I
was called, as I have been before, to serve on a
jury, in this the State.
I
had before been able to declare myself ineligible
by dint of activities in England. Nowhere in this
summons could I find a way out. I had not been convicted
of any felonious activity within the State, and
indeed, I was not immune to be a jury member.
I was summonsed to appear, and appear I did.
I
stood with with my potential jurors to attention
when called, as the judge arrived. Our names were
called and I noted that only my own response was
anseo.
I knew where I was going in this court.
We
were all put in the box for the next day. Things
above our heads, things legal, things that we need
not bother ourselves about were passed here and
there. There was much twigging of wigs, and a lot
of in talk, and we the "people", left
in our inborn respect, asked nothing. Perhaps we
were meant to be glad to be there, to be recognised
as part of the Democracy that our Forefathers fought
for.
Well,
not me.
Having
declared myself anseo, which is more than
I should have done, I decided that, experience though
it might have been, and with Twelve Angry Men
in my head, I decided that my head had more to do.
And I don't recognise the Free-State anyway.
After
dismissal to the next day, I raised my hand in question
to the Judge.
She
was a she.
"I,"
said I, "am an Irish Republican."
"I
do not recognise the sovereignty of your Free-State
and I, being born into the six Northern Counties
left out of your Nation, I feel that I cannot serve
on an judicial system that pretends to represent
the whole people of Ireland."
She
did not blink. I believe perhaps the anseo
had her prepared, but she said, "You are excused
Jury Duty for Life."
Last
person to say to me "for Life" was Sebag-Shaw.
And that was for blowing up bits of England. Funny
old world.
Day
to day stuff. Blows me away!
