Justin Barrett

This article is about the Irish politician. For the psychologist, see Justin L. Barrett.
Justin Barrett
Born 1971 (age 44–45)
County Tipperary
Nationality Irish
Other names Justin Slevin[1][2][3]
Known for

Justin Barrett (born 1971 in County Tipperary) is an Irish far-right nationalist, pro-life and anti-immigration activist.[4][5]

Politics

Early activism, 1986-1991

Barrett began in Irish politics as part of the Eurosceptic movement and was involved in the Constitutional Rights Campaign, which unsuccessfully campaigned to prevent the ratification of the Single European Act in 1986. In 1987 he became involved in Family Solidarity, a movement established to uphold the social conservatism in Irish society contrary to social liberalism on social issues such as abortion, contraception, same-sex relations and divorce. Social liberals made gains in most of these areas; with the exception of abortion; leading Barrett to the conviction that political involvement was necessary for results - he was subsequently involved in Young Fine Gael until 1991.

Youth Defence, 1992-2004

From 1992 he became actively involved in the Irish pro-life movement, becoming the leader of Youth Defence,[6][7][8][9] and as a student in Athlone RTC he unsuccessfully contested the election for the Presidency of Union of Students in Ireland. During the 1995 divorce referendum, he was spokesman for the Youth Against Divorce campaign. He was also involved in the campaign against the 2002 abortion referendum. He left Youth Defence in 2004.[10]

Neo-nazi links

German far-right groups

Mr Barrett has spoken at events organised by the neo-nazi National Democratic Party of Germany several times, and been the guest of honour at a NPD rally in Passau, Germany in 2000, in which anti-semitic speeches, peppered with quotes from Adolf Hitler were given, along side claims that "Germany was the biggest victim of the second World War". Hundreds of skinheads gave standing ovations to elderly Nazis.[11][12] [13][14][15] The NPD confirmed that they have been in contact with Youth Defence for at least 6 years before.

Justin Barrett was an honorary guest at our event in Passau. I invited him. He sat with the delegates. We have been in contact with his group since 1996. We are friendly with his Youth Defence organisation.
— Holger Apfel, then deputy leader of the NPD

He attended two conferences, in October 1999 and 2000, organised by the youth wing of the NDP, the JN, alongside American white nationalist William Luther Pierce. The JN has spoken about how Youth Defence were an important part of their network.[16]

Of particular attraction was the participation of... the leader of the National Alliance from the USA, Dr William Pierce and, last but not least, the leader of a noteworthy Irish anti-abortion group, Justin Barret (sic) from Youth Defense (sic).
— Young National Democrats (JN) report on the 1999 conference
A leading far-right politician in Germany has described the anti-abortion group Youth Defence as "an important part of our international network". Youth Defence is the backbone of the No to Nice Campaign, whose chief spokesman is Mr Justin Barrett. ... Mr Sascha Rossmüller, leader of the Young National Democrats (JN), youth wing of the extremist National Democratic Party (NPD), told The Irish Times: "share many important interests." The German authorities say the JN began to take on neo-nazi characteristics in 1996.

Italian far-right groups

See also: Forza Nuova

The Forza Nuova website, in June 2001, reported that Justin Barrett had attended many Forza Nuova events in Italy (in Milan, and Bologna).[17] He attended and spoke at a Forza Nuova meeeting in Milan in November 2002. Barrett shared a platform with Roberto Fiore at a rally of flag-waving Italian fascists at the Hotel Miramar on 20 and 21 July 2001 in the Italian city of Civitanova. At the rally, Barrett was joined by Mario Di Giovanni, Youth Defence's representative in Italy. A group of Forza Nuova students, led by the then 25-year-old Marco Gladi, visited Ireland in 2001 to 'study' with Youth Defence. In an editorial on the Forza Nuova website, the movement calls itself a "friend" of Mr Barrett and praises his efforts to defeat the Nice Treaty.[18][19][20][21]

As part of the dirty war waged by "liberals" against "nationals", the greatest exponent of the nationalist front Justin Barrett, he was attacked in a press campaign of the kind to which we were accustomed us in the past. FN and NPD are, in the mind of the accusers, friends whose Barrett should be ashamed[22]
— Forza Nuova website in October 2002

