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Attempt to Expel Bree from SIPTU sligo |
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news report
 Monday May 07, 2007 15:21 by Harry Pearse
 The latest news from Sligo and the North West is that the Rabbitte wing of Labour/SIPTU is trying to prepare a case to justify expelling Declan Bree from SIPTU. Labour Head office and the McGarry wing of the party in Sligo are hell bent on taking Bree to task ever since he publicly embarrassed the party leader and the party establishment following the shambles of the disciplinary hearing they established to deal with him last year.  We are currently not accepting any more comments on this article. printable version
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Comments (88 of 88)
Jump To Comment: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88Have SIPTU officials no shame? The John McCarrick who is now hoping to get Bree expelled from SIPTU is the same John McCarrick who refused to take any action against his pal Jimmy McGarry when he passed a union picket on Sligo County Council offices a few years ago. See http://www.indymedia.ie/article/81159 “Former ITGWU” posting. ‘Scabs In - Socialists Out’ is now the slogan of the SIPTU suits.
Rabbite dosen't have that amount of power in SIPTU
I was a member of SIPTU and ITGWU before that for over 32 yrs. I had an accident at work and had to retire a few years back. I never heard another word from my union. Not even a thanks for your membership or your union activities. Well no problem I got over it. But how is Declan Bree a member of same union. I thought you had to be a worker ? Heaviest thing Declan ever lifted was his Dail wages and his continuing local government expenses check..Up the workers
The Rabbitte wing of the Labour Party in Sligo is becoming more and more frustrated and disorganised, and with the continued failure of their candidate (ex Blueshirt Jim Mc Garry) to make any impact, the search is obviously on for a scapegoat
Its obvious that Mc Garry’s buddy and director of elections, John Mc Carrick, is now under pressure from Head Office to deliver.
When Mc Garry was taken into the labour party Mc Carrick assured Head Office that their new candidate was a man of principle who would not only build the labour party in the Northwest but would win a Dail seat for the party
Mc Carrick expected that the local Party machine which had worked at elections over the past 15 years would automatically throw its weight behind Mc Garry. But he greatly underestimated the level of dissatisfaction and disaffection that Mc Garry brought to the party. The Labour machine is now reduced to the Mc Garry family and friends and a few old timers who turn up on the odd occasion. Even the DL people (who despise Bree) have given up on Mc Garry.
A handful of people turned up at the SIPTU offices to join Mc Carrick and Mc Garry for the launch of Mc Garrys election campaign by Willie Penrose.
On the day the election was called only a couple of party members were prepared to erect posters. With Mc Carrick off playing golf, Mc Garry himself had to go off with a car and ladder to erect his election posters on the main Sligo/Dublin road.
What Rabbitte wing in the Labour Party is Bree talking about? Is he now so deluded that he thinks the Labour Party is split into two camps over his little spat with Rabitte a few years ago. When will Bree get it into his head that he can post all the nonsense he wants but it won't change the fact that the Labour Party is solidly behind Rabitte and solidly behind McGarry. Declans reservations about anything the labour party does are irrelevant much like he is.
But this latest publicity stunt really takes the biscuit, If Bree thinks that Rabitte is either trying or would even bother to try to throw him out of SIPTU then I think Declan should check himself in for a psychological assessment. He really is starting to lose it with this persecution complex and his megalomaniacal assumptions that any one would even bother with him in the first place. He has made himself irrelevant, he has lost every last shred of credibility by staying in Labour whilst attacking it on a weekly basis, he has attempted to form a shabby alliance with a few independents and the SWP which fell apart, he is assisting his sister in law in Galway who is running against Michael D. Higgins, he was by-passed for the nomination by McGarry which made him look like fool publicly, He did set up a website and calls himself a socialist, but very few others do, his track record in the Dail is all anyone need to look at in that regard, he is assisting Cake Scanlon’s ludicrous and laughable campaign for the Greens which is mostly what he does now he has so much free time.
As some one said to me about Bree- He got lucky, then was found out. Sums it up nicely.
It is my understanding that when the issue of McGarry scabbing was raised at a meeting of the Labour Party National Executive Committee, Jack O’Connor assured the members of the NEC that he had the case fully investigated and that there was no truth in the allegation. At the following AGM of the Sligo branch of SIPTU when the matter of the investigation was brought up, the AGM was told that the Union investigation consisted of the branch Secretary John McCarrick, interviewing just one person along with McGarry. Well done Mr McCarrick
I'm sure this latest outrage will be vented towards candidates on the canvass? I didn't think so. General fed back is that people are fed up with the government and all the waste, lies and failure to deliver assosiated with them.
Brees name does not some up on the doorsteps. Most of this I'm afraid is all in Declans head. Nobody cares about him, his nomination, his attacks on the Labour party or if SIPTU kicked him out. The quicker he realises that the quicler he will stop making a fool out of himself with this feigned martyrdom.
The pensioner at the heart of this story lives in and owns a house worth over E300.000. Has he no family? Bree as usual is constantly looking around for hard luck stories so he can blow his trumpet. The Labour movement would be well rid of him.
K Hunter is correct. The investigation into McGarry scabbing was a farce. McGarry’s buddy John McCarrick carried out the investigation.
The full investigation consisted of McCarrick interviewing one of the strikers and McGarry. No one else was asked for a statement.
Declan Bree, a SIPTU member and Labour Party member who was on the picket line with the striking workers was not asked for a statement. Clr Brian Scanlon, a member of the Branch Committee of SIPTU and a Labour Party member who was on the picket line was not asked for a statement. Harry Keaney a journalist with the “Sligo Champion” and a member of the NUJ, who was present in the Council Chamber and who recorded McGarry being present, was not asked for a statement. Fianna Fail Clr Roddy McGuinn, who had been a long time member of Mandate, and Independent Clr Alfie Park a member of Impact, both of whom refused to pass the picket to sign in, were not asked for statements. Not one of the Council staff present in the Council Chamber, the great majority being members of Impact, was asked for a statement. And not one of the other strikers who had been on the picket line was asked for a statement.
