THERE WE WERE in St Bride's church, off Fleet Street, sitting in a room decorated with the portraits of bishops past, sitting beside the world press - Lord Longford, the leaders of the Peace People', and star of the show Joan Baez. In charge of the press conference was the managing director of a public relations firm (giving his services free). Peace in Northern Ireland was the message. But perore we come to nat..
At Highbury Magistrates Court that morning, two women — one 17 years old, one 37 - were appearing before magistrate Tobias Springer. They were charged with bill posting, having been picked up for putting up a poster saying Ireland Unfree Will Never Be At Peace Boycott the Peace People'. Their names were Annette Malony and Joan Hughes. Joan Baez has never met them.
Annette and Joan don't like the Peace People'. Indeed they are hardly the sort of women the Peace People would like (although the Peace People supposedly like everyone, love everyone, they said so at the press conference). For they appear to be angry women They don't like the "Peace People', they don't like the British Army, they are not very fond of the Loyalists, they don't like the police. They even appear unfavouraoly incinea towards foolas springer himself.
But perhaps there is hope, because back at the press conference Mairead Corrigan is smiling and talking of the people of the North of Ireland. She says modestly: "We are not telling people what to do, we're just showing them the right way."
Tobias Springer also seems concerned with the right way. Before Malony and mugnes appear, ne is considering tne case of a self-confessed thief (already under suspended sentence) picked "breaking and entering implements or him. He pleads guilty.
JAIL Waiting for sentence there appears to be little chance that he will escape jail. But Tobias Springer listens, because the man concerned has been in the British Army for five years, a member of a paratroop regiment, he has served his country in Aden - he is still a member of the Territorial Army. Tobias Springer listens sympathetically. 'You have served your country well', he says. The sentence on the accused is postponed for six months, Tor ne nas servee us country wel Back at the press conference, "peace leader' Ciaran McKeown also speaks of the British Army: "The British Army is of the violence.' The British press smile. Annette Malony would not smile.
lit the mattress and he died.
TERRORISTS
terrorists I have ever met'.
been very severely poster, chips in: I am not concerned with the rights or wrongs of the poster or how they came to have their views.' want it explained'. Tobias answers, Well, they mustn't do it this way'. peace leader up with not the root cause of the violence, the British Government is not the root cause and Joan Hughes Joan's husband was killed in the north of Ireland six years ago. He was assassinated by a Loyalist lesser aims. gang. He was burned to death, bound by chicken wire to a bed, with his testicles cut off and stuck in his mouth. Then they Annette Malony was born and bred in London. Six months ago, after a holiday in Ireland, she was arrested under the Prevention of Terrorism Act, held for CONFUSED three days and subjected to inhuman treatment. She was continuously threatened by the Liverpool police - 'the only Their barrister pleads for them in court.
He tells ine juage, iney teel tney nave wronged, they feel reply to a question frustrated'. Tobias Springer, who looked shocked when he saw the offending The barrister replies, they do feel they All the press want to listen to what Ms Corrigan has to say, because the north of Ireland is by no means the limit of her horizon — 'we're going to lead the world to peace through non-violent activity.
The women at Highbury Court have All they want, Joan Hughes says, is to get the Brits out of Last weekend the leaders of the 'Peace People' stayed in the Strand Palace Hotel. Joan Baez flew in from Santa Cruz, California. Annette Malony is an unsupported mother living on social security. Joan Hughes is a mother of six kids, and she also lives on social security.
Joan Baez does not seem to know a lot about Ireland. In reply to a reporter's question about the role of the troops she says: 1 am not in a position to make comments about the North of Ireland.' In about she supports a movement backing the pres ence of the British Army, she says, all I want is non-violence. one appears just a little confused, but she smiles.
Tobias Springer does not smile. He tells the court that he thinks he is getting the 'flu. Annette Malony's mother is ushered out of court for a moment by the SCOPS AU last while time again police, and is quizzed about the presence of a reporter — 'we don't want this thing blown up you know*.
At the press conference a reporter ask Betty Williams what her policies are fo achieving peace. She replies: *We must ge on with peace and stop this politicking She clinches the argument by telling th bemused reporter: Why don't you g back to the north of Ireland'.
At Highbury the court case draws to a close. The magistrate gives Annette and Joan a conditional discharge. The polic ask him: "What about the posters, sir?
Tobias Springer says. "They will b destroyed."
At strides church ine press cone ence ends, and 'peace posters' are handed out to the press. The public relations managing director savs: See you all te people to come to the demonstration, c boys?' APPEAL FOR WITNESSES A number of arrests took place a last Saturday's picket on the 'Peace People' at Speakers Corner and Trafalagar Square. Would anyone who saw any of these arrests please contact immediately: M. Tait, 29 Old Bond Street, London W1.
On route the march managed to attract confuse tourists, priests and Communist Party members rally - 10,000 at the most - was dominated by hymns prayers and pitiful homilies from high establishmen figures. But a lot of what they had to say never reache the audience. A determined and highly successful picke organised by the Peate Through Freedom Committe disrupted the orgy of sanctimonious 'God on our sid sentimentality. One message did get across time an proclaimed in the banner
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ROAN E FOR PEA