Disorder in the Court

Marian Price and three co-accused yesterday saw charges against them thrown out of a Northern Irish court by the judge, Barney McElholm. He expressed some disquiet at the length of time it had taken the prosecution to complete the papers necessary for the British crown to proceed with its case against the accused. Prolonged remands, as in this case, are a throwback to the days of conveyor belt justice when people could be held on remand for as long as three years before being brought to trial. It was a legal weapon used by the British state for keeping political opponents off the streets and was colloquially known as ‘internment by remand.’ Then it was the exception that people got bail. So, by keeping any trial on the long finger the British could prolong deprivation of liberty.

A year after charges were first preferred in the case, Marian Price along with three Derry men were due a Preliminary Enquiry. For the most part these are legal formalities whereby a judge assesses if there is a prima facie case against the accused and the onus is on the prosecution to present some evidence that will persuade the judge to allow the case to go to trial. Otherwise, the court has the option of dismissal.

Such is Marian Price’s psychological state that she was unable to attend yesterday’s hearing or to even appear by video link. Her solicitor explained that she was suffering from severe depression. It is an outcome of the regime of isolation she has endured from her arrest a year ago. Along with the others who walked free yesterday she had been charged with taking part in a commemoration on April 25th last year. The British police, who arrested the four, accused each of lending support to an IRA that the police do not approve of.

The judge on the bench showed his mettle by refusing to allow his court to function as a mere rubber stamp for the Public Prosecution Service. It nonchalantly turned up at court without having submitted the necessary papers that would have allowed the judge to consider the merits of its case. It tried one of the oldest tricks in the dictionary of delay and claimed that the papers were almost ready. Judge McElholm was having none of it. He stated, quite reasonably, that more complicated cases involving forensic evidence had come before the courts in quicker time. Unlike many who sat on the bench before him he simply refused to engage in interminable delays. While drawing attention to his lack of powers he nevertheless argued that were he not to ‘use what teeth I have, I may as well sit back and allow the prosecution to dictate the pace.’ Which is exactly what he is supposed to do only he has declined to read the script handed down to him by British powers.

Not often that we hear of judges, with their tendency towards conservatism, standing up to orthodoxy. But there we have it. For how long the bench shall have him is something else. Smoke signals from the PPS camp suggest a smouldering resentment that Marian has not yet paid the Price.

20 comments:

  1. Marian has given so much for Ireland, in her youth and now. She is being kept hostage by lesser people who are.for whatever reason, unable to deal with a woman of Ireland. God bless this good woman.

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  2. John

    That is an excellent comment, but, lets not forget what the cps has stated, "THIS CASE IS NOT OVER WITH, WE WILL CONTINUE TO PROSECUTE", so, were does that Leave MARION?. They still believe we are croppies and will lye down, I DONT THINK SO. If they put themselves back in the 70's they would see the difference, alas, times have changed, there are fewer on the streets protesting; WHY?, because of ;"PSF NUTTING SQUAD", yes they are still active.
    so , what can be done, I honestly believe that its time for this NEW RUC, psni to see what its like to really come under fire, even if its just the first line of defence we had in the 70's, the old nail bomb, believe you me, they would sure as f**k pull there evil horns in, as would adams and mc guinness and the few jobs for the boys who were selected prior to the GFA agreement, what makes me so sick to the stomach is, The political minded adams still, to this very day denies he was ever in the P.I.R.A., Mc Guinness stated he left the P.I.R.A. in 1974 , there are those of us who know this is an absolute lie , the brits know that its a lie , that to me proves the brits are protecting there own?to me that is showing utter disrespect to our 10 brave men of 1981. I sincerely hope i get an honest response to this post, if you do not speak your mind honestly, then all is lost. please, speak your mind, who knows, maybe i will be the next one arrested and re-interned. whats happening comrades, forget the jobs for the boys guys, WHAT HAVE WE GIVEN HALF; or ; MORE OF OUR LIVES FOR?. to be re-areested and interned AGAIN?.

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  3. itsjustmacker
    agree with the sentiment of your post. However if i was out on lisence i'd not be 'overtly' doing what Marrion was doing. I know i'll be pasted for that, but people are disinterested in a re-run of the troubles. It's 2012. The McGeough and Corey cases are much more sinister and disturbing to my mind.

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  4. John,

    You have got things muddled here. It is the clergy who can’t deal with the women of Ireland not the Brits! On a serious level she has undergone too much adversity to have to put up with this nonsense.

