Capitalist tyrant targetted by bomb on Co Louth border

by Bolivar Wed Jul 18, 2007 05:37

Haughey recently followed suit with David Trimble and opted to become a Tory Peer after abandoning the now largely defunct Ulster Unionist party , of whom he was a major financial benefactor . Its not just the Ulster Unionists who suffer from a lack of finance thanks to Mr Haughey . A few years ago his workforce were informed theyd no longer be receiving any time and a half for overtime and have to work any overtime in his factories at the basic rate . Their contracts state they have no choice in the matter if ordered to work extra hours , often at very short notice . For those lowly paid workers who live in rural areas in the factories catchment area this can often mean workers have to rely on taxis to get home , which often means theyve worked extra hours for absolutely nothing . Haughey took advantage of the influx of migrant workers to offset any staff walkout or attempted workstoppage by major recruitment of non nationals into his workforce . Thankfully however relations in the factory between Irish and non nationals remain cordial and the attempt to divide and conquer hasnt resulted in any ill feeling between native and guest in this country . In a highly cynical move though the factory executive who Haughey used to announce the cut in pay was sacked for no discernible reason less than a month later . Used to do his masters dirty work and then cast aside as soon as it was done . No honour amongst thieves .
Haughey has a fleet of helicopters on standby as well as a private jet with accoutrements that would make a pimp blush , so doesnt have to pay for a taxi .
This friend of Pinochet has a vicious attitude towards his workforce . A number of years ago a trade union official who was due to talk to workers in the factory was ordered off the premises by machine gun toting RUC men who arrived in armoured cars . Those filth seem to be at his beck and call to deal with unwelcome rabble rousers who might put funny ideas about joining a trade union into his workers heads .

by jolly good show Mon Aug 28, 2006 07:08

"but people live in the middle of the countryside. And it must have been brought there along roads where people would be endangered too. "

As its highly doubtful such a device would be primed until it reached its destination it would present no danger to the public at all . A trawl through the internet on the subject will inform you that the ammonium nitrate explosive mix which the Gardaí claim was used needs a powerful explosive charge attached to it in order to detonate it . Until that is done its a harmless powder . For their own safety ( never mind that of civilians) experienced bombers ( of which there are quite a few Id imagine among the ranks of republicans in the north Louth/south Armagh border area) are highly unlikely to transport primed explosives along hazardous rural backroads plagued by potholes , bad bends and drunk drivers . In over 30 years and despte literally hundreds if not thousands of bombs being transported through such areas along the south armagh/north louth border not one such device ever detonated in transit . Which would indicate that they do not pose a danger until they are actually planted .
Lord Ballyedmonds property is also well off the road in a very sparsely populated area .

by Shop Steward Mon Aug 28, 2006 04:19

Uh, huh it is but people live in the middle of the countryside. And it must have been brought there along roads where people would be endangered too. And has anyone actually been killed or even injured by that pipeline which is owned by the state and not private industry? Whereas lots of people have been killed and injured by homemade explosive devices in the 6 counties.

by Barry Thu Aug 24, 2006 09:59

its in the middle of the countryside and certainly a lot less dangerous than the gas pipeline running through the area .

by Shop Steward Thu Aug 24, 2006 03:35

Yep, he deserves to have his house blown up. And the big ugly walls he threw up on his road frontage down by Killowen too. Nice piece of planning regulations huh? No wonder Fianna Fail took him to their hearts. Still not necessarily a good idea to bring a substantial explosive device through a civilian area, eh?

by Barry Mon Aug 21, 2006 11:39

Well he doesnt appear to have had much problem with Mr Pinochet blowing up Mr Allendes house . Personally speaking I certainly wouldnt want him or his hired goons as neighbours given his track record which includes annexing his neighbours lands and chasing them off it as trespassers as well countless legal threats from heavyweight lawyers against ordinary people who cant match his resources . And quite frankly British lords with connections to the upper echelons of a reactionary British establishment and with a long history of outright collaboration with the occupying forces only yards across the border cant really expect to be welcomed with open arms in such a volatile region . Dont forget that man has also sent many ordinary local people to jail while acting as a British judge too . He picked a bad spot to build a house , no doubt about it .

