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Irish Republican Socialist Party

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For the early 20th-century party founded by James Connolly, see Irish Socialist Republican Party.

Irish Republican Socialist Party
Páirtí Poblachtach Sóisalach na h-Éireann
AbbreviationIRSP
LeaderArd Chomhairle
(National Executive)
ChairmanMartin McMonagle
FounderSeamus Costello and others
Founded8 December 1974 (1974-12-08)
Split fromOfficial Sinn Féin
HeadquartersCostello House,
392b Falls Road,
Belfast, BT12 6DH,
County Antrim,
Northern Ireland
NewspaperThe Starry Plough
Worker's Republic (Belfast)[1]
Youth wingRepublican Socialist Youth Movement (RSYM)
Paramilitary wingIrish National Liberation Army (INLA, 1974–present)
American AffiliateIrish Republican Socialist Committees of North America
IdeologyCommunism
Marxism–Leninism
Irish republicanism
Anti-globalisation[2]
Hard Euroscepticism
Political positionFar-left
Colours  Red
  Yellow
  White
Website
irsp.ie

The Irish Republican Socialist Party or IRSP (Irish: Páirtí Poblachtach Sóisialach na hÉireann) is a minor communist, Marxist–Leninist[3] and Irish republican party in Ireland. It is often referred to as the "political wing" of the Irish National Liberation Army (INLA) paramilitary group.[4] The party's youth wing is the Republican Socialist Youth Movement (RSYM). It was founded by former members of 'Official' Sinn Féin in 1974 during the Troubles, but claims the legacy of the Irish Socialist Republican Party of 1896–1904. The party opposes the Good Friday Agreement and the European Union.

History

[edit]

1970s

[edit]
The Starry Plough is often used as a symbol to represent the Irish Republican Socialist Party, its armed wing the Irish National Liberation Army, and other Irish republican socialist groups

The Irish Republican Socialist Party was founded at a meeting on 8 December 1974 in the Spa Hotel in Lucan, near Dublin, by former members of Workers' Party (aka 'Official' Sinn Féin), headed by Seamus Costello. He had been expelled from the Official Irish Republican Army (OIRA) following a court-martial, and from Official Sinn Féin on the same basis.[5] Along with other activists, he was dissatisfied with the group's tactics and policies, especially on the issues surrounding the 1972 OIRA ceasefire and his growing belief that the emerging conflict was sectarian.[6][7] According to the IRSP, 80 people were in attendance.[8] A paramilitary wing, the Irish National Liberation Army (INLA), was founded the same day, although its existence was intended to be kept hidden until such a time that the INLA could operate effectively.[9][10] Costello was elected as the party's first chairperson and the Army's first chief of staff. Together, the IRSP and the INLA were referred to as the Irish Republican Socialist Movement (IRSM).[10][11]

Former Unity MP for Mid-Ulster Bernadette McAliskey served on the executive of the IRSP.[12] In December 1975 she resigned following the failure of a motion to be passed which would have brought the INLA under the control of the IRSP Ard Comhairle (executive committee).[9][13] This led to the resignation of half the Ard Comhairle, which weakened the party.[13] Tony Gregory, a future Dublin TD, was also a member for a short time.[14]

In one of the first of the INLA's armed operations, Billy McMillen, commanding officer of the OIRA Belfast Battalion, was murdered by INLA member Gerard Steenson.[15]

On 5 October 1977, Costello was shot dead in his car by a man armed with a shotgun. His supporters blamed the Official IRA for the killing.[16][17]

The party's poor showing in the 1977 Irish general election, resignations, and the assassination of Costello, weakened the organisation.[9][13][18]

1980s

[edit]

In 1980, several IRSP and INLA members—including John Turnley, Miriam Daly, Ronnie Bunting and Noel Little—were killed by Ulster loyalist paramilitaries, most prominently the Ulster Defence Association (UDA).[19][20] The IRSP have contended that the killings were a result of collusion between loyalists and security forces, even suspecting that some of the killings were carried out by the SAS with responsibility attributed to the UDA.[20][21][22]

Three members of the INLA and IRSP died in the 1981 Irish hunger strike in HM Prison Maze, also known as Long Kesh: Patsy O'Hara, Kevin Lynch, and Michael Devine.[23]

