Litreacha/Letters

Donegal deaths

A Chairde

The body of Ritchie Barron was discovered on a road in County Donegal on 14 October 1996. The facts now established are: no forensic evidence was collected at the site; the state pathologist was not contacted; Gardaí acted on an assumption that prevented a professional investigation; individuals were charged with a crime that never happened.

The body of Mary Reid was discovered on a beach in County Donegal on 29 January 2003. The facts now established are: the scene was not preserved; no forensic evidence was collected at the site; the state pathologist was not contacted; Gardaí acted on an assumption that prevented a professional investigation; individuals were charged with a crime that may have happened.

Incompetence or coincidence, the families of Ritchie Barron and Mary Reid deserve apologies from the Garda authorities and the Minister for Justice.

Joseph Reid,

Termonfeckin, County Louth.

Dirty dealings in Clonakilty

A Chairde

I wish to bring to your attention the disgraceful scenes at the AGM of Clonakilty Town Council on 21 June last.

When it came to the election of Mayor, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael reneged on a written agreement made last year, which would have given the mayoralty to Sinn Féin for the coming year. Instead they backed the re-installation of current mayor, Philomena O'Regan.

To give credit to other Independent councillors, Anthony McDermott and Michael O'Regan, they stood by the agreement and backed Sinn Féin's Cionnaith Ó Súilleabháin. The support of his party colleague, Paul Hayes, made the vote five to four in favour of breaking the agreement.

This farce shows the true colours of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. The sickening act of hypocrisy is an insult to the people of Clonakilty, who have stood firmly behind Cionnaith. False allegations of intimidation are being made by the offending councillors in an attempt to defend the indefensible. Fortunately, the people of Clonakilty are not stupid and see behind these lies.

What happened in Clonakilty Town Council was an affront to democracy and true democrats everywhere. The five councillors should resign, however, I am confident that the voters will save at least some of them that trouble and will vote them out themselves.

I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Cionnaith Ó Súilleabháin, the 'real' mayor of Clonakilty.

Donal O' Driscoll,

Clonakilty, County Cork.

Bodenstown thanks

A Chairde

On behalf of the Marie Wright/Joe Cahill Sinn Féin Cumann in Kildare I would like to thank those of you who attended the function in Naas after the Bodenstown commemoration. Your support was very much appreciated as we work to build momentum in the area. With the sun shining, good music and a pleasant atmosphere, a great day was had by all. The cumann intends to make this an annual post commemoration event.

We would also like to acknowledge with thanks the members of Ferns Sinn Féin whose help with preparations, distributing leaflets and flagging the route, was invaluable.

The Bodenstown commemoration is an important event on the republican calendar, with people travelling from all over the country to the grave of Wolfe Tone.

On an otherwise perfect day, my husband Martin (McCauley, Colombia Three) was sorely missed (as he is every day), not least because I retain many happy memories of us making that journey together since the children were babies but because it was also Father's Day.

It has been more than a year since we've had any contact with the men, a cruel situation. With enough political pressure exerted on the right people, I would hope that Sunday 19 June 2005 was the last Father's Day with Martin, Jim and Niall absent.

Cristín McCauley,

Kildare.