Young Newtown (more typically “Young Newton” – see e.g. 1989 and 2005) is the Newtownards Road division of the Ulster Young Militants (UYM) and formerly a Tartan Gang (History Ireland).
There was more news (Belfast Telegraph) last week (September 6, 2012) related to the on-going series of trials involving supergrass witnesses. A FAST banner is here seen in Spier’s Place. Last year there were banners in Donegall Pass, Mount Vernon, and Newtownards Road. For background and the collapse of the original trials, see Families Against Supergrass Trials.
Above: Henry Joy McCracken RFB [republican flute band (web)]. Annual Henry Joy/United Irishmen Commemoration. March will be held in the New Lodge area, Sunday 2nd of September. Parade will start at Duncairn Parade at 3 pm sharp. All republicans Welcome. Republican Network For Unity.”
This is a 2010 mural of Máıre Drumm and the women of West Belfast breaking the British Army curfew of the lower Falls in 1970 (youtube). Drumm was later shot dead in her bed in the Mater hospital where she was a patient (WP).
The mural was unveiled July 4th on the 40th anniversary of the curfew’s end – see p. 28 of An Phoblacht. This version incorporates two of the ‘Free Marian Price’ (painted) “posters” that have been added to most of the murals – see the Visual History page on the International wall. The original can be seen in M05636. A shot of this mural being painted can be found here.
“Release Martin Corey” stencil now appearing all over nationalist west Belfast, alongside ‘Free Marian Price’. Martin Corey was returned to prison in 2010 and a 2011 commission ruled that he was a member of the CIRA (WP | Belfast Telegraph).
Billy Hunter (background BBC | Belfast Telegraph) has died. On Saturday (25th August) a floral tribute to him was mounted on the railings of the ASDA store where he worked.
According to ‘The Irish News’ (Monday 27th August 2012) ‘Hunter died after he doused himself in petrol and set it alight at the side of the Ballywalter Road, Millisle, on Friday morning.’
The Irish News quotes Gerard McErlane as saying, ‘The fella did it and God have mercy on him. What he did he did to himself. John and Thomas had no choice when he murdered them. He had a choice and maybe it was his conscience. I don’t know.
I said a prayer and lit a candle for him doing that as I would for any human being doing that to themselves.’
However, Mr McErlane said tributes to Hunter should be removed. ‘It bothers me that they are supporting him. Even in his death they are supporting him. They are glorifying him. I want it removed.’
Quoting an ASDA spokeswoman, the Irish News reported that the store would support colleagues who want to attend the funeral. She said the store would let the ‘community decide on floral tributes.’
“Support the Maghaberry “Dirty Protest” 1981-2011″. Republican prisoners in Maghaberry began a dirty protest of throwing urine and excrement onto prison landings, as well as not washing or shaving, to protest forced strip searches (BBC).
The ‘Welcome to Sandy Row’ mural is painted over, June 25th, 2012. The new King William mural was launched on July 4th. More pics of the painting-out, from the BBC. Video from UTV.