail application, one of
the many constabulary members deployed to arrest and interrogate Gerry
McGeough was directed by Harkness to check with American and German
authorities. It must be presumed that Harkness and the RUC-PSNI members
under his command would have missed no chance to unearth grounds which
they hoped might have disqualified McGeough from any bail consideration.
It may well be concluded that Harkness was deliberately, blatantly and
brazenly misrepresenting facts which were quickly and categorically proven
obvious lies. The RUC may go by an alias but in a court proceeding against
an Irish Republican Harkness harkened back to the old RUC ingrained habits
setting a tone for those under his command.
CHILDREN
McGeough's solicitors supplied the RUCI-PSNI with advance copies of the documents to
be lodged in the crown court. Harkness was only beginning. McGeough's bail
sureties had attended the first court session. Now on the eve of the
rescheduled date, the crown lodged an objection to two of the men poised
to post bail, including McGeough's election agent. The objection was that
the two men, now respected and prosperous family men, thirty years ago
served sentences in the H-Blocks of Long Kesh. This was surprising. Former
political prisoners were customarily accepted as bail sureties. Some who
were imprisoned with them are under consideration for British ministries
or places on the crown Police Board. Now according to Harkness and the
crown prosecutors, the two men were not fit to forfeit money in the
unlikely event Gerry McGeough jumped bail. Substitutes had to be and were
found.
A second
RUC-PSNI tactic was shocking. Solicitors had supplied documents from the
local school confirming the enrollment and attendance of McGeough's three
young children. The RUC-PSNI wanted permission to visit the school,
observe McGeough's children and perhaps talk to the oldest child. These
requests were angrily refused. First Harkness seemed to be impugning the
honesty of the school officials and implying that the documents submitted
to the Court were fabricated. More importantly the arrest of their father
and visiting him in crown custody had a frightening impact on these
children of tender years. Now the same RUC-PSNI constables wanted to
question and perhaps traumatize the children in order to use their words
against their father's bail request.
The RUC-PSNI
also wanted the names and interviews with the substitute batch of bail
sureties. Defense solicitors, who had originally cooperated on the
assumption that the constabulary was asking in good faith, now told the
crown to take up any further matters in court.
CONTINUITY
The defense
was now prepared for a contested bail application unlike that of
McGeough's co-accused Vincent McAnespie who had been granted bail without
objection. However nothing prepared them for what was to come in scenes in
which observers later described as Harkness appearing like a ventriloquist
while prosecutors seemed to mouth whatever words he whispered.
The crown
began by solemnly alleging that Gerry McGeough was a member of the
Continuity IRA. The crowd gasped. The claim was nonsense. Republican Sinn
Fein had in fact run a candidate against Gerry McGeough. The party may
well be separate and independent of the CIRA, but it is hard for anyone
except Harkness to believe that they back competing candidates in
elections. McGeough had campaigned on a platform that he would enter
Stormont if elected to fight for a united Ireland and oppose concessions
to Paisley. The CIRA presumably like RSF candidates would subscribe to
abstentionism.
The crown
next contended that McGeough had been responsible for killing British
troopers in Germany and might still be under investigation there or in
America. Again an audible gasp sounded in the courtroom. Documents had
been submitted to the crown and court from the United States and Germany .
Who was to be believed Harkness and the RUC-PSNI or legal authorities from
America and Germany? Had the crown no scruples about misleading the court
and should they not have done a more credible job of it?
LAST GASP
Next the
crown claimed McGeough did not live at the address on Carrick Castle Road
and denied that his children attended the local school despite all of the
evidence including mail, phone service, church attendance and children's
school attendance. A respected community worker would be called who
attested to knowledge of McGeough's good character and authenticated his
residence.
The last
involuntary gasp from those in court was the loudest . Harkness was asked
whether he had made any attempt to raid for evidence at McGeough's home.
With characteristic RUC-PSNI aplomb Harkness solemnly recounted that an
attempt had been made to search McGeough's home but that a crowd had
gathered and rioted to prevent the raid.
There were a few things horribly wrong with this claim beyond the fact that it was
fiction. Anyone who had ever been to McGeough's home would know that the
address is not in Dungannon town but located in an extremely remote rural
area. It was joked that it would take a week to collect a large enough
crowd to riot and prevent the RUC-PSNI from making a raid. Moreover how
could such heavy rioting blocking a raid led by Harkness have remained
secret to the press, public and all others except Harkness?
A bail hearing which was expected to take less than an hour would take the
morning session and much of the afternoon. McGeough's legal team was able
to demolish the RUC-PSNI objections point by point with documentary proof
trumping trumped-up crown claims. An exasperated crown judge wondered
aloud if the RUC-PSNI was inept in not documenting claims imagined to be
true or simply proffering claims it knew to be blatantly false.
Gerry McGeough was released but on restrictions that would prevent him from
going the few miles needed to buy petrol in Emyvale County Monaghan, much
less publishing his magazine Hibernia in Drogheda. He faces ancient
charges with evidence collected or manufactured by those under Harkness'
command. He may, if crown prosecutors decide, face a Diplock Court. The
message sent by his arrest was repeated at his bail application for those
Republicans who failed to hear it the first time.
You may aspire to a united Ireland, but those who do so outside the strait-jacket
of the British imposed structures, or who refuse to endorse the crown
constabulary, even if you do so by election campaigns and peaceful means
will be dealt with by the RUC-PSNI
Meanwhile,
next week Republicans will mark Easter, reading the Proclamation of 1916,
remembering those who sacrificed their lives to make its ideals a reality
and for some wondering when we will see an Ireland where patriots like
Gerry McGeough need never again face British repression.
March 26 2007
Catalan friends support Gerry
The information on this web site has been published in Catalonia and in Catalan language: http://www.racocatala.cat/articles/13764
God bless you, Gerry.
Beannachtaí
Montse Corregidor
March 24 2007
Listen or Download: Radio Free Eireann (WBAI 99.5 FM) Saturday, March 24th
John McDonagh and Sandy Boyer speak with
election agent Joe McNulty in Ireland and attorney Martin Galvin for the latest updates on
Gerry's case.
You can also podcast the show from here (scroll down to Radio Free Eireann, Saturday, March 24).
March 16 2007
Listen or Download:
John McDonagh on WBAI's Wakeup Call
John speaks with Gerry McGeough's election agent Joe McNulty, who describes what happened on the day Gerry was arrested by the RUC, and the outrageous treatment Gerry has been subjected to in prison. Joe says: "People are calling it a political kidnapping."
March 3 2007
Listen or Download:
Radio Free Éireann Interview
John McDonagh speaks about the upcoming elections in Northern Ireland with Gerry McGeough and Martin Galvin in Tyrone.
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Gerry McGeough leaving
Enniskillen Courthouse on Monday.
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