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On Friday the British government released papers under the 30-year rule that deal with the conflict in Ireland and in particular, the 1981 hunger strikes. There are hundreds of documents. Some are minutes of meetings involving Margaret Thatcher.

I have read some but not all of the papers. Academics, historians and journalists will be poring over the detail of these for months to come and trying to fit the story they tell into what is already known. They deserve the closest scrutiny.

There is of course the important health warning. These are government documents, written in their time with the bias of those political systems. So care is needed.

The H Block/Armagh prison protest and the hunger strikes were watershed events in recent Irish history. Ten prisoners died. Over 50 other people were killed during the summer of 1981, including children killed by plastic bullets.

However, it is very clear from an initial examination of the papers that the policy pursued by Thatcher in 1981 was inflexible, intransigent and at crucial points duplicitous. The papers reveal a British prime minister who consistently refuses to deal with the substance of the prison protests.

One event which has already been the focus of some media comment is a claim that in a meeting with the pope’s envoy Fr John Magee, Bobby Sands had offered to suspend the hunger strike for five days.

I have never heard this claim before. Moreover Bobby was very clear in his approach to the hunger strike. The prisoners had agreed procedures among themselves to ensure there would be no repeat of the events of the previous December when the first hunger strike ended.

The prisoners wanted Brendan McFarlane, officer commanding in the H Blocks, and someone from outside to be part of any discussions about any British government proposals. This was to protect the hunger strikers and the protest. Several days before Magee’s visit Bobby had refused to meet two members of the European Commission of Human Rights without Brendan McFarlane being present.

Bobby viewed Magee’s visit as pastoral. In none of his subsequent conversations with either Jim Gibney or messages to McFarlane did he mention making any offer to Magee. For him to have made such an offer and not mention it would have been totally out of character because Bobby diligently reported any developments. In my view he certainly would have mentioned such an important proposal.

However, whatever the veracity of the Magee claim the British response is clear. According to the record of the meeting between Humphrey Atkins (the British secretary of state) and Magee, which were held at 12.30pm. in Stormont Castle on 29 April – 7 days before Bobby died – Atkins told Magee: “that there could be no negotiation: that was what Sands was trying to initiate. The government had no intention of conceding political status … To concede that would be wrong … At the end of the meeting the SoS explained, and Father Magee accepted, that the SoS could not see Father Magee again because to do so would risk creating the impression that some form of negotiation was going on. There was no question of negotiation and the SoS would not to continue to make that quite clear.”

The other aspect of this period that will be of interest to many is the detail provided by the British of their engagement with and abuse of the “back-channel”. This was a line of communication between a Derry based contact – Brendan Duddy – and a British intelligence agent Michael Oatley who had direct access to Thatcher in Downing Street.

There are transcripts of eight telephone calls over the weekend of 4 July between the British agent and the Derry “back-channel” who was given the code-name “Soon”. This was just before the death of hunger striker Joe McDonnell.

The papers raise serious questions about the relationship between London and Soon.

For example, according to the British papers Soon had an agreed code word with them. The paper says: “At the outset Soon indicated by a prearranged code that he was accompanied by a representative of the Provisionals. He had previously suggested that in this situation we should adopt a hard line … “

These and other inconsistencies in these records only confirm me in my view that in negotiations “facilitators” or “intermediaries” can unintentionally or deliberately create problems by not relaying messages accurately.

The hunger strike and its repercussions on individuals, families and the political life of this island were far reaching. The papers that have been released provide another insight to a tumultuous period.

Article source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/dec/31/thatcher-ireland-papers-prison-protests

Suspected sex offenders have been targeted with lie detector tests in a police trial to gauge the risk they pose to the public.

Hertfordshire police has been using polygraphs, which monitor heart rate, brain activity, sweating and blood pressure, during questioning to help decide whether to charge suspects.

The force confirmed it had completed a successful pilot scheme in November in which 25 “low level” sex offenders were tested. Many were found to pose a higher risk to children than previously estimated. A further 12-month trial is expected to start in April.

Of the 10 offenders tested in April, six revealed more serious offending. Testing ended so further inquiries could take place, according to the Times. Of the other four, two revealed offences, thus passing the test, and received cautions and attended a sexual offender treatment programme.

The last two made disclosures and passed the test but refused to admit the offences when interviewed later. Their cases went to court. All four were placed on the sex offenders register.

Of the 15 offenders tested in November, eight failed while six passed. One was caught trying to beat the polygraph, breathing erratically and talking slowly.

Detective Chief Inspector Glen Channer, head of Hertfordshire’s child protection unit, said the polygraph was an “added weapon in our armoury of investigative techniques”. He said the tests were carried out by accredited practitioners in a scientific environment and were not relied upon on their own.

Hertfordshire police said : “The testing is undertaken ahead of any charges being brought and involves specialist officers from the constabulary’s paedophile unit working with an expert who conducts the test on first-time offenders who have volunteered to co-operate with police. Evidence elicited during the examinations is not admissible at court.”

The Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) cautioned that the tests were at a very early stage. A spokesman said: “Polygraph techniques are complex and are by no means a single solution to solving crimes, potentially offering in certain circumstances an additional tool to structured interrogation.

“These initial trials are in their very early stages and we will follow their progress, working with chief officers across the country to provide further guidance if necessary.

“Whether these techniques are adopted elsewhere in the country is a matter for individual chief constables.”

Article source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/dec/31/police-trial-lie-detector-tests

Scotland has a history of punching above its weight in many walks of life and its influence on New Year – or Hogmanay – celebrations is no exception. Auld Lang Syne will be sung, drams will be drunk and ceilidhs will be held everywhere from Berwick to Boston.

