THEY KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THEY DO

ANOTHER OPEN LETTER TO MR JUSTICE PETER KELLY, WITH EMBEDDED ATTACHMENTS .

Dear Judge Kelly,

Judge Kelly, you obviously know what happens when good men do nothing. A case in point is the scandal right now with smear tests. So far almost 20 women have died and hundreds more are living under a death sentence. Now go back 50 years to Belfast Docks when the union chairman ordered Dockers to discharge Asbestos.

My play about the Belfast Docks scandal is being censored by SIPTU members and supporters in the arts, which because of her actions the Arts Minister Josepha Madigan is colluding with. Proof of what I maintain about the censoring of my writing, is the fact: that neither she nor Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan will answer this question, “is censorship against the law”. While having no proof of Flanagan’s bias, other than his refusal to answer what any Justice Minister should and must know, I can undoubtedly prove that the Arts Minister is not behaving like an independent Arts Minister. 

Find below a post she sent me on linkedin, then shortly afterwards blocked me and deleted it. She obviously didn’t know she couldn’t delete ‘her’ post from my account. While on its own this doesn’t prove censorship, but when juxtaposed with all I’m experiencing, including this email, below, from the Irish Theatre Institute offering help – then going silent - what other explanation can there be?

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Apr 13

I've just noticed that your active now, and therefore have received my post.

10:54 AM

Apr 16LinkedIn Member sent the following message at 9:54 AM

View LinkedIn Member’s profile

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Hi Hugh, Would you be able to send an email on this to me at

[email protected] and I will endeavor to get an answer for your

question. I don't check my LinkedIn messages regularly. Thanks,

Josepha Madigan TD Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

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On Fri, Mar 16, 2018 at 12:10 PM

Irish Theatre Institute

Before the usual censorship regarding my writing sets in - Re 'The

Judas Goat', I'm sending 'Salvation...? to you for advice on how best

to circumvent the censorship I'm experiencing.

Because of the recent groundswell by women and them standing up for

themselves - I'm looking forward to your advice.

Salvation...? has a cast of five women

Regards

Attachments area

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Elaine Donnelly <[email protected]>

Jan 31

to Admin, me

Good evening Hugh,

Irish Theatre Institute does not offer script-reading as part of our

artist programmes. As the organisation does not have legal expertise

we may not be able to assist directly with queries around censorship

but might be able to offer some suggestions on who to talk with. If

you have any specific queries please feel free to contact us.

Best Regards,

Elaine

Eláine Donnelly

General Manager

Irish Theatre Institute | 17 Eustace Street | Temple Bar | Dublin 2

T: +353 1 670 4906

www.irishtheatreinstitute.ie

Reg. Charity No. CHY 20847

Company Registration Number: 338199

VAT Number: IE6358199D

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Judge Kelly, In my last open letter I detailed the cover up of Jack O’Connor and SIPTU, whereby 40 to 50 years ago the union chairman persecuted fined and sacked Belfast Dockers who wouldn’t discharge Asbestos, myself included. The same Chairman who became an employer was awarded his fifty year long service union badge by Jack O’Connor. How was this possible? For Heaven’s sake this man was an employer and he unbelievably remained a union member? This must be the only time in Trade Union History that this occurred and the man covering it up is standing for election. My stage-play ‘The Judas Goat’ is about the events that took place at Belfast Docks and members and supporters of SIPTU have done everything in their power to keep this play of an Irish stage.

Judge Kelly, I’m addressing this letter to you for several reasons – one is that we met before and on that occasion you allowed me five minutes to make my points. This was in 2010 at a conference in the Hall of Surgeons to discuss changes to the Defamation Laws, at which you chaired the Q&A session. As one would expect, the hall was packed with the upper echelons of Dublin’s barristers and solicitors. Also well represented was the “Free Press” with the champion of this fine body of “truth seekers” Geraldine Kennedy, then editor of Irish Times on the panel - and it seemed, ready willing and able to dispense the Truth. I know I shouldn’t have been present, but seeing I had challenged Jack O’Connor three times to sue me for defamation – I believed that I should at least be aware of new developments. I will take this opportunity to apologise to the young ladies I bluffed my way past, by telling them their computer wouldn’t accept my registration, and hope they didn’t get into too much trouble.

