What is the Communist Party – Part 4
In our penultimate part of our response to the question “What is the Communist Party?” unwisely posed by Communist Party of Ireland General Secretary, Jimmy Corcoran, we look at the recent history and political ineptness of Corcoran and of Ciara Ní Mhaoilfhinn, the current National Chairwoman of the party.
It is said that the cream always rises to the top. So, let’s take a look at the cream that rose to the top of the CPI at its most recent National Congress.
Apart from being actively involved in many – let’s call them irregular procedural – shenanigans as one of the officers of the Dublin District Branch, Ní Mhaoilfhinn also made an accusation of bullying against two members of the branch who had pursued certain clarifications about some secret ‘background’ activities (among other issues). For specific details see HERE.
To cut a long, sordid story short, Ní Mhaoilfhinn’s complaint against an accused was ‘investigated’ under the stewardship of Corcoran. The charge was of alleged bullying and Corcoran proceed to ‘investigate’ the claims by refusing to employ or disclose any terms of reference apart from using the Irish Congress of Trade Unions’ definitions of bullying and harassment.
Eventually, the accused was convicted of harassment despite that fact that bullying and harassment are distinct and entirely different issues. There was no allegation of harassment in Ní Mhaoilfhinn’s complaint, nor any mention in the minutes of the interviews conducted by Corcoran with Ní Mhaoilfhinn or the accused. Yet, the accused was excluded from the party because he would not agree to cease harassing Ní Mhaoilfhinn – something he had not been charged with and which he had never done.
Non-disclosure of important information became a feature of the entire process. First, terms of reference were not disclosed and then the final report of Corcoran’s ‘investigation’ was repeatedly denied to the accused. The National Executive Committee (NEC) announced its verdict without the accused having access to the final report and with no provision for appeal.
In addition, the accused was ordered to apologise to the Dublin District Branch despite the fact that the branch had not made any complaint and, naturally, there could be no specifics for the accused to respond to.
Sour cream
However, none of this made any difference to our two heroes HERE. Both of them were members of the NEC and both not only accepted the decisions of the NEC but also went on to assume the two most important positions in the party at the next congress.
Both also continue to uphold the decisions that were made at that time, refuse to re-examine the case and both know that the decision of the NEC was entirely irregular and completely wrong – especially Ní Mhaoilfhinn as she knows that she never mentioned harassment at any stage of the process.
They also refused, and continue to refuse to process a fully documented allegation of bullying against the party lodged in November, 2021 in contrast to the immediate and proper initiation of a process of inquiry when Ní Mhaoilfhill lodged her allegation of bullying.
As members of the NEC, this pair were also involved in the utterly unconstitutional abuse of the Re-registration process (members are required to supply specific information each year to continue their membership). This aberration HERE was first employed to solve the problem of how to expel large numbers of the party in the north of Ireland – including members of the NEC itself – without having to be bothered by such niceties as constitutional requirements and appeal processes. It was then used to expel the accused in the bullying allegation cited above.
What made the abuse of this particular provision so attractive to our heroes, among others, was the absolute lack of accountability it afforded them. There were no terms of reference and no appeal processes. Perfect.
Both Ní Mhaoilfhinn and Corcoran were also involved in the unconstitutional operation of the Betty Sinclair Branch – a cross-border set-up that not only defied the then constitution of the party but also was very successful at deliberately antagonising many members living in the north of Ireland HERE.
This pair are now the principal officers of a party that is supposed to offer a democratic and just alternative for workers to consider as a future model of society.
In our final chapter we will look at how everything could and should have been so much different.