No to Nice Campaign

In 2001, Barrett campaigned against the Treaty of Nice in both referenda. After the people voted no in Nice I, the vote was rerun a year later and passed in Nice II.[23] During the second Nice campaign, Barrett became the centre of a controversy over his participation in neo-Nazi events in Germany and Italy. Barrett initially denied, and then admitted he had spoken at a NPD rally.[24][25]

European elections, 2004

In the European Parliament election, 2004, Barrett stood as an Independent candidate for a seat in the East constituency. He attained 2.4% of the vote (a total of 10,997 first-preference votes) finishing 8th out of 13 candidates and did not win a seat.[26] Later that year, while attending a debate in University College Dublin, Barrett claimed he was the victim of an assault by members of the Irish Anti-Fascist Action group.[27]

In March 2004, he accompanied Gerry McGeough; an Independent Republican who has previously been a member of Sinn Féin; on a speaking tour.[28]

National Party, 2016 return

In a press released in November 2016, Justin Barrett announced that he was President of the newly founded National Party, a political party, which will oppose multi-culturalism and abortion and will promote a "Catholic republic".[29] The party was due to be launched in a press event on 17 November 2016 at the Merrion Hotel. However after public backlash, the hotel cancelled the event.[30][31][32][33][34] Barrett called for a complete ban on Muslims entering Ireland and called for racial profiling.[35][36]

Personal life

In 2004, Justin Barrett had a wife, Bernadette and children.[37][38] As of 2016, he is seeking an annulment for this marriage.[10]

Book

Barrett self-published a book putting forth his political principles, entitled The National Way Forward! [39] In the book he described immigration as "genocidal" and said that he was influenced by Hilaire Belloc, G. K. Chesterton and Arthur Penty.[40] He also promoted the work of Father Denis Fahey.[40]

Áine Ní Chonaill said that his agenda was broader than hers and that there had been no contact between them.[40]