    Itsjustmacker,

    It is ominous that after all we have experienced with the failure of political violence that its use can still be advocated. Apart from it having no legitimacy the thought of the young people who will end up in jail for heeding the call should be enough to make people think twice about it. We will forever be campaigning for prisoners if it continues.

    People also need to be more clued in to what they advocate on the web. The British state is all too eager to jail people on the basis of what they think.

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  5. Itsjustmacker re; your comments a cara you leave yourself open to "goaders" like Mickeyboy and others to tell them how many of the enemy you have /will kill, and leave yourself open to be pushed into a negative corner, I agree with Larry and Anthony here a cara we may be angry but lashing out has done nothing but leave us with overflowing graveyards broken homes decent people locked up and a few bastards in big houses here and abroad,indeed we should not get angry but get even, and that is imo a cara through political education and agitation.I believe we can pull down those bastards and their cronies by continuing to highlight their lies ,and corruption without anyone on our side losing a single drop of blood or spending another day in gaol, remember a cara do not get into a fight if you havent a hope in hell of winning,or as we say here you,ll get yer melt kicked in,been there !done that! got the fucking scars!

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  6. marty
    here here!!!
    wee bit of reality is a blessing. i for one have no interested in reactivating a lucrative treadmill for the benefit of 'turds' nor do i desire or long for the De Valera dream of hairy arsed/legged colleens at the crossroads with rosarybeads. Some on here seem to be fantasising about the fukn stone age.

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  7. Am
    I would do nothing to jepardize you fantastic web site, please feel free to delete my last post if you so wish, this has nothing to do with any threats or the brit internet scouring mongs.

    Larry.
    I have to disagree with you about Marrion and Gerry, Marrions case was thrown out of court with the other 3, she is being held on a trumped up charge of assisting in the shooting of the two soldiers at massereene barracks, as for Gerry, his case is highlighted because he is excempt from arrest because what he had done was within the remit of the so called GFA and should never have been arrested and charged, i believe this was with the help of PSF asking PSNI/RUC to have him lifted.

    Marty.

    Got a few scars myself, nearly got one in the head, it only takes one person to speak out, then those who want to follow suit should do so, its in our blood, alas, PSF made sure everyones involved in the struggle and even those not involved who dissented were taken out, or, scarred, or burried in unmarked graves, its common knowledge they would stop at nothing to keep they're high profile positions.

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  8. Ha ha . Larry, hairy arsed/legged colleens at the crossroads with rosarybeads, That was Adams in trad dress doing the Kerry ring!!!

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  9. Itsjustmacker agreed a cara rebellion is in our blood ,but like the old highland charge straight into the mouths of cannon, times and strategies change, look at Scotland today they are on the cusp of independence if they want it and not a drop of blood spilt in this campaign, the SNP have made qsf look like the assholes they really are ,we can do the same a cara rebellion but on our terms this time.

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  10. itsjustmacker
    i'm far from well in the know on the respective cases. But i do sense standing in a graveyard holding a page from which a masked guerilla threatens the 'entire' british establishment was to step on pretty thin ice. Being out on lisence at the time was 'foolhardy' to say the least.

    Gerry to my mind and Corey are being politically persecuted quite simply.

    without being fecitious...might Marrion not be better getting home and applying for her uk none contributory pension instead of trying to plunge us all back into war?

    just a thought...

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  11. mart
    john would be at the crossroads with his beads and the oul padraic pearse googly/glad eye lol

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  12. Itsjustmacker,

    I’ll don’t intend removing the post and it does not cause us a problem but these type of comments can cause problems for those who post them.

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  13. Larry,

    'without being fecitious...might Marrion not be better getting home and applying for her uk none contributory pension instead of trying to plunge us all back into war?'

    If enough followed the deeds of Marian, we would be free.

    If people follow Larry, we will be west Brits.

    The choice is clear.

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  14. john
    west european...there's more to the world than the brits and an outdated stoneage neanderthal mindset. Tell me john, is the Spanish inquisition over yet?

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  15. Larry,

    'Tell me john, is the Spanish inquisition over yet?'

    Not quiet sure of the relevance of that comment, given the thread, but yes, it is over. More is the pity! Don't tell me you are against that august institution as well?

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  16. John,

    Have a nice glass of wine and a good look at this website. Peaches and Rene will sort you out!

    http://tour.sapphicerotica.com/

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  17. Alfie,

    'Have a nice glass of wine and a good look at this website. Peaches and Rene will sort you out!'

