Statement from the International Department of the Irish Republican Socialist Party

A Chairde, "Volunteer Morris did not die as a result of an exchange of shots between the Gardai and himself." So explained the Irish National Liberation Army regarding the execution of one of its volunteers from the South Dublin Brigade. We know this statement to be true, because INLA Volunteer John Morris did not have a loaded weapon in his possession, was offering no resistance to the Gardai, and because forensic tests demonstrate that he was shot in the back of the head from a distance of not more than two metres. That isn't called a "shoot out." It is called an execution ˜- it is called "murder." Such a killing demands justice, but justice has thus far been denied.

The Gardai claimed that Volunteer John Morris pointed a gun directly at them and that they fired in what they believed to be self-defense, but John Morris was shot in the back of the head. Who will hold the Garda accountable for these lies?

The three Gardai who killed Volunteer John Morris testified from behind a screen, their identities masked – nameless assassins of the ruling class, who determined that the life of one member of the Irish working class wasn't worth as much as the 900 punts the INLA was attempting to obtain to support the struggle for national liberation and socialism. Who will ensure that these killers are brought to justice?

Who will tell the truth? Who will mourn his death? Who will lament this needless killing? Who will speak out for what is right? Who will hold those responsible to account?

We know who will not do so. The capitalist courts, the capitalist Dail, the capitalist media, the capitalist class – we can expect no justice from them, no truth from them, no remorse from them, no concern from them. From them we can expect only this -˜ that they will protect their own interests to the peril of all else. For everything else, we must look to ourselves. Working people must always look to ourselves.

So it is fitting, that this monument has been erected by the Irish Republican Socialist Movement to the memory of a young man from Tallaght who was murdered in cold blood by the armed thugs of the ruling class. It is fitting that a movement of the Irish working class should erect this memorial, so that the truth will be told and our sorrow will be known. 

It is fitting that it should erect this monument to point the accusing finger at the killers of John Morris and to testify to our pride in the selfless dedication to his class he showed. We are done asking the ruling class for what they will never give. If we want justice, Irish working people must look to themselves for it.

The comrades of the Federation of Irish Republican Socialist Committees Abroad and the staff of the International Department of the Irish Republican Socialist Party offer our sincere and heartfelt condolences to the friends and family of INLA Volunteer John Morris. Moreover, we convey the sentiments of socialists and anti- imperialists from around the world, who have expressed their solidarity for our fallen comrade. Remember him with Pride.

Statement from the Republican Socialist Prisoners of War

A Chairde, firstly, we take this opportunity to commend the Ex- Prisoners Memorial Committee who are responsible for erecting a fitting memorial at the final resting place of our fallen Comrade Volunteer John Morris, who was callously assassinated by members of the Free State forces while on active service.

Seven years after his assassination, we in the Republican Socialist Movement along with John's family and friends are still calling for a transparent full independent public inquiry into the circumstances surrounding John's death on that fateful day in June 1997. Could John have been apprehended alive? Were the Free State forces acting on behalf of the Crown? Perhaps to discourage all those who oppose politically what was to become known as the GFA.

Let us here acknowledge the courage and bravery which John displayed. John had a lot to lose, he had a wonderful partner Sharon and a son Dylan, as well as a new home, and indeed life was just beginning for John. By the same token the love of his class, the working class, and his desire to see them liberated, to be treated equally, predetermined his course of action. However all these factors aside, this did not give the state the right to murder him.

This is precisely why a full public inquiry is of paramount importance to establish the chain of events leading up to and including the death of our comrade. This inquiry should include all parties involved on both sides of this barbaric act. Firstly this inquiry should establish how and when the Emergency Response Unit (ERU) became aware of this operation which was to take place. 

Were they given information, which could have enabled them to arrest John if they had wanted to, or by the same token, give them the perfect excuse to execute him? If they were acting on information received and thus chose to kill John, all those involved in this murder should be named and charged accordingly. If they had prior knowledge, why were John and his comrades not arrested either prior to this operation or in the act of it?

The state has claimed that John was challenged when leaving the building; they said he raised his gun. John was shot in the groin and when he fell, where was his firearm. Why did the ERU approach John and finish him off, as he lay seriously wounded on the ground? There was no ammunition in John's weapon, were the ERU aware of this, if so why did they not act accordingly and arrest John, and if they knew who told them?

The Gardai were apparently seen in the factory all day. This would suggest prior knowledge, and again how did they know? This then begs another question who gave the order that John was to be shot? The ERU who murdered John must be held accountable and not allowed to hide behind any veil of secrecy or immunity which is all to often afforded to these so-called forces of law and order.

The family of John Morris have a right to know how far up the chain of command within An Garda Siochana and the government that the order came to shoot John in cold blood. Could it have been a message by the Free State to all those who were at the time in opposition to the mechanics of the fledgling peace process, later to become the GFA?

Serious questions need to be asked about the forces of the state, regarding their use of deadly force as the murder of Volunteer John Morris and indeed RIRA member Ronan McLaughlin testifies. It is not only politically active people who suffer at the hands of the trigger happy Free State forces, as the relatives and friends of civilian John Carthy who was also murdered in cold blood at Abbeylara will testify.

A public inquiry is the least which the family and friends of Volunteer John Morris are entitled to, and the Republican Socialist POWs wish their voices to be added to the chorus already demanding such an inquiry.

Main Speech

Firstly, may I pay tribute to the work carried out by the Teach Na Failte Memorial Committee in not only organising this fitting memorial but also the wide series of memorials to volunteers and comrades of our movement over the past two years. Tremendous work, comrades.

Comrades, it is with great sadness that we gather here today to pay tribute to the supreme sacrifice paid by our fallen comrade, John Morris, who was murdered by Free State forces whilst on active service.

Volunteer John Morris was someone who was born and bred far away from the border and the ongoing struggle against British imperialism. He chose to play an active part in support of his comrades in pursuit of national liberation and socialism in Ireland, a cause for which he was to pay the ultimate price.

The death of John was a loss to his family and to the Republican Socialist Movement. John joins a long list of republicans since 1922 gunned down by the forces of the so-called Free State. We republicans have long memories. We recall the murder of Harry Boland, the executions of Mellows, Barrett, O'Connor and McKelvey, and the bitterness with which the so-called 'De Valera republicans' hunted down, murdered, tortured and beat those republicans who stood by their principles in the thirties and forties.

We don't forget that in the last round of the armed struggle against the presence of British troops in Ireland, all sections of the Free State establishment rounded up republicans, banned us from the airwaves, handed our men over the border to the British imperialists and did everything physically possible to destroy republicanism in Ireland. They did not succeed. Our presence here today to honour our fallen comrade is a testimony to the enduring power of our republicanism.

But, comrades and friends, it is important to stress that our republicanism is not some sterile abstract ideology, divorced from the everyday realities of peoples' lives. John Morris and many others like him are proof that our republicanism is rooted in the everyday reality of working class life. John was a member of the INLA. While politically he saw the need for a working class party that stood for the marginalised and dispossessed, he realised that the rich and powerful, the supporters of the imperialists, could not relinquish their power without a fight hence the necessity for a cutting edge to the struggle. And in that struggle he fell.

Of course the full forces of the establishment have united to denigrate his and the sacrifices of others. Through the judiciary, the media, the Gardai and the political elites, barriers are erected to prevent the full truth coming out. The paid perjurers of the press have mocked, lied and distorted the truth. 

Sections of the media have denigrated us a drug dealers. We are not. No member of the INLA is involved in drug dealing. No member of the IRSP is involved in drug dealing. The IRSP have challenged those journalists who have made these allegations in the past to produce the evidence. We are still waiting for the evidence.

We are however aware that a small number of pseudo-gangs, and former members of not only the INLA but other republican armies, are engaged in extortion, racketeering and drug dealing using the name of the INLA. We know who they are, for some of these gangs are operating obviously with the full approval of the so-called security forces. Those who descend into extortion and racketeering have no right to call themselves republicans for they besmirch the very name.

By repeatedly linking this movement with drug dealing, the establishment hope to belittle the sacrifices of volunteers like John. But the truth is simple. John Morris was a victim of a shoot to kill policy because he was a republican socialist. The same policy adopted by the British in the North is the same policy carried out by the Gardai in the South. So long as we remember this, the crumbs from the table of the rich will not seduce us nor the slanderous lies of the media halt us.