In 1987, the IRSP and INLA came under attack from the Irish People's Liberation Organisation (IPLO), an organisation founded by Gerard Steenson, Jimmy Brown and Martin 'Rook' O'Prey, consisting of people who had resigned or been expelled from the INLA.[24][25] A political wing, the Republican Socialist Collective (RSC), was also formed by Brown.[24] The IPLO's initial aim was to destroy the IRSM and replace it with their organisation.[9] Five members of the INLA and IRSP were killed by the IPLO, including leaders Ta Power and John O'Reilly.[9][26] The INLA retaliated with several killings of their own. After the INLA killed the IPLO's leader, Steenson, a truce was reached.[9][27] Although severely damaged by the IPLO's attacks, the INLA continued to exist.[9] The IPLO, which was heavily involved in drug dealing, was forcibly disbanded by the Provisional IRA in a large scale operation in 1992.[28][29]

Recent history

[edit]

In the 2000s and 2010s, the IRSP has been involved in campaigns and political protests, mainly around Belfast and Derry but also in of parts of the Republic of Ireland as well. Some of these protests included anti-austerity protests,[30] the Right2Water campaign against water charges,[31][32] opposition to welfare reform and introduction of universal credit,[33][34] and supporting striking nurses.[35]

In November 2016, after a number of raids on members of the party's homes, the IRSP issued a warning saying the PSNI were "playing with fire". IRSP's Lower Falls representative Michael Kelly claimed that "British security forces risk bringing serious conflict onto the streets" and said that "The Irish Republican Socialist Party has been in existence for over 40 years, in that time we have never tolerated attacks on our membership from any quarter," The comments drew criticism from UUP MLA Doug Beattie and SDLP Alex Attwood.[36]

During the COVID-19 Pandemic, the IRSP launched Republican Socialist Aid, which aimed to distribute PPE to healthcare and essential workers in communities across Ireland at risk of exposure to the virus.[37][38][39]

In September 2020 the IRSP started a 'Drop The Rents' campaign,[40] requesting landlords and letting agencies in North Belfast and West Belfast to lower their rent prices to local housing benefit levels and protesting against landlords and letting agencies that would not [41] and that issued threats of eviction.[42][43] The campaign has achieved some level of success.[44]

During the East Wall protests in November 2022, the IRSP opposed the housing of 380 refugees due to the absence of notice given to residents about the move prior to arrival and the feasibility of using the housing there for a large number of refugees. They said the residents were not opposed to refugees, just the lack of notice and uncertainty of feasibility.[45] This differed to the majority of other groups who opposed any housing of refugees, regardless of notice.[46]

Elections

[edit]

In May 1981, party members Gerry Kelly and Sean Flynn won two seats on the Belfast City Council in a joint campaign with the People's Democracy party.[47][48] Neither councillor served a full term, with one going on the run after being implicated during the supergrass trials.[8][49]

In June 1981, the IRSP ran two candidates, Kevin Lynch and Tony O'Hara (brother of Patsy O'Hara), in the Irish parliamentary election as Independent Anti H-Block candidates. Neither candidate won, but Lynch received 3,337 votes (7.63%) and came within 300 votes of winning a seat in Waterford,[50][51][52] while O'Hara received 3,034 votes (6.49%) in Dublin West.[51][53] In 1982, party member Brigid Makowski won a seat on the Shannon Town Commission.[54]

The IRSP put forward five candidates in the 2011 Northern Ireland local elections, its first foray into electoral politics in almost 30 years. They failed to secure any seats. Candidate Paul Gallagher of Strabane missed out on a seat by just a single vote. He was originally elected but after a requested recount by the SDLP his election was overturned.[55][56]

The IRSP has explained its lack of participation in elections as due to "very limited" resources.[55]

In 2022 for the first time the IRSP fielded candidates for the Northern Ireland Assembly election.[57] Initially their candidates were rejected by the Electoral Commission, but this was eventually corrected.[58] Candidates were fielded in Belfast West (1,103 first preference votes, 2.5%)[59] and Foyle (766 first preference votes, 1.6%).[60]

Northern Ireland Assembly
Election First Preference Vote % Seats ± Government
2022 1,869 0.2% (#11)
0 / 90
 No seats
Local elections
Election First Preference Vote % Seats
1981 3,654 0.5%
2 / 523
2011 2,133 0.3%
0 / 572
2023 825 0.1%
0 / 462

Policies and ideology

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The IRSP are Marxist–Leninist[3] and Irish republican, seeking the establishment of an all-Ireland "worker's republic". As of 2009, the IRSP stated that their objective will only be achieved exclusively through peaceful and political means, and in 2018 they launched the 'Yes For Unity' campaign, to campaign for a Border Poll on Irish Unity.[61]

The IRSP claim the legacy of Connolly and say their policies are of the same tradition of Connolly. The IRSP also see their own modern policies as the "logical development in the twenty-first century of the programme established under Connolly’s leadership by the Irish Socialist Republican Party".[2][non-primary source needed]