    Begone Satan! +

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  18. Larry,

    “i'm far from well in the know on the respective cases. But i do sense standing in a graveyard holding a page from which a masked guerilla threatens the 'entire' british establishment was to step on pretty thin ice. Being out on lisence at the time was 'foolhardy' to say the least.

    Gerry to my mind and Corey are being politically persecuted quite simply.

    without being fecitious...might Marrion not be better getting home and applying for her uk none contributory pension instead of trying to plunge us all back into war?

    just a thought...”

    Just a critical observation on your supposedly innocuous words, which in my opinion are more in line with the crowns flimsy case and your understanding, or as you say your sense agrees that the crown is justified in pursuing a case based on holding up a statement.

    A rough translation of your anti Marian rant:

    You have an insignificant understanding in the cases but will comment on one using the trial by media method and replace a few words and conclude that you are not being offensive when you politely excuse yourself with the prefix of not being facetious. You assign political significance to; two cases the other you berate. The other noticeable difference being you assign the two male cases as political and the female case you assign warmonger.

    Firstly, the use of guerilla contradicts the rest of your sentence. A masked terrorist is what you should have said to give the “threatening the entire British establishment” agreement as on one hand you are excusing the “masked guerilla” that read the statement and condemning Marian for holding it. Is she holding the statement in a civilian capacity considering she is unmasked and nonthreatening in appearance?

    “Being out on lisence at the time was 'foolhardy' to say the least.”

    This is interesting as it ends the thought or does it.

    “Gerry to my mind and Corey are being politically persecuted quite simply.”
    Being more generous as you assign political persecution in these cases yet fail to explain your brief conclusion although in the same breath you deny political persecution in Marian’s case implying her actions are purely criminal in nature.

    Here you display your arrogance and ignorance in an afterthought, which highlights your obvious disdain for Marian’s personal political beliefs.

    “without being fecitious...might Marrion not be better getting home and applying for her uk none contributory pension instead of trying to plunge us all back into war?”

    Her financial matters would be personal and nothing for you to concern yourself with, exactly what would that have to do with her interment.
    You completely rubbish yourself by stating “applying for her uk none contributory pension” your spineless non-contributory remark is disgraceful.
    Your very personal fear “of trying to plunge us all back into war?” is unfounded and an over exaggeration easily dismissed the lack of public support might be your first clue as to how much power this women wields.
    Unlike like yourself I do not believe she speaks for “us all” and I certainly would not want you to speak for me.

    I think you can rest easy Larry as the woman is no danger to the “all of us” you speak for.

    I would not have watched the video but if I recall I believe Boyne Rover and I am not completely sure on that asked me my opinion a while back on the quill a fair and honest inquiry.
    I obliged and watched the video and replied with a sincere answer all the video inspired me to do was shut off the computer and go make a cup of tea.

    “i'm far from well in the know on the respective cases.” I know little about football so I never comment on it.

    Larry if the crown had her dead to rights Marian would take her punishment but the crown has her interned as it scrambles to convict her on anything.
    I am sure the DPP would appreciate your comment of plunging us all back into war and who knows perhaps under your great advice they may well level that imaginary charge against her.

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  19. Tain Bo,

    I think it is incumbent on all concerned not to give the British any opportunity to apply their draconian powers. The British state will jump at an opportunity like the cemetery incident to repress republicans.

    An ‘obvious disdain for Marian's personal political beliefs’ on the part of anybody is a matter of choice. People are free to treat my beliefs or anybody else’s beliefs with disdain. If they are robust beliefs they will survive that disdain.

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  20. Anthony,

    agreed, I made my personal disdain of the post abundantly clear in my rough outline which clearly demonstrates my opinion.
    I made no attempt to dilute it with subtle prefix as in my opinion the afterthought clearly invites personal disagreement.

    Below is the afterthought.

    “without being fecitious...might Marrion not be better getting home and applying for her uk none contributory pension instead of trying to plunge us all back into war?”

    He already made it clear that he agrees with her interment based on his words. Then addresses two other cases yet returns with a closing afterthought on Marian.

    I find the above unnecessary and clearly insulting suggesting Marian should trade her beliefs for a pension.

    I would like to believe if I posted something insulting that other(s) would present an argument against it.

    Personal choice has been exercised by Larry to date he has either ignored my post or is unaware of it and has offered no counter.
    Based on that I considered the issue closed.

    I harbor no personal resentment towards Larry or any other contributor on the quill.
    I believe we have exchanged harsh words in the past I also on a personal level wished him well in his academic endeavors.

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