Ruane Welcomes Loughinisland Report Release In Early May
th of May.
Ms Ruane, who has worked closely with the Loughinisland Justice Group in their quest to unearth the truth about the deaths of their loved ones, said, “The long waited date for the publication of the Ombudsman’s Report into the shooting dead of six people in The Height’s Bar, Loughinisland, is very welcome news indeed.
“The Loughinisland families have campaigned courageously for justice and they deserve to know how and why their loved ones were killed. This means full disclosure into how the police carried out their investigation and it is important the Ombudsman’s Report rigorously exams all aspects of this case and gets to the truth of what occurred on that fateful day. There must be accountability for what happened – anything else is unacceptable.”]]>
First Minister Visits Down High School
Down High School Receives Visit From First Minister
THE First Minister, Peter Robinson MLA, is the latest high-profile guest speaker to have addressed Down High School’s Current Affairs Society.
One hundred and fifty senior students were joined by a number of Sixth Formers from St Patrick’s Grammar School for the after-school meeting on Thursday 31st March.
The First Minister xa0who attended other venues in Down District on his visit, was greeted by Headteacher Mr Paul Logan and the school’s Head of History and Politics, Mrs Colette Wood,xa0 who had organised the visit. The First Minister was welcomed formally to the assembled audience by Year 13 student Courtney Black.
Ruane: Letter On Transfer Test
Letter to the Editor.
DUP has “contradictory stance on Transfer Test challenge” says Ruane.
A chara,
In the short life of this Assembly, there has been an enormous focus on education.
At a personal level, I welcome debate – even controversy – if it is properly informed and responsibly conducted. But that has rarely been the case.
Some parties seem more fixated on which minister, or which party, is bringing forward a proposal, than on the content and impact of the proposal itself. Breath-taking political summersaults have performed to avoid agreeing with perceived political opponents. For example, the DUP’s public opposition to the 11+ was clearly set out in their 1989 manifesto branding the exam as ‘socially divisive’.
Before I entered the Department of Education, the debate around the 11Plus had dragged on for decades. Decisions needed to be taken and I am very proud that I took those decisions.
The six counties education system was built on a form of academic apartheid which benefited a small academic elite at the expense of the majority of our children.
In the last Assembly elections, Sinn Fein outlined clearly our determination to build on the work initiated by Martin McGuinness as Education Minister in bringing an end to the 11 Plus and the selective system it served. This policy commitment was one element of a comprehensive equality agenda which we put before the people.
For educational, social and moral reasons, academic selection – which in reality was academic rejection for the majority of our children – had to be brought to an end.
For decades ministers appointed from London ran away from making any decision.
Sinn Fein has not. The Transfer test is gone and I am glad that the only place left in our schools for the 11+ is in the history books.
In the next Assembly, in education and across all other policy areas, equality will again be at the core of Sinn Fein’s programme in government.
Is mise le meas,
Caitríona Ruane MLA
South Down Sinn Féin]]>
Lest We Forget… The Story Of Irena Sendler
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She also had a dog in the back, that she trained to bark when the Nazi soldiers let her in and out of the ghetto.
The soldiers, of course, wanted nothing to do with the dog, and the barking covered the kids/infants noises.
During her time of doing this, she managed to smuggle out and save 2500 kids/infants.
She was caught, and the Nazi’s broke both her legs, arms and beat her severely. Irena kept a record of the names of all the kids she smuggled out, and kept those names in a glass jar, buried under a tree in her back yard.
After the war, she tried to locate any parents that may have survived it and reunited the family. Most had been gassed. Those kids that she helped, got placed into foster family homes, or were adopted.
Irena was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.
She was not selected. Al Gore won… for a slide show on Global Warming.]]>
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She said, “The Lecale folk choir will be singing songs from round the world at the St Patrick Centre on Saturday 9th April from 11.30-1pm. This event is a Sponsored Sing, and is one of a number of fund-raising events we have organised to help us make our second CD ‘Journeys‘ this autumn, in aid of The Alzheimer’s Society. (Our first CD ‘Welcome, Yule!’ raised a fantastic £3,600 for Cancer Research NI.)
“If you are able to come and listen and make a donation, no matter how small, we will be absolutely delighted, and you’ll be part of a really worthwhile community project. Better still, join in the singing! Please tell your friends and tell them to tell their friends and spread the word far and wide! Just copy this email to people you know who might want to support us.
“If you can’t be there but would still like to help you can support the project in various ways – just phone or email me. If all our family, friends and contacts donate just £1 each we will reach our target!
If you have already donated through a member of the choir, please accept our warmest thanks and visit our website to see how we are getting on.
