13/7/2010
The 32 County Sovereignty Movement in Sligo would like to take this opportunity, in the wake of the rioting that engulfed North Belfast and elsewhere, to condemn the Parades Commission and the British government for their facilitating of contentious orange parades.
Each year nationalist residents are subjected to police swarming into their communities to allow Orange Order marchers to swagger through. The history of the Order, its blatantly sectarian purpose and its triumphant behavioral patterns, make these marches unwanted and unacceptable. In light of this it is unsurprising to see locals clashing with the police sent to protect the marchers. The intensity of the response to the marches is merely an indicator of the strength of feeling about the issue.
Even the Parades Commission were forced to admit that the Order refused to engage with the local community rendering the talk about inclusiveness emanating from unionist politicians as hollow and meaningless.
Provisional Sinn Fein were forced to trot out the usual lies about “dissidents” bussing in rioters. Perhaps it has been so long since they’ve set foot in working class areas they are unable to recognize their own constituents. The Greater Ardoyne Residents Committee is also a body made up entirely of locals and so it is unfathomable to think that it is outsiders objecting to the parade.
We stand in solidarity with the beleaguered residents and urge all republicans to support them in their efforts.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Room For The Night? Help the Homeless, Help The Country.
The 32 County Sovereignty Movement in Sligo would like to state our concern in light of the current housing situation in the region.
Sligo and indeed the north west in general suffers from a deficit of social housing. Waiting lists are long and the accommodation that is eventually provided is frequently sub standard or unsuitable to the needs of the family or individual that requires it. This is unacceptable in our opinion. Waiting lists should not extend into months let alone years, yet we are expected to accept this state of affairs as the natural state of affairs. We contend that no Person should have to wait for years for assistance when the banks did not have to wait even for days with their begging bowl at the door of Brian Lenihan and his cohorts in the Department of Finance.
The frequent refrain from local authorities is that there simply isn’t the money to fix the problem. Given the innumerable junkets taken by these same people for years at our expense we say that not only do we believe that there is sufficient money but that perhaps the councillors and TDs themselves could take a pay cut to facilitate the relief of their constituents! I wonder how many county councillors are currently on the waiting list for social housing? Homelessness is a blight on the collective conscience of this country’s government. For years they have wasted and wanted for nothing. Now they tell us the money is gone. But not apparently all of it. No, it would seem there are still countless billions to be thrown into the gaping financial hole that is NAMA. Not only does this project defy all known economic logic but it also takes priority over the needs of ordinary Irish people. Despite being bailed out to the tune of 22 Billion euros the Banks still want more. Is it too much then to raise our collective voices and demand that we too want more, that we want more money for our communities, towns and villages?
The 32CSM does not think so. We regard the problem of homelessness to be a problem that is eminently solvable through a combination of social housing and proactive initiatives at a local level. Whilst there is an undersupply of social housing we simultaneously have “ghost estates” covering the North West. Is it too much to ask of the thinking ability of our representatives to put two and two together and to use these empty houses for the logical use? In reality there doesn’t need to be any person in this country waiting for a house when we have 300,000 empty ones, the majority of which are now owned by the people through NAMA anyways.
Many of these estates now lie half completed, likewise the construction industry is in free fall. Why not put some of the thousands of unemployed tradesmen to work establishing facilities and amenities and completing these estates. Social programmes in times of economic crisis are not a radical idea, the reforms introduced by the Roosevelt administration in the great depression helped to alleviate much of the suffering of the people. Why are we content to sit back and watch as perfectly good houses are knocked down whilst people sleep on our streets.
We call on the government, for once in its term to use some common sense. It is not an irrational proposal to address the needs of society’s vulnerable. The issue cannot become a rallying cry when the time for action has passed. It will not be enough in years to come, to reflect on opportunities missed and communities betrayed. The legacy of a era is more often visible in the people left behind by it than those that scaled the heights of the social ladder, trampling others in their wake.
For once think of the people, rather than the paycheque. If it is too much to ask that the people in power to help us then perhaps it is time to reconsider the people we put into power!