Im reminded of the IRAs actions in the mid 1960s torching the estates of big landowners in Meath who were messing the locals about and lording it over them . Also I havent heard a single word of sympathy for him in this entire area .

by Shop Steward Mon Aug 21, 2006 03:53

and not "Dermot" - don't know where that came from.

Should also say that just because he's an unpleasant piece of work, doesn't necessarily mean its a good idea to blow up his house.

by Shop Steward Mon Aug 21, 2006 03:47

He is EXTREMELY unpopular in the area and is far from the "Lady Bountiful" picture you so rosily paint. Basically the guy is a bully who throws his weight around at will.

The following story from the Newry Democrat http://archives.tcm.ie/newrydemocrat/2002/08/20/story93...5.asp is typical of the arrogance, the complete disregard for the public, the use of heavy private security and the threat to employment if His Lordship doesn't get his way.

HUNDREDS of rail commuters suffered mass ‘rail rage’ on Thursday morning when Norbrook Laboratories blocked a road it shares with Newry rail station over a parking dispute.
A Norbrook spokesman said the company owned the road and that NIR had breeched an agreement to keep it clear of parked cars.
“My car was blocked by three heavies,” said Noel Curran, a 57-year-old disabled Warrenpoint man.
“I have my spine fused and two screws inserted and can hardly walk.
“Eventually I said I was disabled and he said the disabled were allowed through, but there was no apology.”
Another furious commuter who missed his train said, “I checked with land registry and they said the road was unregistered and belonged to whoever had the deeds.”
Norbrook responded that they were not required to prove ownership.
Most Norbrook staff were on a fortnight’s holiday and the plant’s main Millvale Road entrance was unaffected. Police confirmed it was a civil matter and they could not get involved.
Norbrook also said their insurance requires a clear road at all times. “We regret any inconvenience to the public, the fault clearly lies with NIR – we repeatedly asked them to take action and told them in advance we were only going allow pedestrians through,” a spokeman said.
Councillor Pat McElroy said, “Norbrook has been good for Newry and NIR have certainly mismanaged the station. But we feel Norbrook had plenty of legal options without this.”
Norbrook responded that the, “comments on the opinions of elected representatives are interesting. It would be difficult for them to give an informed opinion without sight of the licence granted to NIR. I am sure they will agree that 800-1,000 jobs in Newry are important to protect.
“In the current difficult insurance market we are very lucky to maintain our insurance and must protect it. Otherwise continued employment of a very substantial number of people would be at serious risk.”
NIR said parking attendants were added from Thursday and the blockade was lifted at Friday lunchtime. They also apologised to Norbrook for failing to control parking.
Councillor Jackie Patterson said, “We are confirming exactly who owns the road, what public rights of way there are and who holds the deeds. We are also calling all parties to a council meeting to ensure no repeat occurrence.”

by R. Isible Mon Aug 21, 2006 01:30

he would have been under pressure from the British not to provide employment to Newry

That seems unlikely. The key to a succesful British occupation would be high employment leading to people with more to lose than gain from disruption of the economy. I'm sure Haughey's advantage came from people desperate for employment in the area and willing to put up with his apparently unpleasant working conditions. In any event, some support for your statement would be interesting. Do you have any?

by Kerry democrat Mon Aug 21, 2006 01:16

Some of the comments on here are truly deranged. The bile in the original post reminds me of some secondary school showoff who has just discovered the SWP. Please grow up! And what's up with all this anti-Thatcher stuff. She saw off those nasty hungerstrikers, put the UK (and by extension Rep. of Ireland) back on its feet and had a hand in liberating Eastern Europe, a great leader and I'm glad that Haughey recognizes that.

by Damien Mon Aug 21, 2006 00:12

What a disgracefull article.

Haughey created jobs for nationalists in Newry for years when no one did, indeed he would have been under pressure from the British not to provide employment to Newry.....He has spread his money aroud north louth quite a bit - for example he funded the new wing for the Christian Brothers School in Dundalk, where he was originally educated.