The same John McCarrick who carried out the investigation is now trying to get Bree expelled from the union because Bree criticised the HSE for refusing a pensioner lunch on Christmas Day. Jim Larkin must be turning in his grave.
"The same John McCarrick who carried out the investigation is now trying to get Bree expelled from the union because Bree criticised the HSE for refusing a pensioner lunch on Christmas Day. Jim Larkin must be turning in his grave."
This is not true. It is complete speculation and has been posted without supportive evidence. It is clear Bree has far too much time on his hands by engaging in this sort of baseless finger pointing.
John McCarrick couldn't care less if Bree is a SIPTU member. Toclaim he is attempting to have Bree expelled is fantasist paranoia at best and an outright lie at worst.
With regard to the attempt to have Bree expelled from Siptu, Civic Trust says “This is not True” and “It is complete speculation”
Union member will be very familiar with this matter. He knows who the pensioner is and he knows the price of the pensioner’s house. He also knows that when Bree criticised the HSE for refusing to provide the pensioner with a lunch on Christmas Day, that John McCarrick contacted the local media in Sligo to call on Bree to withdraw his criticism. Surely he will confirm the story.
Its an interesting thread. I’m glad to see that the Sinn Fein people are not going to let themselves be used by McCarrick/McGarry.
Again, you have no proof or anything even approaching what could be considered a reasonable assumption.
"John McCarrick contacted the local media in Sligo to call on Bree to withdraw his criticism."
How has this been interpreted as an attempt to get Bree expelled from SIPTU. The fact that John McCarrick even contacted the local media hasn't been established and has only been alluded to here by Bree.
I submit Cllr Bree has an active imagination and has massively overestimated both his importance in general and within SIPTU. It is now clear that there are no limits to the depth of inanity that Bree will sink to in an effort to mudsling at McGarry.
He has followed the path of the PD's in that he has gone from Radical to irrelevant. The only person who hasn't realised yet it Bree himself.
"Its an interesting thread. I’m glad to see that the Sinn Fein people are not going to let themselves be used by McCarrick/McGarry. "
Padraig, what are you talking about? Sinn Fein haven't even been mentioned. You can be sure that Sinn Fein wouldn't stoop to this level of chicken shit mud slingling.
Harry Pearse. whoever he is, makes the statement that,
"By all accounts McCarrick and McGarry hate Bree with a vengeance."
Oh yeh. Would Harry care to tell us when did McGarry and/or McCarrick ever open a thread to attack Bree, something that Bree has been at for the past few months under an array of psuedonyms.
Your losing the plot Declan, everyone is now reading you like a book.
Regarding the pensioner involved on the story, yes I do know him, and perhaps you might get him to explain to us why he refused to take the offer of an alternative arrangement which was offfered to him when the staff explained that he could not be accommodated at St Johns. He after all arrived unexpected. Did he abuse staff that were working on Christmas Day to look after the vulnerable? These staff members who gave up their Christmas Day did not deserve the abuse and the implied criticism that followed when Bree decided that the stor y could be used to get his name in the paper.
Maybe next Christmas Day Bree will give up his day to serve dinner at the canteen. That'll be the day.
That would require doing something and not just mouthing off.
I don't thik Bree is some marytr in this regard. I presume this story is being peddled by his supporters who arn't happy with the situation in Sligo. They wanted him to leave the paty and run but he figured the media and the voters in Sligo would turn against him for trying to damage the electon hopes of theofficial candidate.
But fair play to harry for highlighting this, it's the first time i've heard of it. Very interesting indeed, Bree savaged McCarrick, who was Bree's director of election many years ago, but sided with Rabbitte to bring the ex-FG councillor into the party. McCarrick who is clearly a career union official said that Bree shouldn't criticise union members? So that means the whole civil service is exempt from criticisim!
This is the same Union official who tried to cover up the fact that the now Labour Candidiate in Sligo crossed a Council workers picket 3 years ago. The dogs on the street in Sligo know this, but McCarrick and Jack O'Connor fudged the investiagtion, with a nod and a wink from Pat Rabbitte. If the true facts had been exposed he would never have got into the Labour Party.
They must hate Declan Bree in Sligo, he suely knows how to stir it.
Sure SIPTU is full of FF members, noting new there!
He should leave it anyway, it's full of fat cat union offiicials..... that's what partnership does
Any of you who thinks Pat Rabbitte doesn’t have influence over SIPTU, well they should ask a certain Labour Councilor and former Shop steward in Limerick City who had applied for a Union job with SIPTU and while he was in the process of the interview stage, he was told by Mr. Rabbitte that if he didn't support the election of another Labour Cllr. Mayor on the city council then he would damage his changes of getting a full time position with SIPTU. Jack O’Connor was later asked to confirm had the Labour leader attempted to influence the recruitment process of the union and he refused to deny it!
You keep slipping up Declan. It's hard to manage a group of sockpuppets.
New psuedonym Mike just posted,
"But fair play to harry for highlighting this, it's the first time i've heard of it. Very interesting indeed, Bree savaged McCarrick...,"
If you didn't know about the pensioner story where did the "Bree savaged McCarrick" part of the myth come from. The savaging of McCarrick is part of Bree's version of events only. I heard the interview on Oceanfm and any rational assessment of it would have concluded that Bree was shown up as an opportunist, slagging workers who give up Chritmas Day to serve dinner to the vulnerable, to get a bit of cheap publicity.
The unknowning Mike's post then degenerates into the usual tell tale Bree tirade of abuse.
Bree really needs to get over himself with all this self promotion and careerist opportunism. Bree has a vandetta against McGarry. Its that simple. When Labour in Sligo didn't revolt en masse when Declan was demoted and McGarry brought in to fight the election, Bree was furious. He felt he was betrayed and humiliated. But in reality his ego couldn't face the fact that he would never win a seat in the constituency (he only has himself to blame for that) and Labour had every right to look for a candidate who could do better.