Physical force Irish republicanism

[edit]
See also: Physical force Irish republicanism

The IRSP opposes both the Good Friday Agreement and the Northern Ireland Peace Process, The party supports a 'No First Strike' policy, allowing people to see the perceived failure of the peace process for themselves without taking military actions.[62]

As of 11 October 2009, the INLA has ordered an end to the armed struggle,[4] because unlike during the Troubles, the current political stance in Ulster allows the IRSP to contest fairly in new campaigns and local elections, as mentioned in their 2009 statement. INLA admitted to "faults and grievous errors" in their prosecution of the armed struggle, stating that "innocent people were killed and injured" and offering "as revolutionaries" a "sincere and heartfelt apology".[4]

European Union

[edit]

The IRSP supports greater strengthening of Ireland's independence, and although understanding the benefits brought through European Union (EU) membership, it also notes the incompatibility of EU membership with the need for a socialist society. Consequently, the IRSP supports moves towards greater co-operation between European socialist political organisations.[63]

The IRSP supported Brexit and supports the Republic of Ireland leaving the European Union.[64]

NATO and Russia

[edit]

During the Russo-Ukrainian War, the IRSP publicly declared their support for the Russian-backed separatists of the Donetsk People's Republic and Luhansk People's Republic. It blamed NATO rather than Russia for the conflict. On 25 February 2022, one day after Russia invaded Ukraine, the party re-affirmed its support for the Republics in a social media post in which they called Ukraine a "Nazi regime" and a "NATO puppet". It included a picture of IRSP members posing in front of Free Derry Corner with the flags of the Soviet Union and the Donetsk Republic. This was condemned by local SDLP councillors.[65] The party boasted about the INLA's bombing of a radar station on Mount Gabriel, County Cork in 1982, which it said was used by NATO.[66] In August 2022, IRSP members and Russian nationalists staged a protest against the Ukrainian military, outside Dublin's General Post Office. The Irish security services believe the Russian government were involved in organizing the protest.[67] IRSP members have publicly supported Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and the INLA have been accused of receiving "dark money" from the Russian state.[68]

Broad Front

[edit]

The IRSP supports the formation of what it calls the "Broad Front" which would bring together all Irish "anti-imperialist forces" to bring about a United Ireland. This would be formed on the basis of the following demands:

  • The United Kingdom must formally renounce all claims of sovereignty in Ireland
  • All British forces in Northern Ireland must be withdrawn, all republican and socialist prisoners must be released, a general amnesty must be granted to republicans for offences committed by them during the Troubles and "repressive legislation" must be replaced by a bill of rights
  • The United Kingdom "must also agree to compensate the Irish People for the exploitation which has already occurred"[2]

Policing

[edit]

The IRSP is in favour of an All-Ireland, democratically controlled, unarmed police force.[2]

The IRSP views the reforming of the RUC into the PSNI as a cosmetic exercise[69] and strongly opposes 'political policing' by the PSNI.[70] They demand an immediate cessation of the activities of MI5 in the North and calls for their expulsion from Ireland.[71]

The IRSP does not believe that there is an ‘independent’ judiciary, or an objective judicial system, and that the judiciary both North and South presides over the laws which were enacted by partitionist governments and representing the interests of the ruling class.[71]

Abstentionism

[edit]

The IRSP are not abstentionist in principle, but they would support abstentionism in certain situations for tactical reasons.[72]

The IRSP will also consider contesting any particular election on the basis of a thorough analysis of the conditions prevailing at the time. [73]

Housing

[edit]

IRSP believes that the right to a home is a fundamental human right and that the state has a responsibility to deal with homelessness.[8]

Abortion

[edit]

The party's policy on abortion is that it should be legalised, available on demand and free of charge.[8]

Membership

[edit]

Party members are often referred to[by whom?] as the "Irps" (pronounced "Erps"). In the late 1970s, Divis Flats in west Belfast became colloquially known as "the planet of the Irps" (a reference to the IRSP and the film Planet of the Apes).[74][75]

International representation

[edit]

The party is represented in North America by the Irish Republican Socialist Committees of North America.[76][77]

List of secretaries

[edit]