References

  1. ↑ de Bréadún, Deaglán (5 October 2002). "Taking on the big boys". The Irish Times. p. 41. He was born in Cork city in 1971, fostered when he was two and adopted at the age of five by a family in Borrisokane, Co Tipperary. Barrett was his mother's family name and the one on his birth certificate, but his adoptive family's name was Slevin, so for years he was known as "Barrett Slevin", as though Barrett were a Christian name. He eventually opted for Barrett, and dropped the Slevin.
  2. ↑ "The Persuaders". Irish Independent. 12 October 2002. p. 31. who changed his name from a few years ago from Justin Slevin
  3. ↑ O'Donnell, Francis (29 September 2002). "Fascist Link of 'No to Nice' Chief". Sunday Mirror. Archived from the original on 19 November 2016. Retrieved 19 November 2016. People first became aware of Barrett's nasty views when he ran for a Union of Students in Ireland election in 1992 as a candidate from Athlone RTC. Barrett at this time was called Justin Slevin; he changed his name some years later
  4. ↑ Millar, Scott (12 January 2010). "Irish far right groups remain on the margins of political life". Irish Examiner. ...former Youth Defence leader, Justin Barrett.
  5. ↑ Gable, Gerry (November 2009). "Jim Dowson: How a militant anti-abortionist took over the BNP. Part 1 of a three part investigation.". Searchlight. His luck changed when he formed an alliance with Justin Barrett, a far-right Catholic lawyer and leader of the notorious Irish anti-abortion group Youth Defence, which had previously stormed buildings in Dublin in their crusade against a woman's right to choose.
  6. ↑ Millar, Scott (12 January 2010). "Irish far right groups remain on the margins of political life". Irish Examiner. ...former Youth Defence leader, Justin Barrett.
  7. ↑ Killilea, Gayle (7 October 2001). "The man wired to fight abortion". Independent.ie. ...Justin Barrett, Youth Defence's chief spokesman and mastermind.
  8. ↑ Hannon, Katie (16 May 2004). "Confessions of a Polcorr". Sunday Independent. p. 117. Fianna Fail researchers also dug up information about the Youth Defence leader Justin Barrett"s trips to neo-Nazi events in Germany
  9. ↑ Sheehan, Aideen (21 August 2009). "Treaty opponent no stranger to politics". Irish Independent. p. 12. Mr Reynolds has also strongly backed the pro-life cause, and he was closely associated with Youth Defence leader Justin Barrett
  10. 1 2 "Frequently Asked Questions". The National Party. Archived from the original on 30 November 2016. Retrieved 30 November 2016.
  11. ↑ Scully, Derek (11 October 2002). "Far-right rally had welcome for Irish No activist". The Irish Times. p. 11. Brown shirts and skinheads, elderly Nazi heroes with memories of the good old days... and Justin Barrett, honoured guest from Ireland. Derek Scally reports from Berlin on the German extreme right group and the No to Nice campaigner
  12. ↑ Humphreys, Joe (12 October 2002). "Barrett admits he attended far-right meeting". The Irish Times. p. 9. Mr Barrett, who earlier this week declined to confirm or deny to The Irish Times his attendance at the meeting in the Bavarian city of Passau in May 2000, yesterday admitted he attended the conference, as well as an estimated two other events linked to the NPD.
  13. ↑ Scully, Derek (11 October 2002). "Extreme-right group confirms Barrett link". The Irish Times. p. 1. Justin Barrett was an honorary guest at our event in Passau. I invited him. He sat with the delegates," said Mr Holger Apfel, the deputy leader of the NPD. "We have been in contact with his group since 1996. We are friendly with his Youth Defence organisation.
  14. ↑ "Barrett campaign to go full term despite poll". Irish Independent. 25 May 2004. p. 6. Mr Barrett (33) became caught up in controversy during the Nice Treaty campaign when it was revealed that he had close contact with an extreme right-wing party in Germany. Authorities there believed the party displayed "Nazi characteristics""
  15. ↑ McKittrick, David (12 October 2002). "Irish 'no' spokesman tied to neo-Nazis". The Independent. Justin Barrett, who fronts the "No to Nice Campaign," was said to have attended a fascist-style rally mounted by a party that German authorities believe has "Nazi characteristics".
  16. ↑ Scully, Derek (12 October 2002). "'Neo-Nazis' affirm links with Youth Defence". The Irish Times. p. 9. A leading far-right politician in Germany has described the anti-abortion group Youth Defence as "an important part of our international network". Youth Defence is the backbone of the No to Nice Campaign, whose chief spokesman is Mr Justin Barrett.
  17. ↑ "Benvenuti al sito ufficiale di Forzanuova" [Welcome to the official website of Forza Nuova] (in Italian). Archived from the original on 18 June 2001. Justin Barret leader di Youth Defence, il movimento antiabortista irlandese, che e' stato presente di persona ripetutamente a convegni e manifestazioni di Forza Nuova (Milano, Bologna...).
  18. ↑ O'Donnell, Francis (29 September 2002). "Fascist Link of 'No to Nice' Chief". Sunday Mirror. Archived from the original on 19 November 2016. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
  19. ↑ "The Persuaders". Irish Independent. 12 October 2002. p. 31. The Sunday Mirror reported last month that Justin Barrett had attended rallies of ulta-nationalist organisations in Germany and Italy