It would be a massive kick in the gut for Bree if McGarry even out polls his 2002 figure that is why this desparation is setting in with pathetic smear stories like this above. They are self serving anecdotes and will dissappear from the forum as soon as the election is over.
As for Bree not running, he is not running because he knows he hasnt a hope and he knows he would come in behind McGarry.
Everyone knows that.
In his posting at 14 minutes past midnight Civic critic said there is no proof. I would suggest that if he read the local press in Sligo or listened to local radio he would have ample proof.
And if he needs evidence about the Strike at the Council offices and who crossed the picket line he can read the “Sligo Champion” of the 16th May 2003.
It’s interesting to note that at 9.16 this morning Civic critic appeared to have much more information about Sligo “When Labour in Sligo didn't revolt en masse when Declan was demoted and McGarry brought in….. etc”
I would say to Civic critic that if you really want information from the McCarrikc/McGarry clique about the proposal to expel Bree from SIPTU, ask Union member. He will be in a position to tell you.
I have just read the article on Brees website about the pensioner being refused lunch on Christmas Day. Any trade unionist who would defend the behaviour of the HSE in this case can’t be for real.
Are we heading for a record number of sockpuppets on the one thread? I count at least 8. Has anyone opened a book on how long before this little piece of ego massaging claptrap will be locked down?
When will this nonsense stop?
There is no story here. I have read nothing in the Press local or otherwise that attempts are being made to throw Bree out of SIPTU. It is absolute garbage and drummed up in the very feverish mind of Declan Bree.
He even goes as far to claim that Pat Rabitte is behind it all. Utter lunacy.
He informs us that SIPTU is full of FFer's but that they allow the leader of an opposition party undue influence? Oh boy, where’s me tinfoil hat?
This is sockpuppetry at its most desperate. Imagine dragging a story from last Christmas into the mix about a far from needy pensioner who could not be accommodated at St. Johns. It cleary shows Brees desperation in that he will try to spin anything into favourable publicity. But also attacked the carers involved as well as the HSE. Disgusting behaviour from a man who wouldn’t in a million years leave his middle class table on a Christmas day to help anyone.
The hypocrisy here is astonishing. The desperation a comfort I’m sure to the likes of McGarry who now have all the proof they need that Bree has hit rock bottom
Well Ocean fm called it a scadding attack. So savaging isn't far off.
I have noting against Mr. McCarrick, only his politics. I'm not a traditional Labour voter as i'm a republican. it has helped SF in sligo that Bree isn't running. his personal votes will proably go to mcmanus.
There are very few councillor willing to a principled stance on issues and Cllr. Bree is one of them that's why he always got a strokr from me. altought I do have issue with his stance around the hunger strikes, but at least he had conviction. It's a shame he joined the labour party and that the people of Sligo didn't come out and support him in '97, considering what they replaced him with.
Those of you attack the likes of Bree and McManus look at what that Blueshirt Jim McGarry is at! Has he not better things to be doing?
Gardai contacted following damage to McGarry posters (Oceanfm news)
The Gardai in Sligo have been contacted following the destruction caused to two election hoardings in Sligo in the early hours of this morning.
The two eight foot by four foot signs, promoting the candidacy of the Labour Party's Jim McGarry, were vandalised at sites in Ransboro and on the Rosses Point road.
Cllr McGarry has condemned the actions of those responsible, and says he has witnesses as to who carried out the attacks.
These antics aren't surprising at all, coming from the local organistion that tried have him kicked out of the party.
This is Bree's views on the labour and trade union estabilsment in Ireland, most trade unionist and labour party members would think he's off his head that's why they want him out I presume. I often talk to ordinary union members about connolly and larkin and they don't even know who thay are. That's what has happened to the left in Ireland now.
Speaking at an anniversary of the famous county leitrim radical Jim Gralton he said
“Today, people who would have us compromise would say that socialist activists like Jimmy Gralton and James Connolly were born before their time, that their ideas and philosophy were much too advanced or too radical.
“Unfortunately, people who hold such views and who would have us compromise on our principles can today be found in the ranks of our own movement.
“They are the same elements who consistently attempt to undermine our ideology and who would have the labour and socialist movement in Ireland discard its philosophy and its values and become mere props to keep the main establishment parties in power.
“Our challenge today is to make it abundantly clear to these elements that, like Connolly’s ideology, Gralton’s philosophy and Gralton’s values are fundamental to what our movement is all about.”
“We need to fight for the vision of an alternative Ireland, a society driven by values other than greed, environmental degradation and blind consumerism.”
http://www.indymedia.ie/article/73664
NO, a scathing attack is a one-sided affair where Bree mouths off his usual tripe safe from instant scrutiny.
A savaging implies Bree and McCarrick went head to head and Bree out-debated McCarrick and that is pure fantasy that Bree has attempted to peddle here.
Nobody is attacking Sean McManus Declan. You are muddying the waters as usual.
Bree doesn’t make principled stances. He makes calculated and opportunistic stances. Everyone of an informed political slant saw through Bree years ago.
Can anybody who supports the new labour councillor and the union offical confirm that this is true?
Any ordinary siptu members in sligo supporting this? surely it's not an expelling offence to disagree with a fellow union member, we have disagreements all the time, nature of the business.
This should be highlighted if this is the case.
A sitting labour councillor being expelled from the county's largest union is a big deal, must be a first.
I will let others in my branch know, maybe something can be done about this.
This is a tissue of lies fabricated by Declan Bree. Nobody is trying to expel him from SIPTU? Where is the proof?
Declan Bree is following the example set by FF over the weekend and stooping to new lows in his smear campaign against mcgarry. Its a pity the polls aren't open tomorrow so that all this nonsense would be done with and all these self promoting threads by Bree would amazingly dissappear.
But now it seems Brees claiming it is the ignorance of ordinary union members (because they dont know who Larkin or Connolly where) that contributed to his political downfall. I fear Declan has lost his marbles.
I never heard the radio piece but saw a report online and heard it second hand. But just because your a trade unionist surely dosn't mean you can't criticise others. Obviously it was a good media story for Bree to highlight and most politicians would do so, but its also a bit bureaucratic and harsh the way the old peoples home reacted. Chrsitmas day of all days in fairness.
