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15 February 2007 Edition

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Letter to the Taoiseach by Barry McElduff

Barry McElduff

Barry McElduff

I see that Paidrígín Uí Mhurchadha, sister of Feargal O’Hanlon and a very sound republican in her own right, is down to speak at the Annual Clonmult Commemoration in Middleton, County Cork, this coming Sunday, 18 February.  This has been a big year for Paidrígín and her family because of the 50th Anniversary of Seán South and Feargal.

You and I, Taoiseach, should have a particular interest in this commemoration.  Your own people before you were Irish republicans from Cork while I had the privilege of addressing this commemoration last February.

The commemoration, organised by Sinn Féin, is always well attended. It remembers 14 IRA Volunteers who lost their lives in February and May 1921.  They were killed by the Black and Tans in an ambush and follow-up executions not unlike the Loughgall ambush in County Armagh in 1987.  By the way, this yea, represents the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Volunteers of Loughgall. I think that what happened in Clonmult represented the highest number of republican casualties in the Tan War.

I have great memories of meeting Cork republicans last February. Eddie Collins accommodated both myself and Joe Campbell from Dromore.  Indeed, the three of us even got a photograph with Donal Óg Cusack and the Liam McCarthy Cup on the evening before the commemoration. I have other stories about the journey down through Wexford but I’ll save these for another time.

To the point, you will recall that I wrote to you in March last year, taking issue with the fact that plain-clothed Garda personnel photographed those taking part in last year’s parade and graveside commemoration.  They did this continuously in an exercise which could only be described as political harassment.  You might remember that I asked you to explain why Garda Special Branch officers take photographs of people attending the Clonmult commemoration.  You see, this happens en route to the graveyard and in the graveyard as well. Garda photographers hiding behind headstones and stepping out to shoot every now and then.

In fairness to yourself, Taoiseach, your Private Secretary wrote back to me on 10 March 2006, saying that you had forwarded my letter to your colleague, Mr Michael McDowell TD, Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, for his attention and consideration.  No better man.  Did you see him belting out Amhrán na bhFiann last Sunday at Croke Park?  The real McCoy.

Anyway, for his part, Michael took his time but he did eventually reply on 26 May 2006.  Here is what he said:

 

“I wish to advise you that operational policing is a matter for the Garda authorities.  Accordingly, if you have any concerns in relation to particular instances of policing operations, you are free to make direct contact with the Office of the Garda Commissioner.”

 

Minister McDowell trusted that I appreciated his position on the issue and he passed on to me your best wishes as well.  You might wonder why I choose to raise this matter again, here and now.  I’ll tell you why.  Very simple. 

Could you have a word in the ear of the Garda authorities and of Minister McDowell ahead of this Sunday? Dispatch the state photographers somewhere else.  There is fierce talk of gangland killings and drug pushing throughout the state.  Perhaps the men with the camcorders, the digital cameras and the long lenses could be more usefully deployed there.

Remember, Taoiseach, we are only trying to free Ireland and maybe you might come round to giving us a hand some time.  Sustain the flame.

 

Is mise le meas

Barry McElduff

 

NB: Bertie Ahern can be contacted on (00 353) 1 619 4020 or e-mail [email protected].  Address: Office of the Taoiseach, Government Buildings, Dublin 2.


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