References

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  1. ^ "'Workers' Republic'. Newsletter, Belfast IRSP. Winter 2017". irsp.ie. Republican Socialist News.[permanent dead link‍]
  2. ^ a b c d "Republican Socialist Programme for Ireland" (PDF). irsp.ie. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 February 2017.
  3. ^ a b Ross, F Stuart (2011). Smashing H-block The Rise and Fall of the Popular Campaign Against Criminalization, 1976-1982. Liverpool University Press. p. 182. In 1984, the IRSP publicly declared itself a Marxist–Leninist party
  4. ^ a b c "UK and Ireland welcome INLA ceasefire Archived 17 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine", BBC News, 23 August 1998
  5. ^ Hanley, Brian; Millar, Scott (2009). The Lost Revolution: The Story of the Official IRA and the Workers' Party. Penguin Ireland. pp. 252–281. ISBN 9781844881208.
  6. ^ "INTERVIEW WITH SEAMUS COSTELLO". The Starry Plough. Irish Republican Socialist Party. 1 April 1975. pp. 4–5. Retrieved 10 April 2024 – via leftarchive.ie.
  7. ^ ""Principled Stand" (Interview)". Revolutionary Works: Seamus Costello. Utrecht: Foreign Language Press. 2018. ISBN 9782491182137. What are the main ideological differences between the IRSP and the Officials? - The principal ideological differences would be their attitude towards the National Question as against our attitude. Basically, the position of the leadership of the Officials is that there is no hope of achieving National Liberation until such time as the Protestant and Catholic working class in the North are united and therefore there is nothing which can be done in political terms or in any other terms about this particular issue. Our attitude, on the other hand, is that the British presence in Ireland is the basic cause of the divisions between the Protestant and Catholic working class in the North. It follows from that, in our view, that the primary emphasis should be on the mobilisation of the mass of the Irish people in the struggle for National Liberation. We believe, also, that the left in Irish politics should play a leading role in this struggle. Up until recent years, many of us felt that the Official Movement was capable of and willing to do this. Indeed the rank and file of the Official Movement had expressed their views on this at the 1972 and 1973 Ard Fheiseanna, where they rejected the position of the national leadership on the national question and put forward a policy which would have led to a more militant approach on this question. However, the leadership disagreed with this policy and deliberately frustrated its implementation. The result of this was that the Official Republicans, who, at that time, were the largest single body of organised left-wing opinion in Ireland, deliberately divorced the working-class struggle from the national struggle and gradually degenerated taking a reformist position on a number of very important issues. What issues in particular? - The principal issues that come to mind immediately are the Civil Rights struggle, the Assembly Elections, the question of taking seats and the question of the rent and rates strike. In all these issues, the leadership of the Officials hesitated to take a stand. They have, for instance, regarded the Civil Rights struggle since 1969, as the only struggle worth taking part in. They ignored the presence of 15,000 troops on the streets. They ignored the torture and terror perpetrated by the British Army on the Nationalist population and they acted as though there was no change in the situation since 1969... In other words, they failed to realise the change in the nature of the struggle in Ireland, particularly in the North. They failed to realise that struggle within the context of the Six County State to an outright struggle against Imperialism, as manifested by the British political and military presence in Ireland.
  8. ^ a b c d e "Perspectives on the future of Republican Socialism in Ireland" (PDF). irsp.ie. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 20 January 2017.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g Sawyer, John Paul (8 December 2010). COMPETITION IN THE MARKET FOR POLITICAL VIOLENCE: NORTHERN IRISH REPUBLICANISM, 1969–1998 (PDF) (PhD of Philosophy in Government thesis). Georgetown University. pp. 163–165, 202–204. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  10. ^ a b "Perspectives on the future of Republican Socialism for Ireland" (PDF). irsp.ie. Irish Republican Socialist Party. p. 8. A military wing, the Irish National Liberation Army (INLA), was founded the same day, although its existence was intended to be kept hidden until such times when the INLA could operate effectively. Seamus Costello was elected as the party's first chairperson and the army's first chief of staff. Together, the IRSP and the INLA refer to themselves as the Irish Republican Socialist Movement (IRSM).
  11. ^ Morrison, John F. (2015). The Origins and Rise of Dissident Irish Republicanism. Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 85. ISBN 978-1501309236. This chapter covers the relatively short process which resulted in the division in the Official Republican Movement resulting in the formation of the Irish Republican Socialist Movement (IRSM) which consisted of an armed wing, the Irish National Liberation Army (INLA) and a political wing, the Irish Republican Socialist Party (IRSP)
