McSorley’s robbery foiled

McSorley’s Old Ale House, on East 7th Street in Manhattan, is one of New York’s oldest bars. Decades ago, women were not allowed through its doors while working men slaked their thirst.

Nowadays, tourists flock to the popular drinking spot to soak up the historic century-old atmosphere and sample a few jars of the bar’s famous beers.

Anthony Guffian had more on his mind than ale and history, police say, when he walked into the bar and ordered a drink on Monday afternoon.

A parolee wearing an electronic bracelet supposed to confine him to home, Guffian ordered a beer and then allegedly tried to rob the bar’s manager of a bag containing thousands of dollars.

Police said when bar manager, Matthew Maher, was about to head out of the door to make a bank deposit, Guffian snatched the bag away from him and sprinted out into the street. Maher gave chase, but Guffian hopped into a waiting blue BMW, driven by his alleged accomplice, Mike Hoover, police said.

Nearby officers happened to spot the robbery, gave chase and apprehended the two alleged thieves. The loot, $20,000, was recovered at the scene of the arrest. Charges were still pending against Guffian and Hoover on Tuesday.

McAllisters get support

Forty-five members of the House of Representatives have sent a letter to Attorney General Janet Reno asking that she intervene in the political asylum case of the McAllisters, a Wallington, N.J., family of six who fear for their lives if they are sent back to Northern Ireland.

Congressman Bob Menendez said a recent decision to deny political asylum to Malachy and Bernadette McAllister, and their four children, places them in jeopardy if they are forced to return to the North.

During a loyalist attack on their Belfast home in October 1988, 25 shots were fired, narrowly missing three of the McAllister children and Mrs. McAllister’s mother, who was babysitting at the time. After this attack, the McAllisters fled.

Last May, the Immigration and Materialization Service denied the family political asylum in the U.S.

The letter to Reno stated that the cease-fire in Northern Ireland "has not provided a reprieve from violent artisan acts."

This Friday, Aug. 13, Malachy McAllister will take part in a panel discussion, entitled "The Fight for Irish Freedom Today," sponsored by the Militant Forum, 59 Fourth Ave. (corner of Bergen), in Brooklyn. Also taking part will be Kathleen Fitzgerald, United Transportation Union member. Dinner is at 6:30 p.m. Donation is $4. Details, (718) 399-7257 or Kathie Fitzgerald at (973) 353-9424.

Flynn making waves

Former Boston mayor and U.S. ambassador to the Vatican Raymond Flynn is enjoying a growing audience for his radio shows.

Last fall, Flynn began hosting a Saturday radio show on WRKO in Boston.

Now, he can now also be heard on weekday mornings on Catholic Family Radio, from 9 a.m. to noon, in Los Angeles, Chicago, Denver and other cities.

Boston radio station WROL 950AM is planning to run the program this fall.

"Ray Flynn brings to Catholic Family Radio a unique perspective and a dual exposure to both the political and religious world," CFR President John Lynch said.

Flynn is a member of the Knights of Columbus and the Knights of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem.