Volunteer Diarmuid O'Neill commemoration - Committed to the struggle

Diarmuid O’Neill

A LARGE CROWD assembled at Timoleague Cemetery, Cork, last Sunday, 23 September, to mark the 11th anniversary of the death of IRA Volunteer Diarmuid O’Neill.
The ceremony was organised by the Clonakilty Sinn Féin Cumann and chaired by Councillor Paul Hayes, who extended a céad míle fáilte to everyone, in particular those who had travelled long distances for the event. He particularly welcomed Diarmuid O’Neill’s father, Eoghan and brother, Shane, to the annual event.
Wreaths were laid on behalf of the Republican Movement and Clonakilty, Bandon, Bantry, Macroom and Cork City, Sinn Féin cumainn.
The oration was delivered by Councillor Cionnaith Ó Súilleabháin, who recalled that Volunteer Diarmuid O’Neill was the last Irish republican to die violently in this phase of the struggle for freedom and independence.
In murdering him 11 years ago in London, as he stood with his hands raised and dressed only in his underwear at 4am in the morning in London, the British military and political establishment was sending a message that they would shoot first and ask questions later. Amnesty International called for a review of the investigation into his killing.
Cionnaith Ó Súilleabháin praised Diarmuid’s commitment to the struggle and pledged Sinn Féin’s ongoing support to families whose loved ones have been murdered by British forces and their allies in their quest for the truth about these incidences.

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Reflecting on the political events of the last 12 months, Ó Súilleabháin said that it is incredible that Ian Paisley has agreed to sit down and share power with republicans after 80 years of saying “No!”
The disappearance from the landscape of the British military apparatus and the troops also represented huge progress. Ó Súilleabháin said this is a measure of the patience and perseverance of republicans who have always led the peace process, and often took hard decisions in the national interest.
Ó Súilleabháin welcomed the recent announcement that Fianna Fáil is considering becoming an all-Ireland party.
Ó Súilleabháin said this is the result of the march towards the united Ireland that Sinn Féin and republicans have been planning for decades. However, he said the government party should not just pay lip service to the notion of a united Ireland. He called on An Taoiseach to stand by his previous commitments on Northern representation in the Oireachtas.
Ó Súilleabháin also congratulated party colleague John Desmond, who was elected Mayor of Bandon in June. Referring to the recent general election, he admitted that it was not as successful as republicans would have liked, but it is now time to get over the disappointment and redouble our efforts to make the gains next time out. He appealed for more people to get involved in the Sinn Féin party, either as supporters or activists, and to play their part.
The ceremony concluded with the singing of Amhrán na bhFiann.