The intention of this blog from its beginnings in 2009, was to write about the proud history of Ardoyne and its links to Irish Republicanism and Socialism. In the main, I have achieved those goals, at times however, issues such as unwelcome parades through my local community take precedence due to the feelings of people here. Likewise, politics sometimes encroach upon the blog and I comment on a host of issues. As regular readers can attest to, I very rarely name or expose anyone unless it is really needed. My facebook page is the same and I have only recently joined Twitter. Today is one of those days, when I am forced to comment publicly about a sycophantic individual, Brendan Clarke.
It is common knowledge since I left Provisional Sinn Fein in 2007, a number of Party members and supporters have been involved in a number of ways to demonise and slander me. In the latest attempt, this has took place over the Internet, through a series of real and fake blogs, Facebook and Twitter profiles. It has been testing to view who can outdo one another in the way in which they try and make sensationalist stories about me. While the majority of articles can be amusing, at times the bile published online does demonstrate a deep viciousness. In recent weeks, the identity of a number of people involved in this protracted campaign against me has became clear. Most of these attempts have taken place within Social Media sites, without evidence. Nonetheless, the dedicated team have became more and more vile towards me.
In September 1990, my second daughter, Natasha was born while I was on remand inside Crumlin Road Gaol on charges connected to an IRA gun attack on the RUC in the Oldpark area. Tragically, Natasha did not last too long in this world and she died from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, also known as Cot Death in 1991. The sudden death of my young child had a devastating impact on me and I was shattered to say the least. My Solicitors duly applied for Compassionate Bail, so I attend her funeral and pay my respects and I was given four hours to do so. My sister Mary and two good friends of mine, John and Gerard were a tower of strength during these hours and my two mates remained with me throughout. IRA Volunteers from Ardoyne were well-represented and even gave me money for whatever I needed. I gave the money to Gerard's wife to buy a dolls house for my other daughter, to give her something nice to focus on in the coming days. The Dad of a fellow POW from Ardoyne coaxed me to go along with him to the Highfield for a pint. I felt obliged to do so, as he was concerned about his son and wanted to know how he was. Sadly, he too has now passed and was a lovely person. I watched the burial of Natasha with intense pain and foreboding and returned to the Crum at 4pm. The entire experience was the most trying time of my life and something that is very private to me. At no time during those four hours free, was I in the company of anyone who could be remotely described as my, 'bit on the side'! Within two weeks of her funeral, I was 'Tried' in a Diplock Court across the road from the Gaol and was given Twelve Years imprisonment. After another 2 weeks held in D-Wing, away from my comrades, I was transferred to the H-Blocks of Long Kesh. Where I spent the next five years until released in 1996. Imagine my surprise two weeks ago, when I recieved a phone-call from a friend who told me that an Internet Troll had posted a vile comment about me in connection with my daughter's funeral to attack me? I immediately checked the Twitter page belonging to someone called; @atowneye and was dumnfounded to read the following tweet;
It is common knowledge since I left Provisional Sinn Fein in 2007, a number of Party members and supporters have been involved in a number of ways to demonise and slander me. In the latest attempt, this has took place over the Internet, through a series of real and fake blogs, Facebook and Twitter profiles. It has been testing to view who can outdo one another in the way in which they try and make sensationalist stories about me. While the majority of articles can be amusing, at times the bile published online does demonstrate a deep viciousness. In recent weeks, the identity of a number of people involved in this protracted campaign against me has became clear. Most of these attempts have taken place within Social Media sites, without evidence. Nonetheless, the dedicated team have became more and more vile towards me.