But the fact is that Hogmanay in Scotland is not always celebrated as it is portrayed on the TV screens – unless you are the royal family, living it up at Brigadoon – I’m sorry, I mean Balmoral.

So here is my guide to some rather more down-to-earth Hogmanay traditions.

The preparations

In years past the house was thoroughly cleaned and the ashes of the last fire of the old year were swept out. This custom is still observed by many women while the menfolk make the traditional “trip to the shops” to stock up on peanuts. This involves several hours in the pub, eulogising Denis Law. (“Like Anna Pavlova so he wiz.”) They return home around 9pm, eschewing the pavement in favour of a zig-zag formation across the neighbour’s lawn, ending up in the fuchsias. They do not buy peanuts.

The Food and Drink

A traditional Hogmanay delicacy is black bun, which consists of a pastry casing filled with tarmac. Some posh types like to spend the day queuing Soviet style outside a fancy butcher’s for a steak pie. This is the Hogmanay equivalent of the Norfolk bronze turkey, favoured by snobby gits who wouldn’t know a good time if it bit them on the arse.

As to drink, at around 9.30pm mothers must go ballistic when they discover that the Slimline tonic went out of date in August, but things even out when last year’s bottle of Crabbie’s Green Ginger is found in the garage. Otherwise it is tins of heavy, whisky and Babycham for the ladies.

Entertainment

Mostly this involves reciting the classics, namely every episode of Scotch and Wry and Chewin’ the Fat. Aunt Ina will insist on singing Burns, which allows the twins to do their infamous Ae Fond Kiss, and Then We Sever.

“The bells”

Nowadays most folk watch “the bells” on telly, accompanied by a chorus of “Look at those flip-flops! Pit them away hen!” when some poor lassie from Border TV is wheeled out in a strapless frock to do the countdown. After that you must awkwardly kiss everyone in the room as if they were harbouring the ebola virus, which Uncle Bobby might very well be, given the state of those boils on his neck.

First footing

First footing is the tradition where, after the bells, neighbours and friends visit one another’s houses to wish each other a good New Year. Traditionally, your luckiest first-foot is a tall handsome man carrying a lump of coal. This prompts the first visit to AE of the new year when a human pyramid is formed in order to produce one tall person from a room full of short-arsed Scottish males.

The next half hour is spent whispering in the dark so that Chick and Mary from No 39 don’t turn up with the usual bloody bottle of Shloer and a tray of curried eggs. When the danger has passed, the lights go on again and friends and neighbours are welcomed into the home, narrowly avoiding decapitation by Uncle Bobby who, custom has it, will be kicking his height in the hallway.

You know the night is drawing to a close when sexy Cath from the cul de sac turns up. (“Oh, you do know Cath. No bra. Danced by herself to Mustang Sally at the PTA disco.”) At this point, Dad must whip off the pinny and tea cosy he was wearing for a rendition of The Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia and launch into his Tom Jones routine, upsetting the drinks trolley and traumatising Aunt Ina.

Or at least that’s sort of how I remember it. In the end, it doesn’t matter whether you bring in the New Year in a castle or a but n’ben, with reels or with RB. Celebrate it how you please, hopefully with laughter and a sense of hope for the future, and maybe tak a cup o’ kindness yet for Auld Lang Syne.

Article source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/dec/31/real-scottish-hogmanay

The government has rejected calls for the London 2012 Games to be an “austerity” Olympics, amid concerns over the £9bn cost of the event during the economic downturn.

The culture secretary, Jeremy Hunt, said voters would not forgive the government if it failed to make the most of the Games, which could provide a boost to the economy.

Rather than cutting its budget, the Olympics’ opportunities should be “harnessed” to showcase Britain’s culture, history and creativity, Hunt said.

Hosting the Games during the global economic crisis was an “incredible stroke of luck” as it would be a “huge plus sign” for UK plc, Hunt told the Telegraph.

“You can take two attitudes to the Olympics. You can say: these are times of austerity and therefore we should pare them down as much as possible. Or, you can say: because these are times of austerity we need to do everything we possibly can to harness the opportunity of the Olympics.

“We’re going to be the centre of global attention and it will be the first time that we’ve had a major sporting event that’s watched live by half the world’s population. People would not forgive us if we didn’t make the absolute most of this moment.

“This is going to be an incredible expression of Britain’s culture, Britain’s history and Britain’s creativity. So, we decided that the sensible thing to do is to make sure that we finance it properly.”

Ministers have faced demands for spending on the Olympics to be reduced in recognition of efforts to tackle the deficit. The government has provided £9.3bn for the Games – up from an estimate of £2.4bn at the time of the bid in 2005. There is still more than £500m unallocated in “contingency” funds.

Earlier this week, the mayor of London, Boris Johnson praised the 1948 austerity postwar Olympics in London, when athletes travelled by bus and other countries donated items.

Hunt stopped short of saying the Games could prevent the UK from entering a double-dip recession, but added: “If you are saying, ‘Will the Olympics have a massively positive impact on our economic confidence?’ I think the answer is resoundingly yes.”

Hunt also said demonstrators would be tolerated as long as their protests were legitimate and lawful.

“We are proud to be a democratic country and protest is part of that tradition,” he said. “We don’t want to see disruption to the Games but we also recognise part of the package of Britain is that we allow protest, providing it’s lawful and legitimate.”

Article source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2011/dec/31/jeremy-hunt-austerity-olympics-2012

Article source: http://rss.cnn.com/~r/rss/edition_world/~3/toUoOUpxhV4/index.html

Article source: http://rss.cnn.com/~r/rss/edition_world/~3/ipVgRFK7SdU/index.html

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