Mickey and local activist Vince Meaney

Meeting your Elected Representative in Newry

Meeting with citizens throughout the Newry district has become an essential part of work for Sinn Féin. We have been able to cover every area within the Newry area throughout the year. For example, with the cooperation of local community associations we have been able to host what has become known as "elected reps clinics" in community centres in Barcroft, Meadow Armagh Road, Greater Linen Hall, Carnagat, St Mary's Youth Centre, Martin's Lane, Three Ways and the church hall at Dromalane Chapel. The feedback for this has been fantastic. By offering this essential service our elected reps are able to assist people from all strands of life. The clinics are made up of Mickey Brady MLA for Newry Armagh along with the Councillor for that particular area. The meetings are serviced by local activists who meet and greet people and ensure that they are seen by the relevant representative.

These initiatives are vital for communities as they offer people the chance to talk to their elected Sinn Féin rep on a range of issues. The community associations also recognize the importance of these meetings because it also gives the committee members a chance to discuss issues that are dealing with locally. 

Sinn Féin are different from other political parties whereby as well as hosting a daily service through our advice centres which are open five days per week, we also ensure that our Reps are working on the ground with people and offering their services. No other Party can match this!

All sorts of issues are discussed and dealt with by our reps including welfare issues, council issues, policing issues, anti social problems, form filling which includes benefit forms, passport applications, driver license forms and a range of other similar items. 

We are facing into another winter of British Tory led welfare cuts which are affecting not only those on benefits but also the low paid and the most vulnerable in our society so it is important that you avail of these types of service that Sinn Féin are offering.

As the summer months draw to a close these meetings will be beginning again. In the weeks prior to a clinic taking place our activists will deliver an advert around all the homes in the area to notify residents of the event coming up. Please feel free to avail of this service and get to know your elected representative. 

We look forward to helping you in whatever way we can.

St Patrick's PS Newry

In recent weeks we were all sad to hear of a senseless attack on St Patrick's Primary School in Newry. In the attack upwards of fourteen large windows were smashed by youths in what can only be described as wanton vandalism. At the request of the school principle myself and my colleague councillor Charlie Casey (who also sits on the Board of Governors) visited the scene of the destruction. It was very disheartening to see the scale of the attack. Large double glazed windows were totally destroyed and at the time it was estimated that £4 - £5 thousand worth of damage was caused, money that the school does not have.The vigilance of people living in and around the school has no doubt limited the damage as people where quickly on the scene and disturbed the attackers who were believed to be children in their early teens.



What is even more annoying was the fact that security grills that once donned the windows but which had been removed by the school two years ago may now have to be erected again, a sad but necessary step. St Patrick's is the hub of the Meadow community and the people who live in the vicinity of the school will no doubt redouble their attention to ensure that the school and the school grounds are safe and free from vandalism. The staff must be commended for their hard work both within and outside the school. They are determined to put this issue to one side and continue to work with the children of this area and their parents to ensure that the children receive the highest standard of education.

Several days after the initial attack a second attack took place again resulting in windows being smashed. Due to the quick reaction of residents and staff people were on the scene within minutes and police apprehended a youth nearby. Thankfully the attacks have stopped and hopefully there is no re occurrence of such attacks. Everyone must step up to the plate to ensure that places like St Patrick's are safeguarded from any form of attack in the future but more importantly parents need to know the whereabouts of their children at all times.

Working In and For Communities

Over the past number of years I have been centrally involved in helping people from all parts of Newry with a range of issues. Having a direct link to and working with the large number of elected representatives that Sinn Féin in Newry has to offer enables quick and decisive action to help those in need.

Having been born and raised in the Meadow estate it would be safe to say that I know a lot of the residents and their families and through this friendship I have earned the trust and respect of many of these people and below here are a few examples of this at work.

"Pig Hall Lonan" as we know it or "The Wheel" as other people might know it is a road that runs from the busy Camlough Road down into the Meadow past Helen's Terrace. This old part of The Meadow is a very settled community and the row of red brick terraced houses which faces onto Sandy's Field is a striking feature for anyone travelling into Newry. However, in recent times as Newry city centre has become more congested with traffic and has less free car parking, Pig Hall Lonan offers a short cut into Newry and the temptation to park on the Meadow Road. 

