The limerick Leader Spins Ploughshare Vindication

limerick | anti-war / imperialism | other press

Sunday August 06, 2006 05:19

by Seán Ryan

In this week's edition of the Limerick Leader, the Ploughshares are maligned and the law is questioned.

The paper has continued on in its pro-war agenda. This week the Leader calls the law an 'ass.'
Presumably the law was framed to allow for emergencies. Consider, for example. a fire-fighter smashing through a door to quench a blaze, or a passer-by breaking a car window to prevent a baby inside from being fried and suffocated in the sun. It would be self-evidently preposterous to hold such people liable for criminal damage.

It is only logical that they should be exempt. But the Ploughshares case takes that logic a step further and into the realm of the illogical. If the jury's interpretation of the law is not perverse, then the law is not only an ass but a lethal one at that: the property of no-one is no-longer safe from anyone, assuming that the attacker's belief is "honestly held."

The above is but a taste.
http://www.limericktoday.com/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionI...74802

That's what's on the website.
In the weekend paper itself, there's the odd mention or two. On page four of the features section we have a whole page devoted to the ploughshares. There is a set of 15 pictures of people from limerick, airing their views.

There's a piece on the page titled 'Did you agree with the jury's verdict for the Shannon Five?' This is a foistly little piece by Anne Sheridan, who reckon she's 'asked the people of limerick' She asked them if the 'Shannon Five' - 'if they deserved to be aquitted or if they were justified in their moral crusade.' Overlooking the logical impurity of her question, sho goes on to preach to people she already claims to be of the converted. This is cheap spin at its absolute cheapest.

She makes many points.
The Irish taxpayer might be paying the bill for the damage done to the plane.

Refers to the Ploughshare's act as a "crime" with the quotes.

Refers to an unamed man who describes the Ploughshare's use of 'lawful excuse' as "disgraceful."

Loss of American funding and investment will result, because of the implications of the case, Anne tells us - after she has pointed out that the American embassy is having a think and will be discussing its ideas with our government when it's ready.

FF Senator Brendan Daly having begged the Attorney General to re-try the Ploughshares [the Attorney General probably laughed at him] is briefly brought up by Anne. Anne doesn't bother to correct the fantasy element of this.

Anne finishes up with this:
Yet despite the future of Iraq and Ireland's implicit involvement in the war, law experts raised another minefield after the case - will any defendant charged with a violent act who can argue successfully that the crime was committed in good faith get off so lightly.

Back to the 15 pictures and 15 accompanting comments from 15 city Dwellers.
Rather than qoute the negative ones allow me to quote the positive ones:

'I agree with the verdict. I mean it's a protest, not a crime. Although I don't agree with the destruction of property. They've valid political and moral reasons.'

'I agree to a certain extent. I definitely don't agree that the taxpayer should have to pay for their damage but they needed to make a point.'

The quotes get less agreeable from here. One of the quotes even suggests the the Ploughshares ought to have been 'prosecuted.'

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Comments (8 of 8)

On the record

Sun Aug 06, 2006 09:15

Where the Limerick leader suggests that either the Jury's interpretation of the law is 'perverse,' or that the law is an 'ass,' the Limerick Leader should remember that the Jury does not interpret the law. The Judge interprets the law and gives it to the Jury. Hence in this case, the Judge refused to give the Jury a written version of the law, but explained it to them instead. The Jury do not interpret the law, they decide innocence or guilt, based on the law given to them and allowed to them by the judge.

The Leader's attempt at smearing seems to have backfired here. Instead of slagging of the Jury, the Limerick Leader has described Judge Miriam Reynolds, as being either 'perverse,' or a 'lethal' 'ass.'

Hopefully the Judge, won't take too kindly to this.

Just goes to show - court proceedings should be recorded on video camera - in this case, if they had been recorded, the Limerick Leader might have had some clue as to what went on. There exists no legal precedent that denies the usage of a video camera in court. Justice must be seen to be done, and if it is possible for the majority to see justice being done, then it stands to reason that the viewing of it must be available for the whole of the public if possible. Records prove contradictions. Video recording a court case, is more an act to accurately record the proceedings than to act as a stenographer, who often can't hear the proceedings adequately, or more usually, who isn't present. (There were stenographers present that the Ploughshares' trial btw.)

Maybe the Limerick Leader should change its name

by John Jefferies - AWI Cork

Sun Aug 06, 2006 11:20

The Limerick Leader should perhaps change its name to The Limerick Follower (of George Bush) or the Limerick Poodle.