  12. ^ Coogan, Tim Pat. The IRA; St. Martin's Griffin; revised & updated edition : 5 January 2002; ISBN 978-0312294168
  13. ^ a b c "Mass Resignations in the IRSP". RTÉ Archives. Retrieved 11 April 2024. 20 members of the Irish Republican Socialist Party (IRSP) resigned on 1 December 1975. Two days earlier, 11 members of its National Executive had walked out of an Ard Comhairle in a dispute over control of the INLA. These included Bernadette Devlin McAliskey, who had helped found the party the previous year with chairman Seamus Costello, and meant that the presence of the IRSP in Northern Ireland was substantially weakened.
  14. ^ Mulqueen, John (2019). "Soviet Policies in Dáil Éireann: Workers' Party advances 'Irish neutrality' and attacks NATO". 'An Alien Ideology': Cold War Perceptions of the Irish Republican Left. Liverpool University Press. p. 213. doi:10.3828/liverpool/9781789620641.003.0008. ISBN 9781789629453. Gregory joined the IRSP 'on paper' and had been 'devastated' by Costello's assassination.
  15. ^ Morris, Allison (20 February 2018). "Decommissioning special report: Bloody feuds followed 1972 ceasefire". The Irish News. Archived from the original on 10 April 2024. Retrieved 11 April 2024. The Officials later murdered the INLA's founder, Seamus Costello, while senior OIRA member Billy McMillen was shot dead in April 1975 by the infamous INLA killer Gerard Steenson.
  16. ^ "Seamus Costello". republican-news.org.
  17. ^ "Remembering Seamus Costello". Red Fightback. 5 October 2019. Archived from the original on 28 May 2022. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  18. ^ McDonald, Henry; Holland, Jack (2010) [1994]. I.N.L.A - Deadly Divisions. Poolbeg Press. p. 154. ISBN 9781842234389. The feud, though long over, had created the conditions that led to Costello's death. It weakened the IRSP to such an extent that by the summer of 1977 Costello was at the lowest political ebb he had ever reached. The Officials were aware of this, and must have noticed his poor performance at the June 1977 general election. By crippling the IRSP, they had made him vulnerable.
  19. ^ Lost Lives: The Stories of the Men, Women and Children who Died as a Result of the Northern Ireland Troubles by David McKittrick, et al. Mainstream Publishing (10 May 2001); ISBN 184018504X, ISBN 978-1840185041, pp 840-41
  20. ^ a b Young, Connla (19 March 2018). "INLA man's shooting may be linked to Tory MP's murder". The Irish News. Archived from the original on 11 April 2024. Retrieved 11 April 2024. The murders took place over a year after Tory MP Airey Neave was killed when an INLA booby trap bomb exploded under his car at the House of Commons in London. In the months after Mr Neave's death, several high profile figures linked to the IRSP and the National H-Block Committee were shot dead or seriously injured, including Miriam Daly who had resigned from the party shortly before she was killed in June 1980. John Turnly, a Protestant who was a member of the National H-Block Committee, was killed in Co Antrim in June 1980 while former IRSP member and H-Block campaigner Bernadette McAliskey was also injured in her Co Tyrone home in January 1981.
  21. ^ Young, Connla (4 June 2020). "John Turnley remembered as 'brave' on fortieth anniversary of murder". The Irish News. Archived from the original on 11 April 2024. Retrieved 11 April 2024. A FORMER British soldier who embraced Irish nationalism and campaigned for republican prisoners has been described as "brave" on the 40th anniversary of his murder by a loyalist gang linked to the SAS. ... In 2016 it emerged that one of the three, William McClelland, had been a member of the UDR. Brothers Robert and Eric McConnell were also convicted for their part in the murders. During his 1982 trial Robert McConnell claimed he had been working for the SAS saying they supplied him with weapons, uniforms and listening devices. ... He was one of several prison H-Block campaigners targeted by the UDA including former IRSP member Miriam Daly (45), who was killed weeks later on June 26 at her home in Andersonstown in west Belfast. In October that year IRSP members Ronnie Bunting (32) and Noel Little (45) were both shot dead at a house in west Belfast. ... Although the murders have been attributed to the UDA, the SAS is suspected by some of being involved. Former IRSP member and H-Block campaigner Bernadette McAliskey was injured in a UDA gun attack at her Co Tyrone home in January 1981. It later emerged that a British soldiers were watching the house but failed to intervene.
  22. ^ "Ronnie Bunting & Noel Little Remembered". IRSP. Retrieved 11 April 2024. In the early hours of the 15th October, British death squads entered the home of Ronnie; assassinating both Ronnie & Noel. While the killing was claimed by the UDA at the time, it is widely believed through eyewitnesses that the SAS were involved on the direct orders of Margaret Thatcher who had a personal agenda to smash the IRSP/INLA and in particularly to kill Ronnie.
