Welcome
Cairde na hÉireann (Friends of Ireland) is the main republican organisation in Scotland. Please read the About Cairde section for some background information on the organisation and its activities. You can also keep up to date, with various forthcoming events that will be organised by Cairde by visiting out events page. Or if you prefer you can use facebook or twitter to get more frequent updates and news.
Press release Re: Vol. Sean Phelan commemoration
19th February 2011
Following on from our Press Release of the 18th February 2012, in the wake of yesterday's Annual Vol. Sean Phelan Commemoration. We in Cairde Na hEireann Liverpool would like to make the following points:
* Yesterday's Commemoration was the target of a combined group consisting of the English Defence League, British National Party, British People's Party, Infidels of Britain, Football Hooligans, Independent Orange Order, individual members of Loyalist Flute Bands associated with the Orange Order in Liverpool, United Kingdom Independence Party, and a variety of ex-service British Servicemen Associations including ex-Kings Regiment.
* In the run up to the event the above groups and individuals led a concerted campaign aimed at Liverpool City Council and Merseyside Police to ban this legal annual event on the misleading grounds that this was an 'IRA MARCH'.
* On the day of the Commemoration itself a group of Loyalists (30-40) placed themselves at the assembly point waving Union Flags and at one point, blocked the road that the Commemoration was due to march down. Merseyside Police re-routed the Commemoration around this but half way through the proposed route into Liverpool City Centre, this group of Loyalists followed alongside the commemoration and for a sustained period launched a tirade of racist and sectarian insults at bands and marchers while Merseyside Police failed to intervene, make arrests or ensure that this group were properly dealt with by use of race hate laws. Instead, Loyalist were allowed to sneer and jeer during the route into Liverpool City Centre while being protected by a line of Police Officers.
* In Liverpool City Centre at the end point of the Commemoration, several hundred individuals/members of the above groups had occupied Derby Square, determined that the Commemoration would not be allowed to peacefully and legally finish. On the edge of Liverpool City Centre, the Commemoration was halted by Merseyside Police. After discussions with Merseyside Police that they feared that they would not be able to safely police the situation and threatening to proscribe the commemoration if we as organisers continued to proceed, and also hearing reports that windows of 2 coaches of traveling bands had been smashed, we decided to re-route the commemoration back through the Vauxhall area of Liverpool and end with an outdoor rally.
* It is Cairde Na hEireann's view that all communities in Liverpool should be able to live in peace and harmony and that the right's of the Irish Community in Liverpool to peacefully organise and assemble are protected by the Civil Authority's and Police. Not to do so, increases the confidence of racists and bigots from within racist and far-right political parties/organisations, and increases the risks to other communities in Liverpool in the future and the wider community as a whole if race hate and intolerance is allowed to flourish and go unchecked.
* Yesterday's events underline our view that the various protests were racist and sectarian in nature and that the cover used by racists to stop an 'IRA MARCH' was used as a means to increase tension and target the Irish Community specifically.
* Cairde Na hEireann urges those members of the public who attended the Commemoration who were victims of racist and sectarian abuse to report the matter to Merseyside Police and ensure that the matter is dealt with as 'hate crime' when making statements.
* Cairde Na hEireann in the following days will be holding wide ranging discussions with Merseyside Police, Liverpool City Council, Trade Unions and anti racist/fascist organisations to ensure that Irish Community rights to peacefully assemble and be culturally and politically active are respected and protected. We will also ensure that the Irish Community in the future is to the fore in any anti-racist/fascist activity.
Following on from our Press Release of the 18th February 2012, in the wake of yesterday's Annual Vol. Sean Phelan Commemoration. We in Cairde Na hEireann Liverpool would like to make the following points:
* Yesterday's Commemoration was the target of a combined group consisting of the English Defence League, British National Party, British People's Party, Infidels of Britain, Football Hooligans, Independent Orange Order, individual members of Loyalist Flute Bands associated with the Orange Order in Liverpool, United Kingdom Independence Party, and a variety of ex-service British Servicemen Associations including ex-Kings Regiment.