There is a lot more to meet the eye here, John McCarrick was calculated and oppertunistic in his timing. What was the point in going public to criticise Declan Bree on the matter, it seems it was jusyt an excuse to attack Bree and damage any support he might have in the union. At that time it was presumed he might leave the party and run as an independant.
Both sides here are playing games. The McGarry, Rabbitte and McCarrick side have won, they got on the ticket in Sligo, managed to rid the local party of Bree's supporters and stopped him from running in the general election. The only conclusion for the continued actions is to get rid of him from the party altogether.
The only reason i'd say he's still there is to irritate those who want him out.
to be honest it's doing neither side any good, SF are going to mop on the back of labour in fighting. Mind you it will be a long time before another left wing TD, including ourselfs, is elected in Sligo, a long long time.
The McCarrick/McGarry clique didn’t expect that the plan to expel Bree from the union would leak out at this early stage. They definitely didn’t expect to see it appear on Indymedia
Union member knows all about the proposal to expel Bree. He attended the SIPTU Branch committee meeting where it was initiated.
Come on Union member – don’t be dishonest. Tell the truth and tell us why you want Bree expelled from the union
What does that statment mean, he was lucky and got caught out. He was elected as a communist candidate in the early 70s in rural ireland and was returned to his local council for over 30 years.That's hardly luck? You get lucky once not every 5 years, come on, even FF and FG would not come out with such a crazy statement.
In 1997, the people of sligo were happy having him do the hard work for them in the local council chamber, a dogs body! but he was obviously getting above his station up in dublin every week. That's not being caught out, sure they replaced him with Gerry Reynolds and Marian Harkin. Both of them were caught out, wonder why she didn't run this time round, she did no work on the ground, same old mantra 'the West gets no money' ! There is more politics on a postage stamp! John Perry is a gombeen, a pioneer that runs a pub and an off-liencse and invites the wolfe tones to the FG christms party, you wouldn't get in Killinascully!
Nonsense. If a proposal to have Bree expelled was put before the commitee it wouldn't require a leak. I would be out in the public arena very quickly and would have made the weekender or the champion on a point of local political interest.
It is fantasy. McCarrick doesnt need Bree expelled. Rabitte doesnt need Bree expelled. Why would they bother?
Bree is trying to drum up sympathy just like he did when he rather transparently tried to engineer his expulsion from the labour party so he could run as an independant. When he realised he didnt have the support to run he resided himself to attack mcgarry and help cake for the greens. This is all part of that. Baseless accusation, anecdotal hearsay, unsubstantiated allegations, persecution complex.
So once again Declan. Where is your Proof?
Bree ran on a ticket to bring change. He plied himself as a radical left wing politician of unquestionable principle. He got lucky when he was elected to Dail Eireann because circumstances in the constituency allowed him to take the Seat and he was given a chance. He was found out because the electorate discovered rather quickly that he was just the same as every other politician and didn't deliver on any of his promises.
Hence he got lucky and was found out. The people of Sligo never elected him again, or gave him anywhere near the numbers to suggest that he might have a chance. This is all a matter of record.
Bree is a charlatan.
The proposal to expel Bree is out in the public arena thanks to Indymedia. Reality Check knows it’s true.
As I said in my earlier posting Union member knows all about the proposal to expel Bree. He attended the SIPTU Branch committee meeting where it was initiated.
Now we have a deafening silence from him. Come on Union member. Tell the truth and tell us why you want Bree expelled from the union
Proof Declan? All we have is your rather bitter word for it. We really need proof before anyone can take such an accusation like this seriously.
It is not out in the public arena simply because Bree posted a baseless unsupported thread on Indymedia.
Its all supposition until irrefutable evidence is presented. Where is it?
Declan, your Mike sock puppet is out of control. At 8.45 he claimed that this posting was the first he heard of the story and when found out at 11.24 he claims that he "saw a report on line".
None of the sock puppets have addressed the insult to the workers that this attack amounted to. Workers who give up their Christmas Day to cook and serve dinner to the sick and vulnerable had to stand by and listen to an opportunist accuse them of turning away a pensioner. This is a lie. The people on duty tried to make alternative arrangements but the pensioner, who had turned up unannounced and unexpected, refused to hear of it. And by the way, it was this attack on workers that brought their Union into the row to defend them.
There are many myths flying around at present regarding politicians and one of the biggest is alluded to by sock puppet Mike when he says that. "it will be a long time before another left wing TD is elected in Sligo"
The fact is, we never had a left wing TD in Sligo. The record speaks for itself.
Isn’t it fascinating that Union member refuses to admit that he attended the SIPTU Branch committee meeting where the proposal to expel Bree from the union was initiated
Why the consistent refusal to admit it. Come on Union member. Tell the truth and tell us why you want Bree expelled from the union. What are you afraid of?
Declan, your going on like you know who Union Member is. The fact is you havent a clue. You have not produced any evidence that a motion was proposed, seconded, adopted or rejected to have you expelled. You havent even told us when this so-called meeting took place.
I think the term 'grasping at straws' is apt here.
You have butkim, zip, nada and you know it.
‘Union member’ & ‘Reality Check’ & ‘Civic Critic’ all have one thing in common. (Could it be the trinity – three in one!)
There is a consistent refusal to criticise McGarry for his behaviour during the strike at the Council in 2003. There is consistent a refusal to criticise John McCarrick for the so called investigation he carried out on the case. There is total support for McCarrick and the HSE on the matter of the pensioner being refused lunch in St John’s Hospital on Christmas Day. There is consistent support for McGarry and criticism of Bree on thread after thread.
All Bree has to do is post the minutes of the meeting and show us exactly where it was proposed to have him expelled. I don’t accept his lies and he has no proof to the contrary.
Declan can hypothesise all he wants but the fact remains that the only sock puppetry at work here is his own.
