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200 Scots crossed to Ireland to help lan Paisley with his general strike. They were led by Roddy MacDonald self styled Supreme Commander of the UDA in Scotland. Mr. MacDonald told the press: "If there is any violence the fault will lie with the other side"
However that may be, 600 catholics have been assasinated by loyalist paramilitary groups since 1972. The UDA is the largest of those groups.
In 1920 John Maclean wrote a pamphlet titled "The Irish Tragedy: Scotland's Disgrace". Those words are just as applicable today. Scotland's contribution to the sufferings of the people of Northern Ireland does not only come from the cowboy antics of Mr. MacDonald and his friends. In a British army, hated and feared by the Nationalist population of Norther Ireland Scots regiments are particularly notorious. It is common opinion that they are the worst of a bad lot.
An indication of what the army is there for, can be found in the story of the death of Danny McCooey. On May 1st, Danny and a friend left a Belfast social club. They had the misfortune to bump into an army patrol. While Danny was attempting to drag away his friend who was shouting, he
was attacked by the soldiers. He was then taken for "questioning" at British military headquarters. When he was finally taken to hospital his stomach had collapsed and there was a hole at the base of his lung. On May 20th he died of his injuries.
And yet while Paisley's strike was on and while the UDA bullyboys were doing their stuff the army did practically nothing. Three people were killed and 50 injured in gun and bomb attacks during the strike. Yet the worst any of the loyalists suffered from the crown was lan Paisley's two hour visit to a police station.
The press in Britain has been claiming a victory for Roy Mason and the Royal Ulster Constabulary with the ending of the strike. Certainly Paisley and the UDA failed in one of their objectives. They wanted the old loyalist Stormont parliament restored. They didn't get it and they weren't likely to. The British government knows full well that there can be no return to the old pre-1968 days. Its commercial interests depend on its ability to maintain control in the north and to keep the friendship of the Southern government. Stormont proved unable to hold down the minority in the north and they don't want it back.
But what the press has tended to overlook is that the other demand of the strikers has
been achieved. Mason has promised to step up the campaign against the IRA. An infantry Brigade has been added to the strength of the British Army in Ireland Paisley has persuaded the British to screw their courage to the sticking place and in all probability has opened the doors to the worst violence since 1972. And that must be accounted a loyalist victory.
The people who will be on the receiving end of the threatened pogrom are the ordinary people of the catholic ghettoes innocent bystanders like Danny McCoocy. The only force that will defend them is the Provisional IRA. That is the reality whatever the press may say.
Socialists in Britain - and Scottish socialists in particular - have more to do than sit back and hope for the best A solidarity movement in Britain is long overdue. Militants the length and breadth of the labour movement should start campaigning now so that the cry from that movement becomes. BRITAIN OUT OF IRELAND FREE.ALL IRISH POLITICAL PRISONERS THE IRISH PEOPLE TO DECIDE THEIR OWN FUTURE SOLIDARITY WITH THE RESISTANCE.