  23. ^ "CAIN: Events: Hunger Strike 1981 - List of Dead". cain.ulster.ac.uk. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
  24. ^ a b Leslie, David (15 May 2014). Lighting Candles: A Paramilitary's War with Death, Drugs and Demons. Black & White Publishing. ISBN 9781845027940. While Manny was in jail, the arguing and infighting had come to a head and a core of the INLA, including Gerard Steenson, Manny's good friend Jimmy Brown and Martin 'Rook' O'Prey, had broken away and set up the Irish People's Liberation Organisation. At Brown's behest, a political wing, the Republican Socialist Collective was also formed.
  25. ^ van Um, Eric (2012). "Why Militant Groups Fight Each Other: The Role of Support, Political Objectives and Revenge" (PDF). Economics of Security (64). Berlin. ISSN 1868-0488. In 1986, fighting between IPLO and INLA started shortly after IPLO had been formed by expelled members as a breakaway faction of the INLA.
  26. ^ Young, Connla (29 March 2017). "CrimeCall reconstruction of INLA killings". The Irish News. Archived from the original on 11 April 2024. Retrieved 11 April 2024. Thomas 'Ta' Power (33) and then INLA 'chief of staff ' John Gerard O'Reilly (26) were gunned down as they sat in the Rossnaree Hotel, near Drogheda, in January 1987 by members of the Irish People's Liberation Organisation (IPLO).
  27. ^ Tooher, Patrick (1 December 1987). "the battle for the inla". BLITZ. p. 62. Retrieved 9 April 2024. The death of Steenson in a hail of bullets in west Belfast on March 15th effectively ended the feud. The IPLO did retaliate, killing two minor INLA figures a week later, but only to demonstrate that the group was not dependent on Steenson alone. An uneasy peace has since broken out, engineered by two Belfast priests.
  28. ^ Monaghan, Rachel (2002). "The Return of "Captain Moonlight": Informal Justice in Northern Ireland" (PDF). Studies in Conflict & Terrorism. 25 (1): 41–56. doi:10.1080/105761002753404140. ... and in October 1992 took action against the Irish People's Liberation Organisation (IPLO). The IPLO had a history of criminal activities including a gang rape of a woman in the Divis flats complex and involvement in the growing drug trade. The IRA's action resulted in the execution of one IPLO member and the shooting of a further 20 members with assault rifles in Belfast. The IPLO disbanded shortly after this.
  29. ^ Holland, Jack (16 February 2011). "A View North Shocking! Paramilitaries running North's rackets". Irish Echo. Retrieved 11 April 2024. The Irish People's Liberation Organization, a splinter from the Irish National Liberation Army, under the direction of Jimmy Brown, were the first to commence with the importation of drugs on a sizable scale, mainly ecstasy tablets popular at rave parties in the late 1980s. Brown, who fancied himself as something of an intellectual, justified this by pointing to the guerrillas in Colombia, who finance their war against the state through proceeds from the trade in cocaine. The IPLO was forced to disband by the Provisional IRA in November 1992. But the drug trade goes on, mainly in the hands of elements within the Ulster Defense Association.
  30. ^ "Cork IRSP attend Post Budget Anti-Austerity March". IRSP. 8 December 2012. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
  31. ^ "A people 'forced onto the streets'". republican-news.org. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
  32. ^ Maguire, Stephen (19 January 2016). "GROUPS STEP UP PRESSURE FOR MAJOR ANTI-WATER TAX PROTEST". Donegal Daily. Retrieved 11 April 2024. Along with members from Donegal Water Warriors, Inishowen Against Water Charges and Donegal Right2Water, delegates from Sinn Fein, the IRSP and Buncrana Together were also in attendance.
  33. ^ "Video: Sickness entitlement review office closed after IRSP/32CSM led protest". Derry Journal. 10 January 2019 [2018-12-21]. Retrieved 11 April 2024. After the protest the IRSP stated: "The IRSP and 32CSM were joined by community groups and residents outside the Capita Offices in Derry, protesting at the ongoing implementation of Tory/Stormont Welfare reform that continues to wreak economic chaos on working class people across the North of Ireland. "Capita, which is a private profit making organisation, was assigned by the Tory government following the approval of Sinn Féin, DUP and the Alliance Party to implement welfare reform and in particular, facilitate the changing of the Disability Living Allowance (DLA) payment to the new PIP system." The IRSP was referring to the replacement of the old DLA sickness entitlement payment to PIP in June, 2016, which has resulted in a deeply unpopular system of rolling reviews that has seen many stripped of their entitlements.
  34. ^ "Sinn Féin have lied to the people. The people must now take to the streets!". IRSP. Retrieved 11 April 2024. Last month the IRSP challenged Sinn Féin ,the party who claim to oppose austerity, to reveal whether or not – under the Stormont House Deal – they had agreed to the destruction of Disability Living Allowance, the subsequent degradation of Carers Allowance, the introduction of a benefits cap, and the ending of Severe Disability Premiums via the deliberately deceptive 'Universal Credit' system, all of the core attacks which made up the savage Tory Welfare Reform Bill.
