Post by dangeresque on Apr 21, 2007 18:41:47 GMT
I don't have a source for this, just saw that Dalriada had posted it to the Derry IRSP forum. Apologies if it was already posted here once!
James Maley whose father was from County Mayo was born in the Calton district of Glasgow in 1908.
In 1932 James joined the Communist Party, emerging as a noted speaker at Glasgow Green. Walking along Argyle Street, trams tooted their horns, acknowledging a firebrand socialist. In 1936 James answered the call of the Spanish Republic after hearing La Pasionaria on the radio.
He was in action at the Battle of Jarama in February 1937, part of a heavy-machine-gun company, covering the retreat for three days. Captured and sentenced to 20 years, he was released in a prisoner swap.
James remained a committed socialist and internationalist to the end. The struggle for Irish freedom was particularly dear to him and he gave practical solidarity to the cause. In August 1985 at the age of 77 James was arrested whilst selling a pro Republican newspaper at an Irish demonstration in the Lanarkshire town of Carfin. He was subsequently charged under Section 2 of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) that:
“He carried and displayed a document entitled ‘Ireland’s War’ in such a way and circumstances as to arouse reasonable apprehension that he was a member or supporter of a proscribed organisation, namely the IRA, contrary to Section 2 of the PTA.”
He was held in custody over the weekend despite the lack of facilities to cater for someone of his age. His case was finally heard at Hamilton Sheriff Court on the Monday afternoon, where as well as being charged under the PTA, he was also charged with a Breach of the Peace. James pled not guilty to both charges and his trial was fixed for February 1986.
A campaign was mounted to have the charges against James dropped, and also in defence of the democratic right to free speech on Ireland. Within weeks of his arrest worldwide outrage and condemnation of this shameful act by the police and courts began to flood in. Support from Ireland was expressed by the Republican and Republican Socialist POWs.
James subsequently received a letter from the procurator Fiscal’s office stating that all charges against him were dropped. The police and courts had been defeated in their attempt to suppress support for the Irish Republican cause in Scotland and to silence free speech on Ireland.
James Maley passed away on 9 April as a result of pneumonia. The Francis Hughes Cumin of Sinn Fein Poblachtach in Glasgow extends its sincere sympathy to his family and friends.
His commitment to socialist republican ideals, international solidarity and the cause of a united and independent Ireland is an inspiration to all of us.
James Maley whose father was from County Mayo was born in the Calton district of Glasgow in 1908.
In 1932 James joined the Communist Party, emerging as a noted speaker at Glasgow Green. Walking along Argyle Street, trams tooted their horns, acknowledging a firebrand socialist. In 1936 James answered the call of the Spanish Republic after hearing La Pasionaria on the radio.
He was in action at the Battle of Jarama in February 1937, part of a heavy-machine-gun company, covering the retreat for three days. Captured and sentenced to 20 years, he was released in a prisoner swap.
James remained a committed socialist and internationalist to the end. The struggle for Irish freedom was particularly dear to him and he gave practical solidarity to the cause. In August 1985 at the age of 77 James was arrested whilst selling a pro Republican newspaper at an Irish demonstration in the Lanarkshire town of Carfin. He was subsequently charged under Section 2 of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) that:
“He carried and displayed a document entitled ‘Ireland’s War’ in such a way and circumstances as to arouse reasonable apprehension that he was a member or supporter of a proscribed organisation, namely the IRA, contrary to Section 2 of the PTA.”
He was held in custody over the weekend despite the lack of facilities to cater for someone of his age. His case was finally heard at Hamilton Sheriff Court on the Monday afternoon, where as well as being charged under the PTA, he was also charged with a Breach of the Peace. James pled not guilty to both charges and his trial was fixed for February 1986.
A campaign was mounted to have the charges against James dropped, and also in defence of the democratic right to free speech on Ireland. Within weeks of his arrest worldwide outrage and condemnation of this shameful act by the police and courts began to flood in. Support from Ireland was expressed by the Republican and Republican Socialist POWs.
James subsequently received a letter from the procurator Fiscal’s office stating that all charges against him were dropped. The police and courts had been defeated in their attempt to suppress support for the Irish Republican cause in Scotland and to silence free speech on Ireland.
James Maley passed away on 9 April as a result of pneumonia. The Francis Hughes Cumin of Sinn Fein Poblachtach in Glasgow extends its sincere sympathy to his family and friends.
His commitment to socialist republican ideals, international solidarity and the cause of a united and independent Ireland is an inspiration to all of us.