To say he is unpopular in the area is completly untrue.

by Seaicilín F Sat Aug 19, 2006 23:44

I could not help myself on reading this article, I had to smile, Edward Haughey, multi-millionaire, with a history of bullying, harassing and threatening his workers and a friend of Margaret Thatcher now finds himself under real and continuous threat. Well, I'm fucking delighted. How does he like it, to be on the receiving end of a threat - it's not very nice is it Mr. Haughey?

I have zero fucking time for Haughey (and I know many others like him) and I hope this bully has a miserable existence in his Mansion of Misery, if it is ever built. No doubt, knowing the life that this selfish, arrogant, man of extreme wealth lived, and his insensitivity to others, it's all coming back to haunt and attack him now with a vengeance, and he'll certainly live a miserable retirement in his Mansion of Misery, which will eventually coming tumbling down around him; God, I'm getting carried away here, but I do like to think that some day men such as him, who loved to dish out threats and humiliation and thought they had infinite power to control others' lives (he had delusions of grandeur), will be made to suffer in the end with the help of God.

by jim Fri Aug 18, 2006 00:20

It was the 28th Jan 1972

by Barry Thu Aug 17, 2006 23:59

The Dungooley gunbattle (Ist Jan 1972) lasted about 2 and a half hours . The British army admitted to firing 2 and a half thousand rounds accross the border .

by Barry Thu Aug 17, 2006 23:51

I cant believe this British lord and associate of Thatcher has chosen to build his home at the same spot the biggest ever gun battle was fought between the British army and the Provisional IRAs south armagh brigade in the very early 1970s . The Dungooley engagement was legendary involving prolonged gunfire from both sides that went on for around 5 hours . Literally thousands of rounds were fired . At one stage IRA scouts had to slip through garda lines with fresh ammunition such was the amount of rounds being expended . Even an anti tank rifle was used against British aroured cars themselves firing Browning turret machine guns in probably the heaviest engagement the norths ever seen . The areas memory is a source of pride to a lot of people in North louth and south armagh and the thought of the likes of "Lord Ballyedmond" cementing the British peace by taking up residence in it has most definitely annoyed a lot of people locally . Its felt by many this was a deliberate snub to the people of the area just as his association with Thatcher and assistance to the British army was .

I dont think his new home will have a lot of happy memories in it or find a willing insurance broker either to be honest . The man is deeply unpopular throughout the entire area .

by Foighneach Thu Aug 17, 2006 23:07

Just wondering, why the eager people who planted the bomb, couldn't have waited until the house was built and all pretty like and then (having made sure beforehand that no one (else) was in the house) then blow it to smidiríní.

I hope this 'Lord' of the Unsafe Manor sees the error of his ways and gets the fuck out of Ireland, le cúnamh Dé!

by Barry Thu Aug 17, 2006 23:06

I cant speak for Kevin Murphy but I can categorically state the 32 county sovereingty movement were not behind any bomb attacks at any time , ever . As for the rest of your nonsense ill ignore it like everyone else will if theyve sense

by Spinning Quickly Thu Aug 17, 2006 22:55

O'Gara wasn't the "beastly pleb" but the "beastly oik" referred to. The mention of Dartmouth Square was clearly meant to oppose Haughey to the person who had the temerity to buy the square - however, O'Gara is definitely guilty of harassing a former employee and is therefore as bad as, maybe even worse than Haughey.

Please take a look at the facts before you spout your rhetoric.

by Spinning Quickly Thu Aug 17, 2006 22:52

So you admit that your organisation was responsible for the firebombings and the bomb scares on the railway line?

By that "logic", Martin Cahill was a working-class hero - which he clearly wasn't. (I don't know what John Boorman was doing when he made his hagiographic film.)

Gaah!!!

by Barry Thu Aug 17, 2006 22:29

nobody is remotely suggesting Mr OGara is a working class or any other kind of hero . But no doubt youll attempt to divert the thread on this issue regardless . The point is the hypocrisy of Haugheys own track record on issues such as land ownership .

by Spinning Quickly Thu Aug 17, 2006 22:22

It was bought not by "some beastly pleb", but by a dodgy businessman from Athlone called Noel O'Gara. The same guy who spams newsgroups with promotion for his book alleging that a former employee of his is the "real" Yorkshire Ripper. You were complaining about harassment of former employees? O'Gara is clearly guilty of that.