  20. ↑ de Bréadún, Deaglán (21 October 2002). "Business, the parties, FitzGerald and forum all played key roles". The Irish Times. p. 4. The story originally surfaced in a Sunday Mirror report drawn from left-wing and anti-fascist sources. Despite a threat of legal action from Mr Barrett's solicitors, The Irish Times succeeded in confirming, without any assistance or prompting from Fianna Fáil, that he had indeed attended meetings of the far-right National Democratic Party (NPD) in Germany and Forza Nuova in Italy.
  21. ↑ "F.N.: Bollettino 04.07.2001" (in Italian). 5 July 2001. Friday July 20 conference on The powers and freedoms of peoples at the Hotel D'Azeglio in Via Nazionale in Rome. Speakers Mario Di Giovanni, Gianni Correggiari, Giacinto Auriti, Roberto Fiore. Confirmed the participation of Justin Barrett, Secretary of the Irish Youth Defence and main promoter of the victorious initiatives for NO the referendum on the Nice Treaty. Beginning at 15:00. Saturday, July 21 at 17:30 at the Hotel Miramare Civitanova Marche (MC) held 'a lecture entitled "Survey on globalism and the powers that be. Speakers: Mario Di Giovanni, Justin Barrett (Youth Defence) Gianni Correggiari
  22. ↑ "Forza Nuova homepage" (in Italian). Archived from the original on 16 October 2002.
  23. ↑ "The man wired to fight abortion". Irish Independent. 7 October 2001. Retrieved 19 October 2016.
  24. ↑ De Breadun, Deaglan (12 October 2002). "Barrett admits attending far-right party meetings in Italy, Germany". Irish Times. p. 1. The chief spokesman of the No to Nice Campaign, Mr Justin Barrett, has admitted speaking at a meeting of the far-right Forza Nuova party in Milan but says he did not know it was widely regarded as a neo-fascist organisation.
  25. ↑ Donaghy, Kathy (12 October 2002). "Campaigners on both sides of treaty lash out at Barrett". Irish Independent. Retrieved 13 December 2012.
  26. ↑ "Elections Ireland: Justin Barrett". Elections Ireland. Retrieved 16 November 2016.
  27. ↑ "Justin Barrett 'Attacked' while attending UCD debate". Indymedia Ireland. 14 October 2004. Retrieved 16 November 2016.
  28. ↑ "Ex-Provo gives new life to Irish clerical fascism". Searchlight. August 2006. Archived from the original on 24 October 2006. Retrieved 16 November 2016.
  29. ↑ Leahy, Pat (17 November 2016). "National Party leader espouses creation of 'Catholic republic'". The Irish Times. Retrieved 28 November 2016.
  30. ↑ Joseph King [spotlightIRL] (16 November 2016). "Ex. YD organiser Justin Barrett set to launch The National Party this Thurs 17 Nov. Mention of 'population displacement' & pro-life policies" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  31. ↑ Brennan, Cianan (16 November 2016). "An extreme right-wing party is planning to launch itself in Dublin tomorrow". TheJournal.ie.
  32. ↑ D'Arcy, Ciarán (17 November 2016). "Merrion Hotel cancels launch of anti-immigration political party". Irish Times. Retrieved 17 November 2016. The Merrion Hotel in Dublin has cancelled an “information meeting” on an anti-immigration and anti-abortion political party for Ireland which was due to be staged there. The National Party had circulated a short press release earlier this week informing the media of an event due to take place at the five-star hotel
  33. ↑ Leahy, Pat (17 November 2016). "National Party leader espouses creation of 'Catholic republic'". The Irish Times. Retrieved 17 November 2016. A former activist with the militant anti-abortion group Youth Defence, Justin Barrett … He is described as the president of the National Party, whose nine principles espouse a nationalist, anti-abortion, anti-EU, anti-immigration platform.
  34. ↑ Larkin, Laura (17 November 2016). "Far-right party's launch is cancelled". Irish Independent. Retrieved 17 November 2016. The new National Party were due to unveil their party to the media in the Merrion Hotel. However, following a public outcry online, the hotel postponed the event.
  35. ↑ Clarke, Vivienne (18 November 2016). "Ireland's National Party in favour of racial profiling, says leader". THe Irish Times. Justin Barrett says there needs to be complete ban on Muslims coming into the country
  36. ↑ Dineen, Kieran (18 November 2016). "New National Party leader Justin Barrett wants ban on Muslims entering Ireland". The Sun. There should be an immediate ban on Muslims coming here, says the leader of the new National Party. He added that those already living in Ireland should be deported if they fail a vetting test. In his first interview in ten years, Justin Barrett likened the burka to a “balaclava”, said gay marriage was a “sham” and “not natural” and claimed abortion was the same as “murder”
  37. ↑ Brennock, Mark (19 May 2004). "Runners name their stand-in choices". The Irish Times. p. 11. In East, Mr Justin Barrett has chosen his wife, Bernadette, as his first replacement
  38. ↑ Coulter, Carol (7 June 2004). "Barrett believes immigration will be key issue". The Irish Times. p. 6. said Ms Bernadette Barrett, wife of Mr Justin Barrett.
  39. ↑ Mackin, Martin (15 June 2003). "Way forward is a huge, hysterical step back". Sunday Business Post. Archived from the original on 13 October 2003. Retrieved 16 November 2016.
  40. 1 2 3 Millar, Scott (18 May 2009). "Abortion fighter turns his sights on immigration". The Times. Retrieved 14 May 2009.(subscription required)
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