The residents have reported a sharp increase in the volume of cars and the speed of the cars and they have been crying out for traffic calming measures to deal with this. They are rightfully concerned about the safety of their children at play and the fear of them being knocked down. It is very difficult for oncoming traffic to see children such is the closeness of their homes to the road. For our part we have facilitated a number of meetings with all the relevant agencies but to date DOE are reluctant to install speed ramps however the situation remains under review. Newry and Mourne Council has installed signage similar to that at the entrance to Derrybeg, at the top and bottom end of the road making motorists aware that children are playing in the area, and they must be commended for this. But this in itself it not enough, motorists need to be mindful that there are children present on this road and they need to be aware at all times of the possibility of a child running out onto the road, they should also reduce their speed when on the road.

In terms of the general maintenance of the area our elected reps have also been pressing the council and DOE to carry out regular clean ups and hedge cutting to ensure that the area is kept tidy. Again there have been several important site meetings with residents and officials to highlight concerns and issues in the area. We are determined to ensure that all the agencies are held to account in relation to their responsibilities. We continue to talk to the residents on a regular basis to make sure that all their concerns are being dealt with.

Óglach Brendan Watters 30th Anniversary 8th August 2014.

On Friday evening last I was privileged to be asked to chair a fitting tribute to local hero Brendan Watters whose 30th anniversary occurred on that date. Brendan who lived in Second Avenue Derrybeg Park was tragically killed when a grenade that he was handling exploded prematurely at a house in the staunchly Republican Barcroft Park. Brendan died a short time later in Hospital. 

On Friday 8th August 2014 a large and dignified crowd gathered at the entrance of "The Barley Field" in Barcroft to listen to Brendan's story and reflect on his short life. I outlined briefly the events of that time and spoke about the strong feelings that were running deep within the Nationalist and Republican community. 

In the early hours of 9th August 1971 The British Army and RUC launched one of the largest military operations ever seen in the north. Internment had begun under the orders of the British Government in a clear attempt to crush a resurgent people who were no longer prepared to sit back and be treated as second class citizens. On that morning thousands of homes were raided across the north resulting in hundreds of people being arrested and taken from their families. What followed can only be described as systematic torture by the British State.

In Newry similar events were occurring. Sean McKenna senior and his son also called Sean were among the many Newry people who were arrested. Sean senior was one of a group of men who were tortured by a secret British Army unit and this group of 14 became known as the hooded men; they were subjected to days of brutal, inhuman torture at the hands of this unit. Meanwhile events were unfolding on the streets, the RUC and British Army fired thousands of rubber bullets and in some cases used live rounds against the risen Nationalist people. During this period the parachute regiment were responsible for the butchering of 11 civilians in Ballymurphy over three days, this included a priest and a mother of eight children.

At this time Brendan was 11 years of age and this was the reality that Brendan and other children of his age were growing up in. Things were not "normal" here in the north and people were determined to resist this brutality.

Just one year later on 9th August 1972 Newry man Óglach Colm Murtagh was killed on active service on the Dublin Road. He was just 18 years old and came from Drumalane Park. Colm was the first Newry IRA volunteer to die on active service since 1957.

Colm would have been 60 this year and Brendan would have been 54. Most people of this age are enjoying their children and grandchildren growing up. Unfortunately Colm and Brendan didn't experience any of this as their young lives were cut short.

Jim McGivern then spoke eloquently about Brendan and his journey from childhood to adulthood and his gradual rise through the ranks of the Republican Movement. He spoke about Brendan being very security conscious in terms of the enemy not suspecting him of being involved in armed actions. This allowed Brendan to move about safely and carry out his duties as a soldier of Ireland without coming under suspicion by Crown forces.

Brendan's death came as a huge surprise to many within the Newry area and the huge crowd of mourners at his wake (where he was afforded a full military guard of honour and his comrades fired a volley of shots over his tricolour draped coffin) and funeral were testament to his popularity. On two occasions the RUC attempted to hijack the funeral but the resilience of local people ensured that this was not going to happen.

Brendan was buried in St Mary's cemetery in the family grave and he left behind a huge void for his family, friends and comrades. His sacrifice will never be forgotten.

Óglach Patsy McKeown

Óglach Patrick McKeown Killed in Action 27th August 1974

This year marks 40th anniversary of IRA Volunteer Patrick McKeown who was killed in action in Barcroft Park. An explosive device denoted prematurely killing Patsy instantly.

At the time of his death Patsy lived in Violet Hill Avenue Newry with his wife Margaret and young family.

Newry 1916 Easter Commemoration Association will be hosting a ceremony at the Republican Plot in St Mary's cemetery on Wednesday 27th August at 7pm. At this event we will talk about Patsy and his life as a family man and freedom fighter. A number of wreaths will also be laid in memory of him.