Gerry McGeough & Political Policing   Anthony McIntyre • 24 March 2007 The ongoing detention of Gerry McGeough underscores the existence of political policing. McGeough an independent republican candidate was arrested as he left an election count in Omagh two weeks ago. There was a clear lesson in it. Arrested for an armed attack on a member of the UDR in 1981 his detention was discriminatory. On the same day, in other polling stations, the 1981 Provisional IRA chief of staff and its adjutant general went unmolested by the political police as they went about their business. One of these men has been the source of some recent media speculation that his finger prints were found on a car used in an armed attack that claimed the lives of two members of the RUC. Had he have been arrested it would have been no less an act of political policing. But no attempt was made to detain him and there is a political reason for that. He supports the force that arrested McGeough. By contrast McGeough's public vocal opposition to the PSNI is what landed him in the dock. It does not take a genius to work out that McGeough, who openly admits his role as an IRA volunteer, if guilty of the attack for which he appeared in court, did not operate in splendid isolation. He was part of a wider organisation whose leaders directed his activity. That he and not they were charged is a clear message from the British political establishment. It is in charge and will discriminate in its choice of target for prosecution over events which are now meaningless. Loud and clear, republican opponents of the PSNI are being told that their opposition will render them potential political hostages. Their past will be trawled through with a combination of forensic efficiency and selective scrutiny. At McGeough's first court appearance his lawyer described his arrest as an abuse of the democratic process and a return to the dark ages of political policing. He has tramped the streets of the north in clear view of the political police throughout his election campaign and appeared in the BBC studio in Belfast. According to Sinn Fein MP Michelle Gildernew, McGeough lived openly in her constituency. He could have been arrested at any time. McGeough, along with his co accused Aidan McAnespie, should have been bailed the next day. McAnespie has since been released but McGeough continues to be held in Maghaberry. John Kelly who went to an aborted bail hearing for McGeough during the week has spoken out angrily on the affair: It is unreasonable and vindictive. In moves to block Gerry's bail application the prosecution is hinting that he is wanted by US and German authorities. The facts are that Gerry McGeough was extradited from Germany to the US and then deported from the US to Ireland. Neither government has any further interest in the man. It is political policing, no more no less. The civil police force we are supposed to have has arrested no former or serving Special Branch officers for their involvement in matters much more serious and more recent than the charges faced by Gerry McGeough. The man has a wife and children out here who are bewildered by what is happening. He should be released immediately and the charges dropped. According to one of McGeough's election workers the German and US authorities have confirmed in writing that neither jurisdiction is seeking him. Gerry McGeough's arrest was a high profile political intervention. It occurred while the political spotlight was blazing as a result of the elections. While specifically directed against McGeough it was also a snub to the Sinn Fein leadership who are left with egg on their faces after all their claims to have separated political from civil policing. MI5 certainly did not arrest Gerry McGeough. And Sinn Fein has yet to put the much promised manners on those who did.                                                           Index: Current Articles + Latest News and Views + Book Reviews + Letters + Archives

There is no such thing as a dirty word. Nor is there a word so powerful, that it's going to send the listener to the lake of fire upon hearing it. - Frank Zappa Index: Current Articles 27 March 2007 Other Articles From This Issue: Paisley and Adams: The Ghosts of Politics Past Brendan O'Neill Democractically Elected Musical Chairs Mick Hall Maybe John Kennedy Bun Fights & Good Salaries Dolours Price No New Era Yet Republican Sinn Fein The Cul de Sac called 'Futility' Anthony McIntyre Pathetic Claims Joe McDaid Gerry McGeough Martin Galvin Gerry McGeough & Political Policing Anthony McIntyre Miscarriage of Justice Helen McClafferty Racism Bridging the Sectarian Divide Dr John Coulter The Prince of Darkness Anthony McIntyre What's All the Fuss About the Veil? Maryam Namazie • 18 March 2007 • How I Almost Got My Ass Kicked at the St. Patrick's Day Parade and Lived to Tell About It David Kruidenier The Protestant 'Pat Finucane' Father Sean Mc Manus, President, Irish National Caucus Green Party Declines White House Invitation Green Party Press Release Assembly Needs an Opposition David Adams Belfast Hot Air Anthony McIntyre Citizen Tom Dr John Coulter A History of Nationalism in Ireland Liam O Ruairc Review of Challenging the New Orientalism Muhammad Idrees Ahmad Two Sides of a Coin Dr John Coulter The CLM Anthony McIntyre Sinn Fein Batmen Brian Mór Launch of SaorEire.com Colm Mistéil Reject the 'New' RUC Republican Socialist Youth Movement 32 County Sovereignty Movement: Water Charges Are Illegal Kevin Murphy The National Irish Freedom Committee on Gerry McGeough National Irish Freedom Committee NIFC Free Form Video Discusses Elections, Abstentionism Saerbhreathach Mac Toirdealbhaigh America's 'Global War On Terrorism' M. Shahid Alam Iñaki de Juana Chaos Anthony McIntyre

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