Invest in the people, not the powerful
Sligo and indeed the north west in general suffers from a deficit of social housing. Waiting lists are long and the accommodation that is eventually provided is frequently sub standard or unsuitable to the needs of the family or individual that requires it. This is unacceptable in our opinion. Waiting lists should not extend into months let alone years, yet we are expected to accept this state of affairs as the natural state of affairs. We contend that no Person should have to wait for years for assistance when the banks did not have to wait even for days with their begging bowl at the door of Brian Lenihan and his cohorts in the Department of Finance.
The frequent refrain from local authorities is that there simply isn’t the money to fix the problem. Given the innumerable junkets taken by these same people for years at our expense we say that not only do we believe that there is sufficient money but that perhaps the councillors and TDs themselves could take a pay cut to facilitate the relief of their constituents! I wonder how many county councillors are currently on the waiting list for social housing? Homelessness is a blight on the collective conscience of this country’s government. For years they have wasted and wanted for nothing. Now they tell us the money is gone. But not apparently all of it. No, it would seem there are still countless billions to be thrown into the gaping financial hole that is NAMA. Not only does this project defy all known economic logic but it also takes priority over the needs of ordinary Irish people. Despite being bailed out to the tune of 22 Billion euros the Banks still want more. Is it too much then to raise our collective voices and demand that we too want more, that we want more money for our communities, towns and villages?
The 32CSM does not think so. We regard the problem of homelessness to be a problem that is eminently solvable through a combination of social housing and proactive initiatives at a local level. Whilst there is an undersupply of social housing we simultaneously have “ghost estates” covering the North West. Is it too much to ask of the thinking ability of our representatives to put two and two together and to use these empty houses for the logical use? In reality there doesn’t need to be any person in this country waiting for a house when we have 300,000 empty ones, the majority of which are now owned by the people through NAMA anyways.
Many of these estates now lie half completed, likewise the construction industry is in free fall. Why not put some of the thousands of unemployed tradesmen to work establishing facilities and amenities and completing these estates. Social programmes in times of economic crisis are not a radical idea, the reforms introduced by the Roosevelt administration in the great depression helped to alleviate much of the suffering of the people. Why are we content to sit back and watch as perfectly good houses are knocked down whilst people sleep on our streets.
We call on the government, for once in its term to use some common sense. It is not an irrational proposal to address the needs of society’s vulnerable. The issue cannot become a rallying cry when the time for action has passed. It will not be enough in years to come, to reflect on opportunities missed and communities betrayed. The legacy of a era is more often visible in the people left behind by it than those that scaled the heights of the social ladder, trampling others in their wake.
For once think of the people, rather than the paycheque. If it is too much to ask that the people in power to help us then perhaps it is time to reconsider the people we put into power!
Invest in the people, not the powerful
Monday, July 5, 2010
Sligo 32 CSM - Paedophile Laws Too Lenient
Sligo 32 County Sovereignty Movement express their dismay at the latest revelations in relation to serial paedophile Joseph McColgan and his activities.
This pathetic excuse of a human individual is a perfect example of the Free State’s laws failing the ordinary people of Ireland and, more importantly, the victims of these heinous crimes. Although on no comparable scale, the laws in place presently in relation to every aspect of the legal system are skewered to protect any of those in the position of power- the bank man, the developer, the priest, the abuser.
McColgan’s case history and the actions he carried out are nothing short of disgusting and the incapability of the accountable services to highlight and stop the abuse was neglect of the highest order in their supposed duty.
After years of systematically raping, beating and psychically abusing his children from his isolated den McColgan was given a 238 year sentence, he only served 9 years of this. This figure alone is a stark indication that there is something seriously wrong either with the legal system or those who administer it.
McColgan did not participate in any rehabilitation programs, show any remorse or seem to accept the wrong of his behaviour during his imprisonment in Ireland. On these actions alone his sentence should have been indefinite until an improvement or change was shown. Once released McColgan moved to England, and given recent news stories revealing his continuing involvement in child pornography and his ability to leave England without notifying the authorities with ease, who is to know if he continued his sick obsessions and actions over there on innocent individuals?
Sligo 32CSM are also alarmed at the fact that McColgan could so easily and callously return to the very location and area where he committed all of his crimes, this itself shows absolutely no level of remorse or comprehension of what pain he has left behind and is another clear marker to indicate that he should never be released to put the public of any country in danger again.
