the stream incapable of picturing a social revolution as a living thing.' Lenin continued: "The misfortune of the Irish lies in their having revolted -premature when me european revolt of the proletariat has not yet ripened."
xey vears onsreand is suu under the heel of British imperialism. In the North, the British Army carries on a campaign of repression against the nationalist working class. In the 26 Counties, the servile Coalition Government enthusiastically throws Republicans into brison and makes every chort to block solidarity with the struggle in the Northern ghettoes.
Just as Connolly in his time was branded as a criminal by British imperialism and the Irish capitalists, so today these same people attempt to brand the resistance monters and solate mem rom the mass of the population. But the thousands of workers who are taking to Bre sweets us week marches commen orating the 60th anniversary of the Easter Rising are a clear expression of the will of the Irish working class to expel British imperialism once and for all.
As in 1916. the resistance is characterised by numerous weaknesses and errors but alter seven years osuLLic and questioning, there are signs that new layers of militants are emerging who recognise the importance of providing a clear socialist perspective for the national revolution in Ireland.
For the first time in Dublin and Belorganisation.
ence of civil liberties. and six friends and relatives of and with the armed robbery of £221,000. ago.' Arrested a doctor stated that Breatnach in police custody. ence witness.
was also arrested; and next day members of the IRSP. Wholesale arrests of members of the Irish Republican Socialist Party tion: in Dublin indicate a concerted attempt to smash this Left-Republican The brutality accompanying interrogations has sparked off a campaign against the rising tide of police brutality and in defSeventeen members of the IRSP members were arrested and held for varying periods between 31 March and 10 April. All were questioned about the recent robbery of the Cork-Dublin mail train, and five have been charged with conspiracy illegal.' IRSP leader Seamus Costello is emphatic that all those charged can prove conclusively that they were not at the scene of the crime with which they are charged: "This is quite clearly an attempt to smash our party, to suppress our paper, and possibly to close our offices, as was done in the case of the Provisional Sinn Fein offices three years Costello was arrested on 5 April, held for 48 hours, rearrested within the precincts of the Bridewell Police Station, and held a further 11 hours. As in the cases of other IRSP members, Costello was moved from station to station during his period of detention; and the only way his solicitor was able to locate him was by threatening to bring an action of habeas corpus in the High Court.
Particular attention appears to have been reserved for Osgur Breatnach, editor of the Starry Plough, who was first arrested on 31 March, held for 48 hours, rearrested, held again for 48 hours, and rearrested again. In a habeas corpus action, Tics. ness with which they view the situa Increasingly over the last two months the Special Branch appear to have received carte blanche from the Government to do as they like. What is particularly sinister is that they have taken to arresting material witnesses. Obviously this kind of intimidation may make witnesses unwilling to come forward.
We also have clear evidence of brutality on the basis of statements; and there is ample precedent to suggest that if a person is brutalised then their detention may become The IRSP arrests are merely the latest stage in a build-up of the repression which has involved all the parties in the Dail (Parliament).
During a visit of European jurists, the previous Minister for Justice in the Fianna Fail Government, Desmond O'Malley, first denied that there were any political prisoners in Irish prisons, then stated that political prisoners - that is, Republicans - were 'animals' and should be treated as such. The present Minister for Justice, Mr Cooney, has said that in his view prisoners Starry Plough editor Osgur Breatnach is rearrested on leaving court at University College Dublin, stated his intention to smash 'street polit Anthony Walsh considers that the IRSP affair represents an exten sion of the already-stated denials of to include all political oppon ents of the consensus represented in the Dail. He views the fact that the Labour Party has "sold its soul' by its participation in the Coalition Government as particularly unfortunate, since the Labour Party is one of the elements which should be taking part in the defence of civil liberties rather than in their denial Weakness In the context of the weakness of civil rights forces in the Republic, international pressure gains added importance. Says Walsh: We particularly want to get across to trade unionists, lawyers and others in Europe that what is happening in Ireland is a microcosm of the kin of developments that could occur in the rest of Europe.' We would ask readers, trade union branches, student unions etc. to send telegrams protesting at the police brutality and intimidation in the case of the IRSP members to the Irish Embassy, 17 Grosvenor Place, London S.W.1. Copies of such protests and details of pickets, petitions, meetings, etc. should be sent to the ALJ, 11 South Frederick Street, Dublin 2, Ireland.
STEVE MaDONOGH