More on Barrett

Thursday October 10, 2002 17:33

by Mags

Promises to reprint book

Here are two more articles about Justin Barrett's mysterious boo, which was mentiond in the Sunday Mirror article posted last week. Apparently he is going to re-print his reactionary musings, should be interesting. (I am posting these articles from the Indo because people need a password to get into their site and also because there was considerable interest in the last post)

Irish Independent – 9th October 2002

The No campaigner who won't be brought to book

THE NO to Nice campaigner Justin Barrett has insisted there is nothing to hide in a book written by him which he is refusing to allow Fianna Fail to read.
Dick Roche, Fianna Fail Junior Minister with responsibility for the Nice campaign, wrote to Mr Barrett yesterday requesting a copy of his book, 'The National Way Forward', where he sets out his vision of Ireland, the European Union and the world.
But Mr Barrett, a well-known anti-abortion campaigner, said that while he has no problem showing others the book he does not wish the Government to get their hands on it.
"It's not because we want to hide anything; it is just that we don't want to give it to them. It's not as remotely interesting as they think it is."
The book sets out his broad political agenda. "If people agree with me, maybe these ideas could be the foundation of a movement," he said of the book, which he began writing in 1992.
Mr Roche yesterday sent Mr Barrett all Fianna Fail's Nice publications and asked for a copy of his book in return.
"I'm sure there is no attempt to withhold your book from public scrutiny. As such, I would be grateful if you would send me a copy. I would be delighted to pay cash on delivery and can have it collected at any time if that suits better," Mr Roche wrote.
But Mr Barrett said he had published the book himself, printing a few hundred copies, and it had only been stocked in a local bookshop, Grafton Court Books, in his native Longford.
He said it had certainly not been withdrawn from bookshelves. "The only reason it isn't available is that it wasn't available generally to begin with."
Mr Barrett said the book had "ended up in the strangest of hands", apparently referring to favourable reviews it has received on right-wing websites.
The opening chapter of the book is entitled "X and why" and explains his view of "how the Irish Supreme Court turned the Irish Constitution on its head". He also examines the liberalisation of Irish society.
Alison O'Connor, Political Correspondent

Irish Independent – 10th October 2002

No chief Barrett set to share his political philosophy

NO to Nice campaigner Justin Barrett has pledged that he will publicly launch a book detailing his political philosophies next week.
Fianna Fail has accused Mr Barrett of suppressing the publication, The National Way Forward, claiming that he does not want its contents to be made public during the referendum campaign.
However, Mr Barrett said yesterday the book would be "freely available" from next week and he would be having a "full-scale" launch, probably on Monday.
Fianna Fail junior minister Dick Roche said yesterday that the public had a right to scrutinise the views of the No campaign leader.
Alison O'Connor, Political Correspondent