Judge Kelly, you will recall that when you called for questions I was the first speaker – and I stunned yourself and the assembled legal people by stating, “I tried to get myself sued for defamation” by telling the truth. The silence was absolute. Then I outlined the circumstances of how Jack O’Connor’s Union at Belfast Docks persecuted and sacked its own members myself included, and that the Union and employers established an illegal Union and Employers Court, which they termed ‘The Joint Disciplinary Committee. [details on website] I was sacked because I wouldn’t discharge Asbestos and encouraged other Dockers to do the same

In utter silence, I related how the cover up by the “Free Press” and the Legal Profession had caused me to accuse O’Connor, three times, at public meetings of being corrupt and of covering up corruption. On the first occasion he threatened to “sue the arse off me” and engaged a Belfast Solicitor, one John O’Neill of Thompson McClures to do so.

As I related these shocking facts to you and the assembled barristers and solicitors - there's no doubt O’Connor got a shock when his solicitor, O’Neill of informed him by letter that what I said about the Belfast Branch was indeed, true. 

Judge Kelly, this scandal is well documented on the web, and is being ignored by the very people who make a living from ferreting out injustice and questioning the motives of the holier than thou. You saw on the day, how Geraldine Kennedy refused to answer my questions, claiming she couldn’t do so until she’s spoken to Fintan O’Toole – and is why the Irish Times and every so-called newspaper in the state refuse to cover this story. There’s no doubt that this important conference was recorded, many times, as the back of the hall was festooned with truth-seeking camera wielding members of the Journalistic Profession.

I have numerous instances of the censoring of my writing - and the Belfast Docks play in particular. E.g. Druid, asked me in writing not to tell anyone they refused to stage this play - which I refused to do. However, when my producer booked four nights in the Mick Lally Theatre, Druids studio space, for my play ‘The Grandeur of Delusions’ - they emailed a week later and stated “after a meeting those dates are no longer available”. Mick Lally, a deceased Druid actor must be turning in his grave.

By a strange coincidence - Patrick Sutton of Smock Alley did exactly the same thing - but with silence. After I accepted the four dates Sutton offered in an email, for some strange reason he went incommunicado. While I accept these facts alone don’t prove a conspiracy or censorship many other situations have occurred.

Last year I applied in plenty of time to the Dublin Theatre Festival with ‘The Grandeur of Delusions’, and after a long wait I received an email from Willie White, stating that it was fully programmed. Earlier in the year, I applied to the ‘then’ Director of the Fringe Festival, Kris Nelson. After a long wait, he replied by email and refused my entry, stating “This year we are changing Direction”. Whatever that means? Nelson, accepted several companies into the Fringe, and who were supported on the basis of an idea only, yet I supplied him with a fully rounded hard-hitting production, which depicts the evils of Alcoholism and addiction in a modern context, and is a two hander. Despite the refusals of the “Cultured”, I managed to stage a short tour of nine dates with this play. The two actors got a standing ovation on the last night and several people who work in Theatre, and who have seen the production, remarked, this would be ideal fare for any Festival.

Of course, none of the above proves a conspiracy and neither does the fact that Cian O’Brian of The Project thinks, ‘The Judas Goat’ is a great play but refuses to stage it, using the debatable fact that The Project is a receiving house, only. I say debatable because, its a very strange receiving house that refuses to give a price, or dates for hiring of their Theatre. While this is another fact that doesn’t prove conspiracy, corruption or censorship emanating from SIPTU, I will just add it to the basket.

However, as everyone knows, Willie White who is now Director of the Dublin Theatre Festival - was for a long time, the Director of the Project, and who no doubt wishes to see it toe, the proverbial line, so his time there wasn’t wasted. 

And Judge Kelly, who could possibly think that a conspiracy might exist between Willie White and Garry Hynes - just because she sits with Willie on the board of The Dublin Theatre Festival. I bet they will both swear under oath that my name never crossed either, of their minds, or lips.

Also, Dublin City Council supported me by giving me four weeks free rehearsal space for my play ‘Daddy’. However when I submitted ‘The Judas Goat’ and asked for the same consideration, the arts director, Ray Yeates became frosty and made up several excuses not to do so, all of which contradicted DCC’s much publicised Arts Plan. SIPTU has its fingers in many pies.