Declan is all over the place with his accusations and presents himself as a man who really has nothing to lose so is trying everything he can to discredit mcgarry.
I don’t need Bree telling me who I give ‘total’ support to or not.
It was not Brees attacks on the HSE that I disagreed with. It was his fumbling rant attacking the workers themselves that I take exception to. He has also refused to apologise to them when he went barging in devoid of the facts throwing accusations all over the place with an eye on the headlines it might produce for him.
I take exception to his opportunism on the matter and his lies about SIPTU attempting to expel him. This itself is not a decision that could be made locally or kept quiet whatever Bree would have you believe.
Bree is a spent force. He was found out and has been discarded. All this is part of his desperate attempt to cling on to a spotlight that has abandoned him long ago.
Mark Reilly , what thread are you reading? This thread is another attempt by Bree to resurrect a 5 month old lie to use to vent his obvious anger at being out smarted and out manoeuvred by McGarry and he has up to 10 sock puppets at work. Not only is Bree abusing the workers that give up their Christmas Day to look after the sick and the vulnerable, he abuses Indymedia with this continued claptrap.
And once again for the record, the pensioner was not refused lunch by anyone. He refused to take up the alternative offer when he could not be accommodated at St. John's having arrived unannounced and unexpected.
Why is Union member afraid to admit that he was at the Siptu meeting where the proposal to expel Bree was initiated.
He says he knows the pensioner that was refused the meal on Christmas Day. He says that pensioner was offered an alternative arrangement (whatever that is). He says the pensioner arrived in the hospital unannounced and unexpected. He says that the staff explained to the pensioner that he could not be accommodated. He says he knows the value of the pensioners home.
The only people who would have such a level of information would be the Management of the HSE or a certain trade union official !!!!
Finally we have Bree admitting that he blew on the Pensioner issue and made much a do about nothing.
Will he now come clean that this accusation about SIPTU trying to have him expelled is a fantasy rooted in his persecution comlex and desperation.
Why would Bree want to remain in Siptu?
He has no chance of ever changing it and bringing it back to the socialist beliefs of Conolly and Larkin. He should get out while the going is good.
this thread is getting sillier. look Mr Bree aint no saint but as politicans goes Id trust him a lot more than an ex blueshirt opportunist who scabbed a workers strike,then had the brass neck to claim county council expenses. Mr Bree has been a staunch worker for ordainary Sligo people for the last 33 yrs on the Sligo councils.Love him or hate him . he gets elected no problem by the ordainry people of Sligo.( Im still wondering how he is a member of siptu though ) As for a certain "union offical " mmmm I think we know where hes comming from and where he is trying to go.
For heavans sake has this man nothing better to do than engage in this kind of online self promotion?
He made a big deal out of the St. Johns issue which was a non-story anyway.
Now he thinks the boys in SIPTU are after him.
This is the first I've heard of it and I'm a card carrying member of SIPTU.
This is a complete falsehood and an unsubstantiated allegation.
Put up or shut up Bree. Wheres the proof?
Sorry P.K it will be a cold day in hell before we get any proof of this posted here to anyones satisfaction.
I asked for proof more than once and was unsuprisingly ignored. This is unfounded and all in Brees head.
I have just read the thread and posting relating to the investigation carried out by the branch Secretary of SIPTU John McCarrick, in regard to councillors passing the picket during the strike at Sligo County Council in 2003. How could any self respecting trade unionist describe that as an investigation. Only one striker was asked for a statement and not one of the many other witnesses who were present on the day were asked to comment or make a statement. How could Jack O Connor and Liberty hall accept that type of investigation?
Still no response from Union member!
He says he knows the pensioner that was refused the meal on Christmas Day. He says that the pensioner was offered an alternative arrangement (whatever type of arrangement that is). He says the pensioner arrived in the hospital unannounced and unexpected. He says that the staff explained to the pensioner that he could not be accommodated. And he says he knows the value of the pensioners home.
As has already been pointed out the only people who would have such a level of information would be the Management of the HSE or a certain trade union official !!!!
Why is Union member afraid to comment on the above and why is he afraid to admit that he was at the Siptu meeting where the proposal to expel Bree was initiated.?
What ever about the in's and out's of the incident. Who knows what is just a matter of speculation no matter how many times you repeat it.
You have been asked to produce proof of the accusation and so far we have got nothing.
It is an accusation, so until it is substantiated dont expect anyone to treat it with anything other that the ridicule it deserves.
Bree and Scanlon joined in the picket with the striking Siptu workers in May 2003.
And who does the so called trinity: “Union member’ & ‘Reality Check’ & ‘Civic Critic” launch an attack on? Not those who scabbed and passed the picket. No - they attack Bree and Scanlon. Surely anyone with an ounce of decency and solidarity will know who is right and who is wrong in such battles
Who's attacking Scanlon? You seem to have the issues confused here, Bree brought all this up. He is attacking McGarry and making false accusations about some insidious plot to have him expelled from SIPTU. It is absolute nonsense and doesn't get a free pass. Its also hypocritical of Bree to attack McGarrys behaviour when Bree is behaving so underhanded himself.
...as the left of Sligo tear themselves apart over trivial matters.
You are all a pack of gobshites. No wonder Ireland has had a right-wing government in the 26 counties for the past decade.
And the sad thing is, you're probably totally oblivious to the fools you're making of yourselves. Cop yourselves on and do this in private.
Parallels with treatment of a Labour Cllr. In Limerick, Jim Houlihan whose union career was threatened by the Labour Party leader if he didn’t support Cllr. Joe Leddin as Lord Mayor of the city.
Des Gerathy was a in the WP with Rabbitte and Jack O’Connor is a good supporter of Pat as well.
The issue is the labour party moving to the right and many members are not happy with it. The party is riddled with right-wing members and its policies reflect this. So what of the left in Sligo are fighting with this element, its right versus left, doesn’t matter weather it’s inside the party or not. The Labour party it’s going nowhere fast, won’t be too long before it is the fifth largest party in Ireland after SF and the Greens. No socialist in their right mind would give them a vote.
