later — brought about by a Protestant general strike in protest against the idea of sharing power with Catholics suggested that Protestant working Socialist Challenge 3 January 1980 Page 8 Prophecy class was As to what the next ten years. offer, the last ten have shown how uncertain'a business prophecy can be. they would end the violence 'in a few weeks'. • Where are the Peace People Nevertheless. couple predictions can be tentatively suggested; that Britain's political initiative, Humphrey Atkins' constitutional conference, will fail to solve anything is the most obvious. This in turn is liable to lead to more . self-questioning in just exactly government and army are doing in the North-east according to an article in the Sunday Times Margaret Thatcher somewhat shocked het colleagues at a recent cabinet meeting when she asked, 'why don't we leave Ireland?' Perhaps the safest bet of all for the • 1980s is that many more in Britain will be asking that question as the months and years proceed latest prison.
society Indeed None of these Loyalists was arrested.
possibility of a prison sentence. The trial of 11 feminists arrested in Armagh during an International Women's Day picket last year began as Socialist Challenge went to press. The women were assaulted and held during a demonstration outside Armagh women's At the initial hearing on 31 October in Armagh the accused, including members of Women Against Imperialism and playwright Margaretta D'Arcy, entered the court room wearing T-shirts bearing the feminist symbol and the slogans: 'Prisoner of War Status Now' and 'Smash Hl-block'. They refused to stand when the magistrate entered the court.
Most of the day was taken up by the evidence and cross examination of the chief prosecution witness, Inspector Donaldson, and the police doctor. The Inspector's exeuse for the unprovoked attack on the demonstrators, numbering about 50 women and children, was that he acted to prevent an ugly scene developing between the women and some Loyalist counter-demonstrators.
Some of the women charged faced serious double assault charges and the