  35. ^ "Belfast IRSP Support Striking Health Care Workers Protest at RVH". IRSP. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
  36. ^ Young, Connla (3 November 2016). "IRSP warn police 'playing with fire' after series of house raids on members". The Irish News. Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
  37. ^ "Limerick IRSP continue with Republican Socialist Aid initiatives over Christmas". IRSP. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
  38. ^ "Graffiti on Derry church condemned as an attempt to intimidate". 23 April 2020. "These attacks and threats come at a time when the IRSP and wider Republican Socialist Movement have been involved in a sustained and essential effort to provide much needed PPE to care homes and doctors surgeries across Derry and indeed across Ireland," a spokesperson said. "Thousands of items such as visors, masks, aprons and hand sanitiser have been given to front line workers across our community by the IRSP through an initiative called Republican Socialist Aid."
  39. ^ "Mayo community mourns passing of dedicated political activist". Connaught Telegraph. 22 May 2020. Retrieved 11 April 2024. He was proud, as a Mayo activist for the Irish Republican Social Party, to have delivered much vital PPE to the frontline staff at Mayo University Hospital in Castlebar in recent weeks with a commitment to continue to do so 'until the virus is beaten'.
  40. ^ "IRSP Step Up The Drop The Rents Campaign in Belfast". IRSP. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
  41. ^ "Drop The Rents! | Last night IRSP activists targeted a property off the Suffolk road as part of our 'Drop the Rents' campaign. This 2 bed apartment was charging well over... | By IRSP Greater Andersonstown Cumann | Facebook". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
  42. ^ "Drop The Rents - Local Landlord Begins Eviction Threats". IRSP. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
  43. ^ "Election '22 - West Belfast: Dan keeps the red flag flying". Belfast Media Group. Retrieved 11 April 2024. However, the Beechmount man said the decision to stand on May 5 comes off the back success of IRSP initiatives like its 'Drop the Rents' campaign to reduce private rental costs in line with housing benefit levels. "We've found ourselves in a really good position and we want to push this campaign forward," he said. ... Mr Murphy said that housing is the most pressing issue in the current election campaign. "There's a lack of social housing in West Belfast, high rents, and there's a cost-living-crisis," he said. "These all fit into the same bubble. People just can't afford to live anymore. That's the black and white reality of it. "We want to bring rentals in areas of high social housing demand down to what the social housing benefit level is," he continued. "Ultimately the goal of the 'Drop the Rents' campaign is to make private landlordism unprofitable. I'm not going to say that private landlordism is single-handedly to blame for the housing crisis, but it has played a major role in it. There's no doubt about that. The more people we drive away from that the better. Putting more pressure on the Housing Executive to either buy back or build new houses is pivotal to make those changes on a structural level. We're not going in thinking that a single MLA is going to change the structural issues facing the people of West Belfast, but we can act as a serious voice for changing things in that direction."
  44. ^ "Drop The Rents Success in Belfast!". IRSP. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
  45. ^ "IRSP Dublin on X: "Inner city IRSP members attended a residents'..." Twitter. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
  46. ^ O'Connor, Ciarán (4 December 2022). "Ireland's far-right pushes its 'invasion' propaganda". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
  47. ^ "Local Government Elections 1973 - 1981: Belfast". www.ark.ac.uk. Retrieved 11 April 2024. IRSP: 3,418 (2.6%), 2 Councillors
  48. ^ "IRSP to contest Assembly election for first time". Belfast Media Group. Retrieved 11 April 2024. In 1981, the party had two members elected to Belfast City Council following a joint campaign with People's Democracy.
  49. ^ Morris, Allison (17 October 2009). "Probe '81 deal claim ex-INLA man says". Irish News. Archived from the original on 17 October 2009. Retrieved 11 April 2024. He was one of two IRSP candidates elected to Belfast City Council in 1981 but served only half of his four-year term after going on the run to the Republic when he was implicated in paramilitary activity on the word of supergrass Harry Kirkpatrick.
  50. ^ "ElectionsIreland.org: Kevin Lynch". electionsireland.org. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
  51. ^ a b "How The Irish Times reported end of 1981 hunger strikes". The Irish Times. 3 October 2016. Retrieved 11 April 2024. Kevin Lynch, Waterford, 3,337; Tony O'Hara, Dublin West, 3,034;