The track record of its candidate in Sligo and its pack with FG proves this point.
The incident at St. Johns has been bandied about now for too long. I am aware of the full details of what occurred and I am fully aware of the persons circumstances. There is some doubt that he is even a pensioner. But it is almost unbelievable that any reasonable person would persist with peddling falsehoods around the incident.
The accusation that the workers at St. Johns, who give up their own Christmas Day to cook and serve the sick and vulnerable, would refuse anyone a dinner is utterly beneath contempt. It is a new low even for Bree that he would apply spin to the incident which involved being selective with the facts and then in a self serving display of gutter politics of the lowest order, used the revamped story to grab a headline regardless of the fact that the claim that a person was refused dinner would portray the workers as heartless and uncaring. Anybody who knows the staff at St.Johns will know that such a claim could only be a lie.The workers were deeply offended by the accusation and the attack on them by Bree. The facts remain that the person involved insisted on being served Christmas dinner in an area that is reserved for patients and their families and in which he could not be accommodated. The staff offered him full Christmas dinner in the staff canteen. He refused this offer and was abusive in his refusal.
Regarding the crack pot story that there is a plot to oust Bree from the union, that is what it is, a crack pot story created to post another thread on Indymedia, the purpose of which is to call McGarry names and vent some bile.
And a challange to anybody who is not a sock puppet posting here. Are you saying that you agree with the claim that the workers at St. Johns would refuse a person dinner or that they would comply with an instruction to do in the circumstances that Bree outlines?
Bree's grip was with the HSE, not union members, it was the managemnt that ordered that the elderly man not be served a christmas dinner.
I don't know why John McCarrick won't let the issue dye. It was 5 months ago. Ok Bree had a good at him on a local radio station, just bite your tounge and leave it.
How can anyone take this seriously now?
Bree started this thread. Hes the one that should leave it. Such a mockery.
Stop distorting the truth. The claim that,
" it was the managemnt that ordered that the elderly man not be served a christmas dinner"
is a lie.
Nobody, repeat nobody, ordered that this or any other person should be refused dinner. Staff at St. Johns would never have complied with such an order without protest and to suggest otherwise is a scurrilous attack on the dedicated staff at St. Johns and must be condemned out of hand. The original post refers specifically to this story. Bree himself raised it.
It's time he now did the decent thing and stepped forward and apologise to the staff concerned. The little gambit backfired and he should be man enough to admit the gaff.
This oul fella was taking the mick looking for a free dinner, sure he gets a penions and there are meals on wheels., thansk to the poverty industry.....What about his neighbours. Declan Bree should have invited him for chrstmas dinner if he felt so sorry for him.
Trade unionists have to look after their jobs and doing anything that might lead to their dismisal woud be stupid. Was there insurance for this chap to be on the premises of the old folks home on christmas day?
I don't know why some union members are trying to give Bree the boot and if they were why did they not keep it from Bree's supporters in the union.
What do they think he would do when he found out, everyone in Sligo knows that he's not afraid to call a spade a spade and stand his ground no matter what. Sure that whole traveller affair he lapped that up for months, there was barely a week it wasn't in the media. He sucked every inch out of that story and it wasn't even him who started it, it drove Pat Rabbitte made. Have his enemies not learned, FF and FG learned years ago just to leave him be, wasn't worth the hassel. This story could grow legs and that will be that, he never lets anything lie till he has the last word.
My head will be wreaked if this does the rounds, this thread is enough! Please leave each other alone, and Declan will you ever just leave the Labour Party and join the SWP or some other looney left party, Joe Higgins might have ya, if your lucky. Sure that Greens took your side kick Comrade Brian Scanlon.
Bree really is full of himself if he thinks either him or his bullsh*t allegations are of importance to anyone outside his small band of yes-men.
He is so busy peddling the myth that Labour are nothing without him that he failed to see his own decline in popularity. He is a has been. Nothing more and he is making a total fool of himself behaving so childlessly. And hes living in cloud cuckoo land if he thinks anyone is afraid of him.
Does Bree think that anybody reading this thread cannot see that "pat" is just another sock puppet brought on to put some distance between Bree and the truth and massage his ego and satisfy his constant need for praise?( All that's going nowadays is self praise). He is a guttless windbag who sought to use a groundless story to get his name in the local paper and cared less that his outburst would lead to the integrity and dedication of the workers of St. Johns being besmirched.
And this from "pats" post really sums him up
" But This story could grow legs and that will be that, he never lets anything lie till he has the last word."
No chance that Bree would forget the "last word" and try getting the truth for a change? The workers at St. Johns are waiting for an apology
Union member do you not have a job to do? You obviously work in the public service if you have time to update this thread. Trying to get the ordinary public pay you to work less hours for more pay, when they privatise the HSE you'll meet your match, look at the workers in Aer Lingus, they have to work for a change now.
Union membership is on the decline, thank god and if this tread refects the quality of your membership you'll be insignificant very soon.
What company gives away free dinners?
There is not many socialists left in the labour party and that's why Labour Youth are very supportive of Declan Bree. his anti-war stance and his opposition to the FG Mullingear pact are two of our main policies also. He is a regular at anti-war demos and himslef and michael D. are the most consistent of all our public reps in this regards. Cllr. Cawley and other lad who was a councillor for a while are good on the issue too, been down in Shannon as well.
Some of us were delighted to attend his summer school last year up in leitrim and he's be invited to our Connolly Festival the last two years and made a good contribution.
It has to be pointed out that Cllr. Bree was on the executive of the party for a long time and had a lot of support all over the country. I hope the new comers to the party in sligo remember this and just get on with the election. In my opinion they shoud have ran two candidtes in sligo that would have solved the problem.
Bree is a charlatan. He doesn't have country wide support, nobody outside his small collection of yesmen give a toss about him. I dont care how many sock-puppets come on here singing his praises, it just reinforces my opinion of him that he has to praise himself. How pathetic is that.
Now this thread has turned once again in to the mé-féin 'I love me-my name is bree' rubbish. The most pathetic thing of all is that Declan thinks anyone falls for this.