* In the run up to the event the above groups and individuals led a concerted campaign aimed at Liverpool City Council and Merseyside Police to ban this legal annual event on the misleading grounds that this was an 'IRA MARCH'.
* On the day of the Commemoration itself a group of Loyalists (30-40) placed themselves at the assembly point waving Union Flags and at one point, blocked the road that the Commemoration was due to march down. Merseyside Police re-routed the Commemoration around this but half way through the proposed route into Liverpool City Centre, this group of Loyalists followed alongside the commemoration and for a sustained period launched a tirade of racist and sectarian insults at bands and marchers while Merseyside Police failed to intervene, make arrests or ensure that this group were properly dealt with by use of race hate laws. Instead, Loyalist were allowed to sneer and jeer during the route into Liverpool City Centre while being protected by a line of Police Officers.
* In Liverpool City Centre at the end point of the Commemoration, several hundred individuals/members of the above groups had occupied Derby Square, determined that the Commemoration would not be allowed to peacefully and legally finish. On the edge of Liverpool City Centre, the Commemoration was halted by Merseyside Police. After discussions with Merseyside Police that they feared that they would not be able to safely police the situation and threatening to proscribe the commemoration if we as organisers continued to proceed, and also hearing reports that windows of 2 coaches of traveling bands had been smashed, we decided to re-route the commemoration back through the Vauxhall area of Liverpool and end with an outdoor rally.
* It is Cairde Na hEireann's view that all communities in Liverpool should be able to live in peace and harmony and that the right's of the Irish Community in Liverpool to peacefully organise and assemble are protected by the Civil Authority's and Police. Not to do so, increases the confidence of racists and bigots from within racist and far-right political parties/organisations, and increases the risks to other communities in Liverpool in the future and the wider community as a whole if race hate and intolerance is allowed to flourish and go unchecked.
* Yesterday's events underline our view that the various protests were racist and sectarian in nature and that the cover used by racists to stop an 'IRA MARCH' was used as a means to increase tension and target the Irish Community specifically.
* Cairde Na hEireann urges those members of the public who attended the Commemoration who were victims of racist and sectarian abuse to report the matter to Merseyside Police and ensure that the matter is dealt with as 'hate crime' when making statements.
* Cairde Na hEireann in the following days will be holding wide ranging discussions with Merseyside Police, Liverpool City Council, Trade Unions and anti racist/fascist organisations to ensure that Irish Community rights to peacefully assemble and be culturally and politically active are respected and protected. We will also ensure that the Irish Community in the future is to the fore in any anti-racist/fascist activity.
Parcel bomb sent to Cairde na hÉireann
The parcel bomb sent to Cairde na hÉireann recently is yet another menace our group faces. Since its inception Cairde na hÉireann has campaigned to highlight Anti Irish Racism. Over the years, as the campaign grew, so did the protests against it. This has manifested as verbal, postal, internet and physical attacks against our members and indeed the wider Irish community.
We urge everyone to be vigilant in the coming weeks and to report anything suspicious to the police. We also appeal to local councils, politicians and police forces throughout Scotland to recognise these attacks for what they are ~ Anti Irish Racism!!
For too long now people in authority have refused to recognise any attacks on the Irish community as Anti Irish racism and indeed some councils, like Kirkintilloch and Falkirk deny it even exists. People in positions of power need to stop burying their heads in the sand and stand up against racists.
"One Scotland, Many Cultures" Unless you’re Irish! We at Cairde na hÉireann will continue to fight against racism and sectarianism wherever we encounter it, nothing will deter us from doing so.
We urge everyone to be vigilant in the coming weeks and to report anything suspicious to the police. We also appeal to local councils, politicians and police forces throughout Scotland to recognise these attacks for what they are ~ Anti Irish Racism!!
For too long now people in authority have refused to recognise any attacks on the Irish community as Anti Irish racism and indeed some councils, like Kirkintilloch and Falkirk deny it even exists. People in positions of power need to stop burying their heads in the sand and stand up against racists.
"One Scotland, Many Cultures" Unless you’re Irish! We at Cairde na hÉireann will continue to fight against racism and sectarianism wherever we encounter it, nothing will deter us from doing so.