Limerick Leader follows

by Fred Johnston

Sun Aug 06, 2006 14:23

The people of Limerick and the Shannon region have been bullied into a fear that any criticism of the US or US policy, and by extension, the use of Shannon by US military, will result in local US companies pulling out. Recently, the US ambassador reinforced this message to them; as he tried to do in Galway but, alas, he did it on a day when a US Galway-based company was shedding jobs. The Limerick Leader will , however, continue to do what it is told.

More disinformation from our jounalists

by Paul R - .

Sun Aug 06, 2006 16:24

tarbhmaith at imagine dot ie

somebody should offer Anne Sheridan some nice lebanese cheese to go with her imperialistic whine

Give me a break

by Limerick - iawa

Tue Oct 03, 2006 15:05

You lot take the biscut.The Limerick leader a newspaper from the area writes something you dont like and they are "being told what to write" or should be shoud be retitled the "limercik Follower".Give me a break.The article only reflects the opinion of the majority of peolple in the region and the country as a whole who believed the Shannon 5 were wrong in their actions as a means of protest.

Take the plank from thine eye

Tue Oct 03, 2006 23:20

Limerick Leader slanders all activists http://indymedia.ie/article/75738

Here we have the Limerick Leader speaking on behalf of us 'citizens' again. This time the rag is speaking for the American Ambassador to Ireland. It tells the story like he sees it and wields the big stick on his behalf, so that us ignorant boggers will shut the fuck up. Mr. Kenny (US ambassador) even uses the collective term 'us' when talking about himself and us.

You'll note that I call for the sacking of the editor, Mr. Halligan in this piece.

Guess what?

He's no more.

How'd you like them biscuits?

^&£%^*&£$%&%^&

by Wersal

Wed Oct 04, 2006 00:23

So "Limerick - iawa" believes the Shanno 5 were wrong to in their actions as a means of protest and that this is the opinion of the majority.

Thank you. This clears it up for me.

Who said there action was a means of protest? No the so called "Shannon 5".

For the record round her we say Pit-Stop Ploughshares because one f them painted "Pitstop of Death" on the hanger door before they went in to disarm the big bad war plane.

So where does the term Shannon 5 come from? The mainstream media of course.

But they know what to call them wouldn’t they?

Well they would if the had bothered to report the issue.

But wasn’t there reporters at the Four Courts?

Yes on the day of the verdict there was a media frenzy but during the case the press was badly represented by a lone journo who looked if she could do with a good night sleep and most days she would arrive late and leave early.

So the correct details could not possibly been made known?

Well not to the majority of the Irish people but there were twelve people who heard all the details and seen all the evidence. They were there on time morning and didn’t leave till all the facts were made known.

Who were they?

The jury of course! That’s why they gave a not guilty verdict. Now if you and the majority you so generously speak for were there I believe that you would agree with them.

But you were not and like the majority you didn’t get the full facts. See where I am going her.

Patronizing isn’t it? Just can’t help myself.

So "Limerick - iawa " lets be sensible and use your arse for what nature intended. If for some reason your mouth is not connected to brain then maybe it would be better if you didn’t express your benighted opinion at all.

Maybe BeBo would be a better website for you to visit.

I hope this comment goes some way to clear things up for you.

Call me anything...just don't call me late for dinner!

by Ciaron - Pit Stop Ploughshares (perosnal capacity)

Wed Oct 04, 2006 01:11

Pit Stop Ploughsares
Pitstop Ploughshares
www.peaceontrial.com

...ploughshares communities form to carry out a nonviolent act of disarmament in the spirit of the prophecy of Isaiah 2 & Micah 2. The plowshares/ploughshares movement is 26 years old.
www.plowsharesactions.org

Catholic Worker 5
www.catholicworker.org
.......the 73 year old movement from which the particpants sprung. According to recent academic research 50% of plowshares activists in the U.S. had spent over a year in a Catholic Worker community working & living with the homeless before acting.

Shannon 5
...site of the nonviolent disarmament action in Feb '03

Ploughshares actions are considered nonviolent resistance actions and appeal to other ordinary people, rather than protest activity, an primarily to politicians.

The mainstream media is not an objective social sevice, it is a profit driven industry that expresses the political spin and priorities of its ownership.

Indymedia lets us publish this kind of stuff!

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The limerick Leader Spins Ploughshare Vindication

Comments (8 of 8)