Hardly a working-class hero, is he?

by Barry Thu Aug 17, 2006 21:40

was once told "you have to be lucky all the time"

By the way no organisation has yet claimed responsibility , its only Garda and media speculation pointing towards RIRA . The Lord of the manor is also still making financial donations to the British conservative party as well as supplying their leading figures with free helicopter flights and the like . He also serves on committes for the Royal British legion .
Interestingly hes currently been elected as chairperson for the residents of Georgian Dublins Dartmouth square following a dispute with some beastly oik whos bought the titles to some local property , which is ironic following his recent defeat in the courts by some mere pleb whose land his Lordship decided to confiscate as his own and chase the rightful owner off for "trespassing" .

by L.C Thu Aug 17, 2006 20:45

previous actions have not made me think too highly, although HOW anyone can go against this one I don't know.

the only shame?

it didn't go through.

by Barry - 32csm Thu Aug 17, 2006 19:11

The hypocrisy of the criticisms of this piece are staggering . Haughey , or "Lord Ballyedmond" as his personal staff inform people is how he must be addressed at all times is also the former Chilean consul for the 6 counties . During the brief arrest for war crimes of facist dictator and mass murderer Augusto Pinochet the British Lord used the Seanad chamber to defend him from any Irish criticism and complained the mass murdering dictator was being persecuted .

Edward Haughey is also a former member of and long time financial backer of the anti worker and virulently anti trade union British conservative party ( a party that also armed right wing death squads in this country with large arns shipments from apartheid South Africa ) . His donations to them run into the millions . He currently is the biggest funder of the tory aligned Ulster Unionist party which has itself gone into partnership with the recipents of those S African arms shipments , the UVF , while Haughey himself currently represents the party in the British House of Lords . A number of years ago he personally presented Thatcher with a gold brooch at a conservative banquet ( Like her and Mr Haugheys chum Pinochet the same lady also made sure numerous south americans were never seen again when she ordered the sinking of the Belgrano). No doubt she was pleased to meet him again after he invited her to his home in the aftermath of the Hungerstrikes in a pointed insult to the feelings of people in south armagh . Raymond McCreesh is buried only a mile from his Norbrook plant .

His associations with the likes of Pinochet and Thatcher confirm his personal philosophy , stamp on the little people . Whether its an unfortunate worker who gets in his way , somebody unlucky enough to live beside him , or anyone with the temerity to object to any of his planning applications ( thats when he can be bothered to make them , he never bothered with applications for numerous fortified walls and a chemichal plant situated near working class peoples homes and simply never needed to) hell use every means at his disposal to crush them . A small English local newspaper that reported on cases of animal cruelty at his English home found itself on the receiving end of his bigshot lawyers in an attempt to silence them .

As regards the issue of night security workers at his site in Dungooley the very idea of unarmed security guards protecting the premises of such an individual aligned so closely to the British establishment in that border area is utterly ridiculous . The British Lord would need employees of one of the private mercernary outfits currently out in Iraq , not bloody Group 4 for Gods sake . Incidentally when travelling to and from his Camlough rd factory hes accompanied by armed former Ghurkas who provide his personal security .

http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/article.php?article_id...=2527

http://www.theherald.co.uk/news/61406.html

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/20...5.xml

http://www.irishecho.com/newspaper/story.cfm?id=17543

http://archives.tcm.ie/Newrydemocrat/2003/09/03/story22...2.asp

http://www.newrydemocrat.com/news/printer.asp?j=1988

http://www.oireachtas-debates.gov.ie/S/0156/S.0156.1998....html

Friend of Pinochet

Friend of this tyrant and war criminal

the Ballyedmond philosophy

by John Thu Aug 17, 2006 11:58

The good news is that Haughey is still alive and that the leader of this attempted-murder gang is rotting away in prison. And that's where he'll stay

by Noel Hogan Thu Aug 17, 2006 10:55

"Noel, you know when the attempt to detonate it was made?? Do construction workers work 24/7?"
Only if they're working for GAMA. But if it wasn't construction workers, what about security? Most sites today have night security, this guy could obviously pay for it (no doubt at GAMA rates, but that's another argument).