And just today I’ve been informed that my play Salvation, has been refused entry to the Dublin Fringe Festival - which I’ve been expecting, even though it has a new director. Because of the truth enshrined in ‘The Judas Goat’, I cannot get a play into any festival in Ireland. Salvation is an important play about the after effects of child abuse on two adult sisters and has a cast of five female actors. At the start of ‘January’ it was refused entry to The Dublin Theatre Festival by Willie White, who stated, again “we are fully programmed”, this was a full ten months before the festival begins.

The most disturbing thing about this non-censorship, non-conspiracy of silence and non- compliance with artistic ethics, is the fobbing off, of my complaints by arts council officers. Why does Shelia Pratcheke say “It has always been my lifelong decision not to interfere with decisions of artistic directors, though I do sympathise with your disappointment not to be chosen”. She was speaking about the Dublin and Fringe Festivals. I also asked both Pratscheke and Orlaith McBride to refer my complaints to a full sitting of the Arts Council, but received no response.

To support my proposal I sent a copy of ‘The Judas Goat’ to each member of the Arts Council, [care of the Arts Council offices] but have received no reply from any of them. Why is this most serious matter being ignored, can they all be members and supporters of SIPTU? ‘The Judas Goat’ is not attacking trade unions but shows what happens to uneducated workers and their families when the union chairman is corrupted by employers.

When we were having difficulty, without funding, securing rehearsal space for “The Grandeur of Delusions” I asked McBride for help in securing a room. She replied by email stating: “The Arts Council does not have space available for your requirements”. I pointed out to her, given the scope of Arts Council funding to Filmbase and the IFI, where rooms are plentiful and available, this is complete and utter nonsense. While no person in the Arts will oppose SIPTU inspired Censorship South Dublin County Council were most accommodating in providing a room as a rehearsal space.

However, the worst scandal and the one which the union are doing all in their power to prevent becoming public knowledge – is the fact that Asbestos Dust blew all over Belfast. It’s an undeniable fact that many Dockers and members of the public died from Asbestos related cancers without even knowing what caused their cancer. However a few Dockers have received compensation.

Judge Kelly, besides the people who actually caused the cancer deaths - the next worst offenders are the so-called “Free Press”. They know exactly what they do. Two weeks ago in the Sunday Times John Burns waxed lyrically on how “in the Dublin office of the Sunday Times we like nothing better than a philosophical discussion on the finer points of journalistic ethics. Happily, a chance for editors to stroke their chins and use phrases like “morally justified” and “ethically dubious” has just presented itself. Burns was throwing flowers at the supposed enlightened principles of Sunday Times journalists – and commenting on the ‘Chatham House rules and delighting in the fact that Sunday Times was under no such restraints and would print what they want. 

I publically ask John Burns “where is the ethics of Sunday Times when its reporters will not report on a Trade Union that illegally joined forces with Belfast Docks Employers, set up a private court system to persecute its own members and ordered Dockers to discharge Asbestos or be sacked”. And why will they not report that Jack O’Connor will not sue me for calling him corrupt, three times to his face at large public meetings. Burns then goes on to state, “the best definition of the Chatham House rule was given by Simon Walters , political editor of the Mail on Sunday. He said ‘We Chatham up and put it in the paper’. Let the speaker beware. Three cheers for the champions of free speech, what hypocrisy! The Mail on Sunday and Irish Daily Mail will not report on the Belfast Docks scandal or the cover up by O’Connor. No doubt burns is planning a move to The Mail on Sunday.

Will the fact that Jack O’Connor is standing for public office and obviously will use his trade union contacts to get elected – encourage John Burns and Simon Walters to report on the cover up he engaged with in SIPTU? 

While he has fooled many people including John McGuinness, Michael Martin, Pat Rabbitte and a multitude of other Td’s who are prepared to ignore this scandal – I... nor the people in Belfast dying from Asbestos related Cancers can forget.

Judge Kelly, I am simply asking you – if some brave new member of the “free press” who doesn’t know about the defamation conference, or what I said, asks you for a quote, give it. As you know, the facts are on www.siptupresidentjackoconnorexposed.com – and the link siptu-conspiracy.pdf which is a copy of the website and easier to read, as you don’t have to click on each page.

Hugh Murphy