  52. ^ Mitchell, Thomas G. (30 August 2000). Native vs. Settler: Ethnic Conflict in Israel/Palestine, Northern Ireland, and South Africa. Bloomsbury Publishing USA. p. 183. ISBN 9780313001390. Kevin Lynch ran in Waterford with Gerry Roche acting as his agent and came within 300 votes of being elected.
  53. ^ "ElectionsIreland.org: Anthony O'Hara". electionsireland.org. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
  54. ^ "Shannon Town Commission Local Elections shannon.ie". Archived from the original on 23 June 2008.
  55. ^ a b "IRSP Local Council Election Results". irsp.ie. Republican Socialist News. Archived from the original on 2 November 2011. Retrieved 26 June 2011.
  56. ^ "Mourne District Electoral Area Results" (PDF). Strabane District Council. 9 May 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 April 2014. Retrieved 12 January 2013.
  57. ^ "239 candidates confirmed for Stormont Assembly election". belfasttelegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  58. ^ "IRSP barred from running in Assembly election". Belfast Media Group. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  59. ^ "Belfast West result - Northern Ireland Assembly Elections 2022". BBC News. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
  60. ^ "Foyle result - Northern Ireland Assembly Elections 2022". BBC News. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
  61. ^ Young, Connla (22 April 2019). "IRSP 'committed to political means'". The Irish News. Archived from the original on 13 August 2021. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  62. ^ "What is Irish Republican Socialism?". Archived from the original on 30 June 2011. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
  63. ^ "RepublicanSocialistProgramme-1.pdf" (PDF). irsp.ie. 2018. p. 9. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
  64. ^ "IRSP reiterates call for full British, EU and US Military, Economic and Political withdrawal from Ireland at Moscow conference[permanent dead link‍]", Republican Socialist News, 26 September 2015
  65. ^ Barnes, Ciaran (26 February 2022). "Soviet flags 'not in Derry's name' amid war in Ukraine". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  66. ^ Kula, Adam (4 March 2022). "Socialist republican group blames west for Ukraine war and praises INLA 'NATO' bombing". Belfast News Letter. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
  67. ^ "Kremlin 'staged Ukraine protest in Dublin with republicans'". The Times. 14 August 2022.
  68. ^ "INLA accused of receiving Russian State 'Dark Money'". Belfast Telegraph. 2 August 2024.
  69. ^ "RepublicanSocialistProgramme-1.pdf" (PDF). irsp.ie. 2018. p. 7. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
  70. ^ "Political Policing in Ireland – Ten Years of the RUC/PSNI | the irish revolution". 29 November 2011. Retrieved 28 January 2024 – via WordPress.
  71. ^ a b "RepublicanSocialistProgramme-1.pdf" (PDF). irsp.ie. 2018. p. 8. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
  72. ^ "Interview with Séamus Costello". irsp.ie. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 24 January 2017. When we say that we are not an abstentionist party, what we mean by this is that we are not a party, in principle, committed to abstention. But there are circumstances and conditions under which is might be desirable to abstain and if we felt that it was tactically desirable at any particular point in time, in either the North or the South to abstain from Parliament, then we would do so. That would depend, however, on the circumstances existing at that particular point of time. If a situation existed, for instance, where there was a possibility of large scale dissatisfaction, on the part of the people, with either the 26 County parliament or the 6 County parliament then abstention, on our part would be a legitimate tactic. We are not, however, abstentionist in principle
  73. ^ "RepublicanSocialistProgramme-1.pdf" (PDF). irsp.ie. 2018. p. 6. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
  74. ^ "Preventing a return to conflict: A discussion by ex-combatants Archived 8 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine," compiled by Michael Hall, Island Publications, August 2009
  75. ^ The Lost Revolution: The Story of the Official IRA and the Workers' Party, Brian Hanley and Scott Millar, Penguin Books, ISBN 1-84488-120-2 p. 290
  76. ^ "First Issue of IRSN". Irish Republican Socialist News. Vol. 1, no. 1. Irish Republican Socialist Committees for North America. 2008. p. 12 – via leftarchive.ie. Thank you for reading the first issue of Irish Republican Socialist News, which is published by the North American section of the Irish Republican Socialist Movement.
  77. ^ "IRSP Ard Fheis Resolutions, 5 December 1998". irsm.org. 20 July 2008. Archived from the original on 20 July 2008. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
  78. ^ "IRSP OPPOSE SECOND REFERENDUM: BUT URGE A NO VOTE". irsp.ie. Archived from the original on 19 May 2015. Retrieved 30 December 2016.
  79. ^ "IRSP Political Secretary John Martin's presentation on republican socialism to the IRSP's ideological conference 29–30 May 99". irsp.ie. Archived from the original on 26 March 2015. Retrieved 30 December 2016.
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