5 March 1998 Edition
Paddy McIlkenny, a fighter for justice
By Alex Maskey
BY THE time the Birmingham Six were released they were an international cause celebre. However, this followed sixteen years of torture, demonisation and imprisonment, brutal times for the prisoners personally and undoubtedly their families.
But from the beginning there were those in high places who knew of their innocence, there were those who were uncertain yet frightened into silence and there were those who continued to villify the prisoners.
In many ways Paddy McIlkenny was a lone voice. Despite the real fear for his own safety and amidst the anti-Irish hysteria, Paddy took on the world to prove that his brother and the others were innocent.
With sheer determination and disregard for himself and his own family, Paddy was an inspiration. Who believed then, so many years ago, that `ordinary' people could take on the governments, establishment and media in what was described as a hopeless campaign to prove the Birmingham Six innocent?
After all, they confessed, were convicted as guilty and lost appeal after appeal. The churches were silent, the Dublin Government was silent and to their shame many sat idly by. But not Paddy.
And while the Birmingham Six had a dedicated core of supporters who worked tirelessy for their release, Paddy McIlkenny stood out.
In the times that were in it, even here in Belfast there were many doors closed to anyone fighting for justice, Paddy had many of those doors slammed in his face. But he never gave up. He tramped the streets, changed people's opinions and helped motivate many others to defend victims of injustice.
He travelled and gathered support locally and abroad. The thousands of ordinary people who stood by Paddy and the Six showed that justice can be won.
It is hard to believe that the Birmingham Six would not now be free were it not for the efforts of those like Paddy McIlkenny. The news of their release must have been just about the best moment in his life.
I say ``just about'' because after all he married Breige and had two sons, Patrick and Alan. In expressing condolences to you Breige and your family, the sympathy of our community is with you all.
BY THE time the Birmingham Six were released they were an international cause celebre. However, this followed sixteen years of torture, demonisation and imprisonment, brutal times for the prisoners personally and undoubtedly their families.
But from the beginning there were those in high places who knew of their innocence, there were those who were uncertain yet frightened into silence and there were those who continued to villify the prisoners.
In many ways Paddy McIlkenny was a lone voice. Despite the real fear for his own safety and amidst the anti-Irish hysteria, Paddy took on the world to prove that his brother and the others were innocent.
With sheer determination and disregard for himself and his own family, Paddy was an inspiration. Who believed then, so many years ago, that `ordinary' people could take on the governments, establishment and media in what was described as a hopeless campaign to prove the Birmingham Six innocent?
After all, they confessed, were convicted as guilty and lost appeal after appeal. The churches were silent, the Dublin Government was silent and to their shame many sat idly by. But not Paddy.
And while the Birmingham Six had a dedicated core of supporters who worked tirelessy for their release, Paddy McIlkenny stood out.
In the times that were in it, even here in Belfast there were many doors closed to anyone fighting for justice, Paddy had many of those doors slammed in his face. But he never gave up. He tramped the streets, changed people's opinions and helped motivate many others to defend victims of injustice.
He travelled and gathered support locally and abroad. The thousands of ordinary people who stood by Paddy and the Six showed that justice can be won.
It is hard to believe that the Birmingham Six would not now be free were it not for the efforts of those like Paddy McIlkenny. The news of their release must have been just about the best moment in his life.
I say ``just about'' because after all he married Breige and had two sons, Patrick and Alan. In expressing condolences to you Breige and your family, the sympathy of our community is with you all.