Friends, it would be easy from this platform to make an inflammatory speech about our enemies and to spew out the anger we all feel at the injustice not only of John’s murder but at all the injustices we see around us. But that would be anger misdirected. We need to channel our energies into positively building up the self-confidence of working class communities. It is those communities who can tackle injustice. To do that, we need to redouble our political work and redouble our commitment.

Our republicanism, our republican socialism, has to become relevant to the lives of the people we come from and are part of. We recognise that there is a huge amount of work to be done. We need to make not ourselves angry but our class. We need to help arouse our class to the corruption endemic in this Free State, to the poverty, to the racism, to the exploitation of the low paid, to the whittling away of what remains of Irish neutrality. 

We need to make our class angry that the Irish government has invited the war mongering oil baron George Bush to our shores. Everyone here today should take to the streets when Bush comes to town. Yes, the war in Iraq is important. We make no apology for calling for the defeat of the Coalition forces in Iraq. We stand today as republicans in defence of the right of the Iraqi people to self determination, just as we support the right of self determination of the whole of the people on this island to determine our own future without interference.

But we need to point out to those people who say that the issue of Iraq is the main issue that there are only 8,500 British troops in Iraq but 13,500 in the North of Ireland. Unlike some so-called leftists, we oppose imperialism both at home and abroad.

Meanwhile the facade of what passes for politics in the North continues. Do we really think that the elections will change anything? The political process that produced the Good Friday Agreement is fatally flawed. So long as the political parties, including Provisional Sinn Fein, play the tribal card then no progress can be made towards the Republic we all want. It may gain support for an internal settlement but it will not deliver the Republic.

We in the Republican Socialist Movement have made it clear time and time again that the only Republic worth fighting for is the Socialist Republic as envisaged by James Connolly. It is not part of our republicanism to administer British rule in Ireland and say that it is a stepping stone to the Republic. It is not. That may be what Irish nationalism is about. It is not what Irish republicanism is about.

It is clear that there needs to be a renewal of the republican dream -- a dream based on the realities of the peoples' lives today. We call for all republicans regardless of background to engage in this renewal. We will play our part in renewing republicanism, bringing into it our class analysis and our republican desire to create a state that truly encompasses not only Catholic, Protestant and Dissenter, but all who have for whatever reason sought refuge on our shores. Our republic will be multicultural, democratic, inclusive and socialist, and will be a fitting testament to our class politics.

Today we commemorate our fallen comrade John Morris, where we remember his sacrifice and salute his bravery and offer our condolences to his family -- their loss is felt by us all. The ongoing struggle for national liberation and socialism in Ireland will always be indebted to comrades like Volunteer John Morris. Remember him with pride.

Comrades, Friends and Observers,

This is a quick summary of the events that took place yesterday, the 7th anniversary of the death of INLA Volunteer John Morris, out in Tallaght.

The day kicked off on time, 2 p.m., at the assembly point, the Old Mill Pub. Even at this early stage, Special Branch were noted taking down car registrations and generally making their presence felt. It was noted that about eight Special Branch members were present.

Two pipers lead the Colour Party and parade of people from the Old Mill pub up to the gravesite of John Morris. A large crowd was in attendance, of about 100 people.

At the fallen comrade's grave, a representative of Teach Na Failte, started off with the laying of the wreaths, which all sections and areas of the movement paid their respects to Vol. John Morris.

He then introduced speakers who represented the INLA prisoners, comrades in Bray, the International Department and the Federation of Irish Socialist Republicans of Canada and the USA. The main oration was read out by a Dublin comrade. The Morris family also prepared a heartfelt speech and called on an immediate enquiry into John's death, which was echoed throughout every speech and is of paramount importance.

The work that had gone into the organisation on the day, those who travelled miles to be in attendance, was greatly appreciated. Also the headstone that marks where John now lies was seen by all as a tribute to John, and it is evident to see the work done by everyone involved was well received by John's family.

After the commemoration was finished and the playing of the national anthem, everyone retired back towards the Old Mill Pub, for what they thought would be light refreshments and some sandwiches. On the road back the Special Branch, who were clearly visible throughout the day, started to make their presence felt. They started off by driving quite erratically, stopping, starting, driving up and back. On the road back the Special Branch stopped at least four times and questioned people, they were aggressive in their attitude, grabbing people and pushing others.

