Northern Ireland

British state manoeuvres lie behind the arrest of Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams

06 May 2014
Gerry Adams, the president of Sinn Fein, was arrested last week.

No immunity for Bloody Sunday soldiers

04 March 2014
Calls to drop prosecutions against British soldiers involved in Bloody Sunday in Northern Ireland have been met with anger by family campaigners.

Kincora scandal papers show links to ‘men in high places’

07 January 2014
Newly released secret state documents do nothing to dispel rumours of a child abuse cover-up at the top, explains Simon Basketter

Tories discussed a Berlin-style Belfast divide

07 January 2014
In 1984 the IRA blew up a hotel in Brighton hosting Tories staying for their annual conference.

Those at the top knew about British army's Northern Ireland death squad killings

26 November 2013
Simon Basketter looks at part of the history of British army terror tactics in Northern Ireland and what BBC’s Panorama didn’t tell us about death squads.

Sectarianism takes to the streets in Northern Ireland

13 August 2013
Flag-waving loyalists took to the streets in Northern Ireland last week. Cops fired 26 plastic bullets and used water cannon at one Unionist protest on Thursday.

Thatcher planned to send in troops to break miners

06 August 2013
Newly released government documents shed light on secret Tory plans to target miners, Northern Ireland and England’s flood defences, writes Simon Basketter

Northern Irish families sue Chief Constable

06 August 2013
Families of 20 of 300 people killed by British soldiers in Northern Ireland are suing chief constable Matt Baggott, head of the Historic Enquiries Team.

Activists prepare for protests at G8 summit in Northern Ireland

11 June 2013
Police in Northern Ireland are preparing to arrest hundreds of people during the G8 summit next week.

Marian Price freed

04 June 2013
Marian Price freed

Working class unity can challenge the sectarian riots in Belfast

11 December 2012
Belfast and other parts of Northern Ireland have been gripped by an explosion of protests, riots and roadblocks at the hands of Loyalist paramilitaries.

Expert witnesses give evidence to Azelle Rodney inquiry

20 November 2012
The public inquiry into the 2005 police shooting of Azelle Rodney heard from two expert witness firearms officers from Northern Ireland last week.

Violence is at the core of the Northern Irish state

18 September 2012
Sectarian rioting broke out earlier this month in Northern Ireland. It followed a series of provocative Orange Order marches going past the St Patrick’s Catholic Church, just on the outskirts of Belfast city centre.

International news round-up

04 September 2012
Loyalists behind Northern Ireland riots Loyalist paramilitaries were at the heart of organising sectarian riots in Northern Ireland this week.

Mexico 1968: Massacre at the Olympic games

22 May 2012
The Mexico Olympics opened on Saturday 12 October 1968. I know the date because it was exactly a week after the 5 October civil rights march in Derry, generally accepted as the day the Troubles in Northern Ireland started.

28 March pension strikes union by union

06 March 2012
Could strike on the day UCU—members under consultation until 13 March NUT—consultation vote closes 14 March PCS—consultation until 16 March EIS—consultation until 15 March UCAC (Wales)—rejected government offer, in negotiations about joining strike INTO (Northern Ireland)—also rejected and in negotiations with other unions NASUWT—rejected the government offer, unclear whether it will join strike Unite (Ministry of Defence)—Rejected offer and discussing action with the PCS</l