Finian McGrath in Cuba

Ah Finian McGrath not content with just making an ass of himself singing on TV. Now seemingly he is a fan of Fidel Castro and wants him to come to Ireland on a state visit.

But is Cuba not, er, a repressive dictatorship?

‘‘No, I’d dispute that,” said Finian when AOB called to inquire.

It is indisputable, though, that Fidel has been in power since 1959,and that any opposition is suppressed, and that there is no free press, and that dissidents are imprisoned, often without trial, and only one party is permitted.

At least that’s what those notorious puppets of the US, Amnesty International, say.

‘‘It’s a different kind of democracy to Ireland,” said Finian.

So is Finian not happy with our type of Democracy? Our pesky one man one vote idea.

Also on his trip he meet with families of the Miami Five. And no the Miami Five is not a cheesey lounge act singing Barry Manalow covers they were convicted of providing “secrets from military installations to the Cuban dictatorship. Also one of them was sentenced to life in prison for helping set up a MiG attack on two Brothers to the Rescue search planes in 1996, killing four Miami men”.
Speaking on Radio Havana Cuba to Bernie Dwyer Finian said “So for me it was a privilege and honor to meet the parents and the wives of five patriots who have done an awful lot for their own country and its only right that I be here to support them and express my solidarity”.

Hmmm remind you of any party.

Just for balance the Miami Five’s conviction is in dispute. From Indymedia The Miami Five are.

Five Cubans who were trying to stop Miami based terrorist groups from carrying out violent actions against the people of Cuba. They were found guilty of charges ranging from murder to espionage by a court in Miami which relied on the evidence of convicted terrorists. All are innocent of the charges brought against them. Extensive intimidation of jurists by these same terrorists was a feature of the trial. They are currently appealing their convictions.

However the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld the convictions.