This harassment continued until the group were outside the Old Mill Pub.

One Dublin comrade photographed the continued Special Branch Garda harassment of the people who were present, including the young flute players who were only 14 years of age, and he very quickly became the subject of quite a heavy handed Special Branch Garda approach. The Special Branch Garda demanded his camera, and were aggressive in their approach. The man threw the camera away and was subsequently arrested on some bogus charge, he was frogmarched into a car and driven away.

Mrs. Morris pretended to pick up the camera and she was illegally searched by a male Special Branch Garda. Mrs. Morris stated she did not refuse being searched by a Garda, but the Garda must be female.

The aggressiveness of the Garda Special Branch was plain for all to see, even locals present who were smoking outside the Old Mill Pub slated the Garda on their heavy handiness. Most of the crowd present decided to go home at this stage, for many had to travel a good distance and wanted to make a start on the journey home.

The sandwiches that were made, were shared outside the Old Mill Pub with many locals enjoying and sharing in chat and banter.

Privately the Morris thanked all those who were present. They were proud of their son John.

About three hours later, the Dublin comrade was released from custody, he was collected by John Morris Snr, he was by all accounts badly mistreated at the hands of the Special Branch. He was sporting a swollen cheek, and several marks were visible on his lower back and side too, this was clearly noticeable. The comrade was refused basic human rights, while in custody, he was refused the right to see a Doctor which he requested, to make a phone call, to see the duty Sergeant, this individual proceeded to laugh at the comrade. The comrade also complained that his mattress had been urinated on. The Dublin comrade incidentally was released without charge. The actions of the Special Branch and Garda were disgraceful.

The Free State forces had not only murdered John Morris but it seems they wanted to mistreat and harass those who wanted to remember and pay their respects to a brave INLA Volunteer, who will never be forgotten by his friends and comrades.

Slan, Daithi

Bray IRSP Statement June 13, 2004

Today, we are gathered here to commemorate the seventh anniversary of the summary state murder of Vol. John Morris. The incident epitomises what well could be described as the Free State "Shoot to kill" policy. This policy not only carried out on Vol. Morris, but to Ronan McLaughlain and John McCarthy. Many people, outside the ranks of us, who are here today and other political activists who have suffered at the hands of legalised state violence, may well ask is there a shoot to kill policy in operation in the Irish Free State ? The answer to such a question should be in evidence by the fact that we stand here, today, to honour the memory of a victim of such a policy.

John could have been easily arrested that day, and perhaps in many other jurisdictions, where the state are not still operating on an outdated civil war footing, he would have been taken in alive. However, that is not the way the Free State forces operate our so called law and order. This is the same twenty-six county free state, that encouraged their own people to voluntarily hand over twenty per-cent of the national territory to a foreign power, at least for the foreseeable future, and within that twenty per-cent enshrined the unionist veto under the Good Friday Agreement. Any person opposing this agreement could in theory, suffer the same fate as our brave John did.

This shoot to kill policy would appear to particularly applicable to Republican Socialist activists whose political ideology of national, economic and class liberation is an antithesis to everything the free state stands for and, therefore, a para-fascist line is adopted by the counter revolutionary forces of the free state to prevent or at least stem the spread of revolutionary socialist theory. The stern measures adopted by the free state were in strong evidence on the day of the summary execution of Vol. John Morris and should serve as a sad reminder to us all, of the true nature of this state.

The policy of the free state is there for all to see. If the murder of Vol. John Morris had been in an other state, under the same circumstances, then quite rightly so, there would be a deep outcry. The twenty-six free state can murder it's own citizens in cold blood, without qualm or conscience.  It's forces can (and have) murder people like John Morris without fear of being brought to justice.

The next time you hear people who pass themselves off as politicians pontificating on your television screens, or in your doorways, about the evils of totalitarian regimes in foreign lands, remember that the Irish Free State, where these people preside over is also capable of such horrors, just ask the family, friends and comrades of the late John Morris, who we remember with pride and honour today.

Kevin Morley, on behalf of Bray IRSP. irsp@netwiz.net

Memorial: http://www.morrigan.net/irsm/jm4.jpg