Re: Ancient Order of Halfwits? -- Stormont Watch

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Date Posted: Thu, May 10 2007, 21:01:21 PDT
Author: Fionnbarra � Dochartaigh
Subject: Re: Ancient Order of Halfwits?
In reply to: CR Vets 's message, "Ancient Order of Halfwits?" on Tue, May 08 2007, 17:42:04 PDT

At a meeting which I attended at the AOH Hall, last summer, it was made clear, contrary to the pronouncements of its then [& current] divisional president, to local papers in 2003, the October 5th Association-a network of 1968 civil rights veteran & supporters-where NOT officially banned from using AOH premises. It was members of my family and I, as part of the CR Vets' network who "DARED to organise a press conference to expose the vicious abuse of political prisoners in HMP Maghaaberry. One of the major problems was that less than a handful of CR vets actually attended, although several promised that they would do so in Feb. 2003. It is incorrect to claim that "Now, four years later, this week-end, the AOH have allowed a real DISSSIDENT conference to be held." This will be a meeting of ex-political prisoners. Certainly many of them may not totally endorse the new Stormont status-quo. But as far as I am concerned the so-called "dissidents" are not those who oppose the status quo, but rather those who have agreed to administer British Rule in the Six Counties, via devolved powers from Westminister.

The CR Vets are a diverse netwoek, and as one would expect are in favour of freedom of speech, for all and sundry. HOWEVER, they as a collective body do not "remain BANNNED" from using AOH premises." I remain "suspended" even though many within the AOH are fully aware of the pros and cons of the controversy emanating from a Sunday World tabloid columnist. The AOH locally, I have been told, has lost literally scores, if not a few hundred memebrs as a result of this 4-year-old dispute. So much for believing what certain 'Hibs' swallowed from a Sunday tabloid. Enough said.

I agree with the CR Vets-"that ban should have been
officially lifted years ago." But that columnist and the AOH were supposed to sort all this out months ago, which was promised, but never implemented. Certain men's words are not their bond, and many people are aware of the facts, rather than the fictions created by such people.

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Letter to Editors -- October '06, Fri, May 11 2007, 21:23:02 PDT