ARDOYNE-= A Reader Writes
Free Citizen1970No public scan is online for this item; the text below was read from a privately held copy.
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In last week's issue of Free Citizen an article appeared called "Aftermath in Ardoyne". This article was barely enough to awaken the curiosity of the readers as to what is happening and what did-happen in Ardoyne. The article mentioned that after an attack on Hooker Street where four people were shot including a mother and her child, the people of Ardoyne defended themselves.
This defence was necessary because the British Armed Forces who are in charge of security on the Crumlin Road were nowhere to be found, and so,in fear of another pogrom like that of August 1969 the people of Ardoyne returned fire on their attackers. The article went on to say that after this five men were arrested, charged with causing an explosion and later with the ridiculous charge of the attempted murder of a person or persons unknown on the Crumlin Rc In the light of the adverse publicity given to the incident of June 17th it is the duty of all Socialist papers to try and shed as much light as possible on the matter. Last week's issue failed to stress three very important points.
1. These men are totally innocent of the crime they are charged with. be’ murdered? If the intended victims aré unknown there can be no evidence of a murder.: These men are being beld on a now well known deliberate suppression of facts.
3. This is the most important What happened in Ardoyne is just another act of oppression by British Imperialism. It has all the well known characteristics.
Trumped up charges, suppression of facts on the news media, detentions without evidence. It is Clear that nu one really believes that the men being detained murdered anyone and also what is clear is that the Imperialists in Ireland are going to use this case to the full, for now the number of accused is up to six and a seventh may be added. Soon all Ardoyne will be in court on this ''charge?”’. And after Ardoyne who knows | No one in the six counties of Ireland that is under this Jackbooted Army is safe from these trumped up charges. Our Jails are full of Irish workers Catholic, Protestant and Dissenter all innocent of any crime except one: they resented oppression, and if that is a crime I hope we are all guilty.
them.
October 4th.
Frank Murphy, \rdoyne.