Anyhow it was the real IRA who planted this bomb yes? The scum that bombed Omagh? Was that another test?

I don't have to listen to anyone trying to apologise for RIRA, they've killed far more workers then "capitalist tyrants".

by Kevin Murphy - 32 csm Thu Aug 17, 2006 05:43

Sorry to disappoint the conspiracy theorists but a report of this incident was on RTE teletext all day Tuesday and front page news on a number of newspapers wednesday morning . The 6 county edition of the British "Sun" rag had it as their leading story . The pretentiously titled Lord Ballyedmond is by no means an ordinary civilian , hes a clearly defined and extremely reactionary member of the British establishment , an establishment acting in a deliberate colonial manner in this occupied country . His record of open collaboration with the occupying forces is extremely lengthy .

As yet no organisation has claimed responsibility for the device at his half completed home on the Louth/ Armagh border near Forkhill .
As for the Dublin to Belfast railway line closure there is absolutely no need for anyone to come up with an apologia . The British forces themselves issued a statement yesterday clarifying beyond any doubt that a number of devices planted near the railway line were clearly intended for them . It would appear the co-ordinated incendiary attacks on British chainstores and numerous accompanying bomb hoaxes which stetched the occupying forces capabilities in the area were diversions from the more serious operation intended to inflict casualties upon them . Its also worth pointing out that local republican youth confronted the British forces near the Barcroft estate in Newry during the alerts and pelted them with over thirty petrol bombs .

Therefore it would appear the south Armagh/ south Down area has yet to have been pacified despite the propaganda .

by Disgusted Thu Aug 17, 2006 04:21

This story is glorifying terrorism and I am disgusted that it is allowed to be on here on this website, how can you justify someone just coming on here and writing in this way about trying to murder someone for their supposed crimes. Is there now the death penalty in this country for being being a bad boss or anti-republican?

by marbles Thu Aug 17, 2006 02:08

Noel, you know when the attempt to detonate it was made?? Do construction workers work 24/7? You make assumptions you can't make. Gardaí have suggested that they were simply trying to test the effectiveness of their bomb. Choosing Little Lord Ballyeddie's under-construction house for such a test makes sense to me. TIt's only too bad it didn't work.

by LucianTaylor Wed Aug 16, 2006 23:45

A trawl of the internet makes no connections between Edward Haughey and Charles J Haughey.
They dont seem to be related.

by dm Wed Aug 16, 2006 22:49

Again is there any relationship to the boss? I know his family is from around there

by Spinning Quickly Wed Aug 16, 2006 22:23

First of all, I have *NO* time for bullies or harassers. That said, does Kevin have a reason for this bomb being placed where it was? (Anyone would know that an uncompleted house would not be lived in by its' owner.) Does he have an apologia for the recent firebombs in Newry? Or the closing of the Dublin-Belfast railway line?

Given that Kevin's organisation has a history of indiscriminate slaughter, does that even matter? His organisation is a danger to everyone.

by Noel Hogan Wed Aug 16, 2006 18:31

Since the bomb was planted in a building that was only being constructed it's a fair bet to assume that the only people who would have been injured/murdered by it would be construction workers.

Somehow I doubt that this Haughey character would be getting his hands dirty by building the house himself.

Nice work, (Insult removed by editor).

by seriously Sarah Wed Aug 16, 2006 18:27

This was a BOMB. Targeting a civilian.

So how does this make the perpetrators or their supporters any different from the IDF?

by Duine Wed Aug 16, 2006 17:29

Nár pianmhar an bhreith scaradh an toice óna chuid airgid seachas é a scaradh ona shaol? Níl an cead sin ag éinne.

by lord haw haw Wed Aug 16, 2006 15:21

or maybe the grapevine is very close in the border counties.

anyway - is he any relative of the Boss?

by timekeeper Wed Aug 16, 2006 15:19

RTE had it at 13.47
http://www.rte.ie/news/2006/0816/louth.html