Somebody made the mistake of telling declan years ago that he was smart. The problem is that he hasnt' moved with the times and his propoganda techniques are old hat and completely transparent.
Declans support is dwindling in Sligo. He knows it. Thats why he didnt run as independent. Hes afraid to face reality and wont accept that hes finished politically.
I never said that mr reality, I said he had been a long serving member of the party's national exectutive council and was well respected on that, because of his efforts Michael D. was nearly nominated party candidte for the presidential election, under a lot of pressure from Pat Rabbitte they lost by one vote! That seems to be the turning point in Declan's labour party career, the leader would have been severely undermined had Declan Bree's campaign won out, so started his purge of the Sligo Councillor. Ask anybody you works in head office or senior members of the party.
Labour youth have been supportive of him also because he shares similar views of our membership and he's been a contributor to our events. We invited him to speak on behalf of the party at the recent anti-war demo at citywest/FF conference in Dublin. We even passed a montion in support of his stance on Travellers two years ago at our national conference.
Many members were not impressed with public infighting during the traveller row as it damaged the party. How many members have left the party in Sligo/Leitrim since? Are there any memebrs left at all?
We are well aware of the voting record and views of Cllr. McGarry and that is an another reason why Declan has got support from LY. They are at both ends of the spectrum within the party and that's one reason behind the row in Sligo I think.
To be honest if Cllr. McGarry was a better candidate or had a better change of getting elected (neither have a chance), people might give him the benefit but that's not really the case. If he stayed with FG he's never have got on the ticket and that speaks volumes, considering he was a long time member of that party. Why did he leave in the first place.
If the labour party were going to parachute a candidte in Sligo and cause a row why didn't bring in a stronger candidate, what about Mary Harkin? I just don't see the logic?
Declan Bree isn't behind this thread, he's canvassing for a certain independant Cllr. in Galway this weather.
An ex Labour Councillor and Union member, who wants to give Jim McGarry a dig is peddling this story.
Maybe someone should get on to the Green Party, it's not a party in favour of dirty tricks. Wonder were they behind the vandilism of McGarrys posters?
Listen folks. This is all been done and dusted over on P.ie.
http://www.politics.ie/viewtopic.php?t=20035
David. Do you honestly think that Rabbitte and McGarry and McCarrick are trying to throw Bree out of SIPTU?
This story is a falsification and was made up to start slinging mud at McGarry but its backfired because nobody comes out of this smelling like roses.
If the labour party can get to a local councillor who is troublesome in Limerick through the union membership they can do the same in Sligo.
There is a precedent here and there is no denying the fact. Cllr. Jim Houlihan nearly ruined his career in SIPTU because of his opposition to Pat Rabbitte. There was no outrage when Pat tried to wreaked a mans livelihood. You have the same people on this thread denying this story because it leaked out. If an employer tried to do this the unions would be up in arms but they can do it to livelong member just because of political differences.
It hasnt just been rubbished here. it has been rubbished everywhere.
We even had one sock-puppet suggest it was made up by Cake Scanlon to hurt McGarrys election campaign. I mean is that not just hysterical?
Precedent is not evidence. This is a baseless accusation. There is no proof. You can apply the big lie theory all you want but this is just too silly to swallow.
Nobody is trying to throw Bree out of SIPTU.
Look can somebdoy give us some real evidence. It didn't come out of the sky, if Bree, Scanlon or McGarry is behind it, it is not good for the union of the labour party.
What is this about a certain meeting were it was believed to been discussed, a branch meeting or was it in someones dreams?
There has to be some evidence behind it, i doubt someone made it up as the row happened over christmas. Either McCarrick talked about it off the record at some point or over a pint, or somebody was inquiring about how to expel union members in sligo and people put two and two together and got it wrong.
If you have got evidence can we please have it. PLEASE
The case in Limerick is very interesting and disgraceful and to be honest in politics it dosn't suprise me how low people can go to get at an opponent.
K. Hunter said on Tue May 08, 2007 13:00
"Isn’t it fascinating that Union member refuses to admit that he attended the SIPTU Branch committee meeting where the proposal to expel Bree from the union was initiated"
That is not an ambiguois statement or a misinterpretation of an overheard conversation at the bar. This is a clear accusation that a motion was propossed at a SIPTU Branch committee meeting to have Bree expelled.
We are not told which branch, when the meeting was held, who was in attendance and indeed was it the Branch that Bree himself is a member.
This proposal would have been minuted by the Sec or the assistant sec and all this would be on the record and very easily verifiable. SIPTU is not the CIA. Nobody has produced a shred of proof and nobody will because there is none.
Anyone can make a base accusation from behind a psuedonym and that is exactly what has happend here.
This is a slur on the Green Party, if you have evidence our members were involved can you forward it to Alison Martin in head office.
The labour party is a joke, this wouldn't happen anywhere else.
Nobody even for a second thinks the Greens are behind this. We all know who is behind it, who posted it and for what purpose. Now this thread has indeed become a joke.
Thanks for that reality check.
A bit worried about our candidate in Sligo, Is he still involved in Labour Party affairs ?
how is he canvasing for a independant candidate in Galway???
"A bit worried about our candidate in Sligo, Is he still involved in Labour Party affairs ? "
I couldn't say. There are two different stories. One that Brian fell out with Bree because he wouldn't be his scivvy anymore and another that Brian is helping Bree undermine McGarry.
"how is he canvasing for a independant candidate in Galway???"
That was a reference to Declan Bree canvassing for his sister-in-law Catherine Connolly who's running as an independent in Galway West.
And as the sock puppets mount in number, still no apology from Bree for the scurrilous attack on the care workers of St. John's.
Now all know why Bree is not a candidate for Labour or anyone else in the next general election.
And to add insult to injury, he will be canvassing down in Galway for his sister-in-law putting the seat of Michael.D Higgins, one of the last great socialist left, in jeopardy.
With regard to my work, that question should be directed to Bree. I am reliably informed that he never worked a day in his life.
