Mick Hall with a piece on the arrest of Padraic Wilson from his own blog on the 9th November 2012


Since the UK Tory led Coalition government came to power in 2010, there seems to have been a sea change in how the British government deals with the Irish peace process. There are worrying signs of a return to the dark days when consecutive British governments used the police and security services as its main arm of government within the six counties.

The Arrest of former Provo commander Padraic Wilson: Some Thoughts, Some Questions.

Guest writer Sean Doyle with a piece on Seamus Costello. The author belongs to the Seamus Costello Memorial Committee. It is a transcript of a speech the author gave at the unveiling of a plaque to commemorate republican socialist Seamus Costello who was gunned down while he sat in his car in Dublin in 1977.


As we gather here in this sombre place, where the unthinkable happened and the young revolutionary Seamus Costello was murdered by a reformist assailant under orders, I think it’s appropriate to read this poem by a comrade who shared the internment camp on the Curragh. This poem is his tribute.

Tribute To A Comrade In A Sombre Place

While there are a lot of his books in the house, I have yet to read Jo Nesbo, the Norwegian crime thriller writer. He is said to be on a par with Stieg Larsson, whose writing I love. But lots of blurbs make similar claims in the hope that by standing on the shoulder of giants their talent may be spotted, or lack of it at least confused for something else. As Roger, the main character in Headhunters, alludes, a good reputation can inveigle a free pass for even poor product on the critics’ watch.

Headhunters

Mick Hall with a piece on the Tory Iain Duncan Smith from his own blog Organised Rage. It first featured on the 29th October 2012.


Is there a more odious man in the UK than Iain Duncan Smith, he spent the years leading up to the 2010 general election touring the country masquerading as a Christian friend of the poor.

Is there a more odious scoundrel in the UK than Iain Duncan Smith?