Families Acting for Innocent Relatives: Difference between revisions
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===Marches in Dublin=== |
===Marches in Dublin=== |
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{{see|2006 Dublin riots}} |
{{see|2006 Dublin riots}} |
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In February 2006, FAIR (as part of the [[Love Ulster]] organization) attempted to hold a protest march in Dublin in the [[Republic of Ireland]]. Their expressed goal was to bring attention to their view of the plight of Protestant victims of IRA violence. A riot broke out prior to the march that resulted in violence against the [[Garda Síochána|Gardaí]] and damage to property. Therefore, the march itself did not take place. The Love Ulster supporters withdrew under police cover and were ferried by bus to meet with Irish Justice Minister [[Michael McDowell]]. Though |
In February 2006, FAIR (as part of the [[Love Ulster]] organization) attempted to hold a protest march in Dublin in the [[Republic of Ireland]]. Their expressed goal was to bring attention to their view of the plight of Protestant victims of IRA violence. A riot broke out prior to the march that resulted in violence against the [[Garda Síochána|Gardaí]] and damage to property. Therefore, the march itself did not take place. The Love Ulster supporters withdrew under police cover and were ferried by bus to meet with Irish Justice Minister [[Michael McDowell]]. Though [[Republican Sinn Féin]] and others were initially accused of orchestrating the riot (which ), these allegations were later dismissed after investigation.<ref>[http://www.unison.ie/irish_independent/stories.php3?ca=9&si=1690209&issue_id=14656 100 Suspects Identified in march rioting, Irish Independent, September 18 2006]</ref>. |
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In 2007, FAIR and Love Ulster later announced their intention to hold another march in Dublin.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/6228332.stm BBC News (21 June 2007) Talks over new Love Ulster rally]</ref> These plans were subsequently cancelled following concession to a meeting with senior Irish government members.<ref>[http://www.rte.ie/news/2007/0803/loveulster.html RTÉ News (3 August 2007) Plans for Love Ulster Parade cancelled]</ref>. |
In 2007, FAIR and Love Ulster later announced their intention to hold another march in Dublin.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/6228332.stm BBC News (21 June 2007) Talks over new Love Ulster rally]</ref> These plans were subsequently cancelled following concession to a meeting with senior Irish government members.<ref>[http://www.rte.ie/news/2007/0803/loveulster.html RTÉ News (3 August 2007) Plans for Love Ulster Parade cancelled]</ref>. |
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Revision as of 17:44, 14 August 2010
 | This article's tone or style may not reflect the encyclopedic tone used on Wikipedia. (June 2008) |
Families Acting for Innocent Relatives (FAIR) was founded in 1998 by unionist victims of the Troubles in South Armagh, Northern Ireland.
The group was originally formed to remember what "Irish Republican death squads had done to south Armagh Protestants without justification or reprisal"[1] FAIR claims to represent the Unionist and Protestant victims of Irish Republican terrorism.
Leadership
FAIR is led by South Armagh man Willie Frazer, who lost five members of his close family to Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) violence during the Troubles.[2][verification needed]
Frazer claims to represent those who feel marginalised by concessions granted to Irish Republicans during the Northern Ireland peace process and by the inclusion of the Sinn Féin party.
Political action
FAIR is determined to place "innocent" loyalist/unionist victims' rights and issues high on the British government's agenda and to support the exclusion of Sinn Féin from the government of Northern Ireland.[citation needed]
They regard the Sinn Féin as the political wing of the IRA[citation needed] and oppose the early conditional release of Irish Republican militants, as is called for in the 1998 Belfast Agreement. However, Frazer believes that the Loyalist Paramilitaries "should never have been locked up in the first place."[1]
FAIR has called for full public inquiries into alleged collusion between Irish authorities and Republicans in the deaths of Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) officers, the Loyalist terrorists and Northern Protestant civilians.[3] Representatives have met with the Smithwick Tribunal for this reason.
Marches in Dublin
In February 2006, FAIR (as part of the Love Ulster organization) attempted to hold a protest march in Dublin in the Republic of Ireland. Their expressed goal was to bring attention to their view of the plight of Protestant victims of IRA violence. A riot broke out prior to the march that resulted in violence against the Gardaí and damage to property. Therefore, the march itself did not take place. The Love Ulster supporters withdrew under police cover and were ferried by bus to meet with Irish Justice Minister Michael McDowell. Though Republican Sinn Féin and others were initially accused of orchestrating the riot (which ), these allegations were later dismissed after investigation.[4].
In 2007, FAIR and Love Ulster later announced their intention to hold another march in Dublin.[5] These plans were subsequently cancelled following concession to a meeting with senior Irish government members.[6].
Controversies
FAIR has been at the centre of a great deal of documented controversy. A key criticism of FAIR is that it only represents the victims of Republican violence, downplaying and ignoring the numerous civilian victims of Loyalist terrorists and British security forces. Frazer has defended his group's record by saying they work for all South Armagh victims. He argues that the majority of the victimization in South Armagh was caused by the IRA. However, critics have noted that FAIR has named Robert McConnell as a victim of IRA violence, a member of the Ulster Defence Regiment. McConnell was implicated in both the killing of the brothers of Eugene Reavey on January 4, 1976, and in the Dublin and Monaghan bombings of 1974.[7][8]
FAIR has also been criticised for supporting Ian Paisley's 1999 allegation that Eugene Reavey was involved in the killing of ten Protestant civilians in the Kingsmill massacre on January 5, 1976.[9] FAIR has refused to agree to Police Service of Northern Ireland's dismissal of the allegation against Reavey by Chief Constable Ronnie Flanagan.[9]
Controversy surrounded FAIR once more in May 2010 when its head researcher William Wilkinson was convicted of rape and attempted rape.[10] Wilkinson was also a local councillor in Ballymena for the United Unionist Coalition.
References
- ^ a b McKay, Susan (2005). Northern Protestants: An unsettled people. The Blackstaff Press. ISBN 978-0-85640-771-0.
{{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters:|coauthors=and|month=(help) - ^ McKay, Susan. "Bitter hatreds that underpin Love Ulster parade in Dublin," Irish Times, 25 February 2005.
- ^ "British Intelligence / Gardai / I.R.A. Collusion," www.victims.org.uk.
- ^ 100 Suspects Identified in march rioting, Irish Independent, September 18 2006
- ^ BBC News (21 June 2007) Talks over new Love Ulster rally
- ^ RTÉ News (3 August 2007) Plans for Love Ulster Parade cancelled
- ^ "Collusion Part One: Secret Documents Reveal the Downing St Link," Irish News, 9 August 2007
- ^ Case of Reavey v. The United Kingdom
- ^ a b McKay, Susan. "Disgusting justification for sectarian murders," Irish News, January 30 2007.
- ^ "Ballymena councillor William Wilkinson guilty of rape," BBC News, 27 May 2010.