We would call on the system of Megans Law as exhibited in the United States to be implemented here with immediate effect. Parents and communities have the undeniable right to know if there is an individual in their community that may put them or their children in danger. Any argument for the right of anonymity to protect the abuser is farcical, that right evaporated as soon as their first crime was committed.
Sligo 32CSM also call on the rehabilitation system within jails to be closely looked at and made compulsory for abusers to become active in, if they refuse this their sentence should be made indefinite. Tags currently used to locate individuals on bail should also be made compulsory on offenders once released coupled with the introduction of a more regular signing on period of twice daily to ensure these evil paedophiles cannot so easily escape the net to try and ply their trade elsewhere as has been shown in McColgan’s case.
These individuals have been and always will be a danger to society with their sick and perverted intentions. The safety of the public is paramount and all measures should be put in place to ensure that men like McColgan are never released to prey again.
Sligo 32CSM call for this system, which lets these offenders ruin so many lives after serving shamefully short sentences, to be reviewed and changed with immediate effect. We stand with residents of communities to have the right to self determination to expel dangers that may lie in their area by introducing a Megan’s Law system to ensure our children's safety and to minimise the risk from paedophiles and rapists.
This safety of the innocent and vulnerable in our society is an issue we feel particularly strongly on and will continue to highlight to ensure enhanced protection for the future for the people of this island.
This pathetic excuse of a human individual is a perfect example of the Free State’s laws failing the ordinary people of Ireland and, more importantly, the victims of these heinous crimes. Although on no comparable scale, the laws in place presently in relation to every aspect of the legal system are skewered to protect any of those in the position of power- the bank man, the developer, the priest, the abuser.
McColgan’s case history and the actions he carried out are nothing short of disgusting and the incapability of the accountable services to highlight and stop the abuse was neglect of the highest order in their supposed duty.
After years of systematically raping, beating and psychically abusing his children from his isolated den McColgan was given a 238 year sentence, he only served 9 years of this. This figure alone is a stark indication that there is something seriously wrong either with the legal system or those who administer it.
McColgan did not participate in any rehabilitation programs, show any remorse or seem to accept the wrong of his behaviour during his imprisonment in Ireland. On these actions alone his sentence should have been indefinite until an improvement or change was shown. Once released McColgan moved to England, and given recent news stories revealing his continuing involvement in child pornography and his ability to leave England without notifying the authorities with ease, who is to know if he continued his sick obsessions and actions over there on innocent individuals?
Sligo 32CSM are also alarmed at the fact that McColgan could so easily and callously return to the very location and area where he committed all of his crimes, this itself shows absolutely no level of remorse or comprehension of what pain he has left behind and is another clear marker to indicate that he should never be released to put the public of any country in danger again.
We would call on the system of Megans Law as exhibited in the United States to be implemented here with immediate effect. Parents and communities have the undeniable right to know if there is an individual in their community that may put them or their children in danger. Any argument for the right of anonymity to protect the abuser is farcical, that right evaporated as soon as their first crime was committed.
Sligo 32CSM also call on the rehabilitation system within jails to be closely looked at and made compulsory for abusers to become active in, if they refuse this their sentence should be made indefinite. Tags currently used to locate individuals on bail should also be made compulsory on offenders once released coupled with the introduction of a more regular signing on period of twice daily to ensure these evil paedophiles cannot so easily escape the net to try and ply their trade elsewhere as has been shown in McColgan’s case.
These individuals have been and always will be a danger to society with their sick and perverted intentions. The safety of the public is paramount and all measures should be put in place to ensure that men like McColgan are never released to prey again.
Sligo 32CSM call for this system, which lets these offenders ruin so many lives after serving shamefully short sentences, to be reviewed and changed with immediate effect. We stand with residents of communities to have the right to self determination to expel dangers that may lie in their area by introducing a Megan’s Law system to ensure our children's safety and to minimise the risk from paedophiles and rapists.
This safety of the innocent and vulnerable in our society is an issue we feel particularly strongly on and will continue to highlight to ensure enhanced protection for the future for the people of this island.
Sunday, July 4, 2010
32CSM Sligo Radio Interview
On Friday the 2nd of July 2010, Sligo 32CSM member Sean Keogh spoke on Ocean FM in relation to sectarian Orange marches being forcibly pushed through nationalist areas. A contentious parade in Newtownbutler was being held later that day against the wishes of the 98% nationalist population.
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