In September 1990, my second daughter, Natasha was born while I was on remand inside Crumlin Road Gaol on charges connected to an IRA gun attack on the RUC in the Oldpark area. Tragically, Natasha did not last too long in this world and she died from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, also known as Cot Death in 1991. The sudden death of my young child had a devastating impact on me and I was shattered to say the least. My Solicitors duly applied for Compassionate Bail, so I attend her funeral and pay my respects and I was given four hours to do so. My sister Mary and two good friends of mine, John and Gerard were a tower of strength during these hours and my two mates remained with me throughout. IRA Volunteers from Ardoyne were well-represented and even gave me money for whatever I needed. I gave the money to Gerard's wife to buy a dolls house for my other daughter, to give her something nice to focus on in the coming days. The Dad of a fellow POW from Ardoyne coaxed me to go along with him to the Highfield for a pint. I felt obliged to do so, as he was concerned about his son and wanted to know how he was. Sadly, he too has now passed and was a lovely person. I watched the burial of Natasha with intense pain and foreboding and returned to the Crum at 4pm. The entire experience was the most trying time of my life and something that is very private to me. At no time during those four hours free, was I in the company of anyone who could be remotely described as my, 'bit on the side'! Within two weeks of her funeral, I was 'Tried' in a Diplock Court across the road from the Gaol and was given Twelve Years imprisonment. After another 2 weeks held in D-Wing, away from my comrades, I was transferred to the H-Blocks of Long Kesh. Where I spent the next five years until released in 1996. Imagine my surprise two weeks ago, when I recieved a phone-call from a friend who told me that an Internet Troll had posted a vile comment about me in connection with my daughter's funeral to attack me? I immediately checked the Twitter page belonging to someone called; @atowneye and was dumnfounded to read the following tweet;
@joe bloggs Atowneyes
Or the martin who when his child died went to the bar with his bit on the side instead of consoling his 'wife'
Even though the account was clearly fake, I continued following the same profile for the next couple of weeks in which the Author continued to post negative comments about me. When checking them against the real profiles of Brendan Clarke and a few others I suspected of involvement. The exact same words and tweets were posted on both the Yeronlyman and Joe Bloggs accounts. A photograph on the Yeronlyman profile was of Brendan Clarke, an Ardoyne native. I spoke to a number of family members and close friends about this individual and his background, as I didn't really know anything about him? Apart from the fact that he used to work for the Dole and after the Provisional IRA Ceasefire in 1994. Clarke reinvented himself as a supporter of the new Sinn Fein strategy, applied to join the Movement and duped people into believing he was a republican. I met the guy once in Longlands when I and another former POW were busy providing defensive measures against a possible Loyalist attack in the area. Apart from that, Clarke never entered my radar nor my life. According to many local Republicans, he was nothing more than a crawler who agreed with everything senior Republicans said to gain favour with them, in other words a Sycophant. As with any organisation, there are many people of this nature and the Republican Movement in Belfast was and remains no different. The Ceasefire increased this new breed of member, while long-serving Activists were sidelined in favour of those without military 'baggage'.
| Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  |
| Clarke (second from left) sitting amongst his Sinn Fein/CRJ and CARA friends during a 'Community' Meeting, even though he hasn't lived in Ardoyne for years. |
It seems Clarke fitted in well with his new-found friends because of his University education and given access to enhanced employment propects since 1994 to keep Republicans supportive of the developing Peace Process. As a result, Clarke was given the task of managing the North Belfast section of Community Restorative Justice (Ireland) based on the Antrim Road. The project lasted just under a year, with serious allegations against Clarke for financial irregularities. He soon reinvented himself again however, by becoming an Interface Worker in and around Ardoyne another money-making exercise embraced by Sinn Fein in Belfast led by Sean (Spike) Murray.
| Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  |
| Loyalists Heightening Tensions as usual |
Last Saturday July 20th, the Orange Order, bands and supporters held a march around the Shankill and Woodvale areas. They were prevented from walking passed the junction of the Woodvale Road and Twadell Avenue junction. The week before had witnessed intense riots and trouble and local residents in Greater Ardoyne where rightly concerned. As a resident, I attended the scene around 4pm with another member of the Greater Ardoyne Residents Collective (GARC) to observe the situation. We were in phone contact with other members just in case the situation got out of hand.
| Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  |
| So-Called 'Visual Artist', Brendan Clarke |
Anyhow, as I stood talking to a few friends I noticed the Sociopath, Brendan Clarke. The same 'Interface Worker' who had been attacking me on his Twitter and Facebook pages was standing joking with a number of Sinn Fein members. His vile comments about my young daughter on Twitter deserved I challenge him about his sick attitude. He's rarely seen in Ardoyne and I felt it the right time. I approached him and demanded to know, why he had written claims that I was a thief, tout and had used my deceased child against me? He responded by telling me to; 'Fuck Off you Waster'! Coming from such an individual after issuing such lies about me, it was only going to end one way. So I punched him twice before I was dragged to the ground by his Sinn Fein friends, who were unaware of his dangerous posts on the Internet about me. While being held down, Clarke laid a boot into my mouth before he too was pushed away.
Not wanting the dozens of locals to wrongly believe that the row was anything to do with GARC, RNU or anything to do with politics etc. I shouted to Clarke, the reasons why I hit him. His vile comments posted on the net. I also offered him to accompany me down the nearest alleyway to finish the matter like two men but he chose not to? I guess he prefers hiding behind computer screens rather than face people like a man. I stayed on at the scene for around ten minutes, hoping the Sycophant would take me up on the challenge but his bodily shakes told a different tale.
Given his job, that of an 'Interface Worker'. I wonder will his employers all of who are strong supporters of Sinn Fein disipline him in anyway? Or will they try and cover his tracks like they did with my Dad's wife Briege (Child Abuser) and the many others who dishonour the noble principles of Irish Republicanism on a daily basis? If so, it is up to each and everyone of us to expose these parasites for what they really are and who they prey on the working-class to reach the top!