As a Socialist Im astounded at the ferocity of the attacks by right wing elements of the Labour Party in Sligo against Cllr Declan Bree.Socialists throughout Ireland have been monitoring with interest events in Sligo ever since ex Fine Gaeler Cllr Jim Mc Garry was imposed on the local party against the wishes of the vast majority of the membership.The present witchunt is almost a replica of the vilifaction suffered by Joe Higgins TD before he was expelled by the Labour Party.What I find particularily offensive on this occasion is a full time paid SIPTU offical John Mc Carrick out of sheer vindictivness being used by the McGarry faction against a well respected Socialist.
Would ya get a grip. Bree will leave of his own accord. No-ones going to push him. Theres no witch-hunt against him its all in his head.
And nobody believes that this is of interest to anyone outside of Brees limited circle and no amount of sock-puppets is going to convince anyone otherwise. Oh and I just bet McCarrick is shitting himself at the thoughts of having Bree on his case. Yeah right.
Bree scares noboby
Terry or whatever your name is here is what real Socialists think of Bree. You should know some of them, Finglas isn't that far from Lucan.
"The Irish Labour Party is experiencing a strange phenomenon which has occurred in many social democratic parties: as the party shifts to the right the timid centre leftists such as Michael D. Higgins (remember the tax amnesties?) and Declan Bree appear extremely radical."
Link:http://www.irishsocialist.net/publications_the_irish_la....html
Now having failed to apologise for the scurrilous attack on Care Workers at St.Johns we are treated to a bit of victimhood by Bree, sorry Terry/lucan. The poor chap is being ferociously attacked by "right wing" elements no less. What right wing elements? This is just another scurrilous attack by Bree on people in Sligo who have given their lives to the Labour Party and the Union.
We then get more lies,
"Cllr Jim Mc Garry was imposed on the local party against the wishes of the vast majority of the membership"
Perhaps we can have an explanation as to how this was done?
The selection process was open, democaratic and according to Labour Party rules. That process selected McGarry. If the process was not in accordance with Labour Party rules, then Bree or anyone else could have contested the decison in the courts if need be. Nobody did beacuse the process was above board. And that is why Bree has to resort to the antics like on this thread as he desperately tries to undermine the efforts of Sligo Labour to get their candidate elected.
We are told that a "witchunt" is ongoing. Question, I bet that you cannot show a single thread on Indymedia or anywhere else that was started by so called "right wing" elements to "witch hunt" Bree. Every thread without excemption was started by Bree using a psuedonym, just like this one. And the result is always the same. When hard facts are presented the thread is reduced to tactical evasion of the arguments and a retreat to victimhood.
And the final groundless accusations,
"What I find particularily offensive on this occasion is a full time paid SIPTU offical John Mc Carrick out of sheer vindictivness being used by the McGarry faction against a well respected Socialist."
This is simply beneath contempt. To begin with, you hardly expect us to believe that somebody living in Lucan could have the knowledge to make such a statement regarding what is happening here in Sligo. To claim that McCarrick is vindictive and using his position in the Union inapropriately is to behave in a very cavalir way with a persons livlihood. Do you know Mr McCarrick? Give us an example of where you see this vindictiveness. And read the thread again from the top.
I originally joined the Sligo Branch of the Labour party in 1969,Ive being a member ever since,back then we beleived in Brendan Corishs vision that the seventies would be SOCIALIST.Ive since stayed loyal to the party through thick and thin.Ive met many great true Socialist Labour people over the years such as the late Dr Noel Browne,David thornley and Michael D Higgins but im sorry to say that because of the upheavel and damage thats being done at local level since Jimmy Mc Garry was accepted and welcomed into the party by Pat Rabbitte in Leinster House,the policies of the party no longer reflect those who beleive in Socialism,now for the first time ever im not voting Labour as I beleive this latest attempt by the Mc Garry camp and SIPTU offical John Mc Carrick to shaft Declan Bree after they failed to get him expelled when he defended the Travellers.Im voting for Green candidate Brian Scanlon who left Labour over the direction and disentigration the party locally has suffered since Mc Garry the FG reject joined.Im giving my number 2 preference to Sean McManus and from what I hear on the ground so too are a great number of people who used to vote for Labour.
You could almost predict to a word what the last post was going to say. 'Declan Bree's a sound man, Declan Bree's a socialist, Declan Bree's suffering from Stigmata such is his persecution at the hands of McGarry.' Blah blah fuckin blah.
Funny I thought Bree was a hard man, a man to be reckoned with, a stalwart of tough stances and deliverer of socialist ideals (sorry I nearly died laughing trying to type that last one). Yet here he is, whimpering at 'wee' jimmy.
Theres an awful lot of speculation as to how the people of Sligo are going to vote. We'll just wait and see will we?
Oh and one other thing 'tommy'
You say that Michael D is a great socialist? Then why is bree helping connolly to take his seat in Galway West?
Connolly will take votes away from Michael D whose seat is danger from O'Broclaigh. And whats Bree doing? Helping her.
Connolly fell out with Labour in Galway over the nomination as well. Sound familiar?
Honestly the fuckin hypocrisy here is sickening.
Please spare us your meaningless feuding. All of the candidates and characters involved are of the same ilk: coalitionists to a man. None of them deserve the label radical since every one of them, Labour, Green, SF and independent have no problem with coalition with parties of the right. By all means have your meaningless personality squabble but dont kid yourselves into thinking that it has anything to do with socialism.
But now que a rant about Bree being anti coalitionist, despite being in with FG and FF between 92-97 and connolly being anti-coalitionist, despite being more than happy to take the Labour ticket in Galway W had Michael D stepped aside- and the same for Bree in Sligo.
All hypocrites all opportunists.
And don't forget, LP Member, Spartakus, Bree's little pact with FF which he is still a party to and just to get the Mayors chain around his neck. For a year he wined and dined with the best of them. A year that Spartakus will have fond memories of.
Opportunist, hypocrite? They don't even begin to get a handle on the guy. Enemy of the people more like.