4 November 1999 Edition
Boy band's insensitivity slammed
Chart-topping Irish pop band, Westlife, was strongly criticised this week by Ogra Shinn Féin National Organiser Matt Carthy over its decision to launch the British Legion's Poppy Day drive for funds.
Carthy (22), a Councillor for Carrickmacross in County Monaghan, said the band's participation was ``insensitive'' and that he had received support for his stance from nationalists in North who lost relatives in the Second World War but who feel alienated from the Poppy Day ceremonies because they are dominated by the British military and the Unionist establishment.
``This is not just about the First and Second World Wars. It is about honouring the British Army in all its colonial and imperialist adventures, including Kenya, Aden, Cyprus and Ireland'', Carthy said.
The 22-year-old Councillor said he had no problem with people honouring their dead but questioned how the band, whose members are from Dublin and Sligo, could take a lead in an official British military charity event with so many outrages carried out by the British Army in Ireland still unresolved, including the 1974 Dublin and Monaghan bombings.
``There are other dark episodes of British Army involvement in Ireland, including our Sharpeville- Bloody Sunday, as well as the role of the British Army's Brian Nelson in arming and acting as intelligence officer for loyalist death squads, the freeing and promotion of convicted Paratrooper Lee Clegg and also of Guardsmen Wright and Fisher, who were convicted of gunning down unarmed nationalist Peter McBride.''
Councillor Carthy added that, just as Boyzone created a storm when they played in Indonesia, bands have to consider how their actions are viewed in a political context: ``I don't think Westlife or its management thought this one through, but I hope that the issues I have raised make them think about why they are taking part in this British military festival.''
Following the adverse publicity, Westlife's record company mangers RCA distanced the band from the decision to take part in the Poppy Day appeal and said the decision to involve the band in the event was ``entirely that of the record company''.
Carthy (22), a Councillor for Carrickmacross in County Monaghan, said the band's participation was ``insensitive'' and that he had received support for his stance from nationalists in North who lost relatives in the Second World War but who feel alienated from the Poppy Day ceremonies because they are dominated by the British military and the Unionist establishment.
``This is not just about the First and Second World Wars. It is about honouring the British Army in all its colonial and imperialist adventures, including Kenya, Aden, Cyprus and Ireland'', Carthy said.
The 22-year-old Councillor said he had no problem with people honouring their dead but questioned how the band, whose members are from Dublin and Sligo, could take a lead in an official British military charity event with so many outrages carried out by the British Army in Ireland still unresolved, including the 1974 Dublin and Monaghan bombings.
``There are other dark episodes of British Army involvement in Ireland, including our Sharpeville- Bloody Sunday, as well as the role of the British Army's Brian Nelson in arming and acting as intelligence officer for loyalist death squads, the freeing and promotion of convicted Paratrooper Lee Clegg and also of Guardsmen Wright and Fisher, who were convicted of gunning down unarmed nationalist Peter McBride.''
Councillor Carthy added that, just as Boyzone created a storm when they played in Indonesia, bands have to consider how their actions are viewed in a political context: ``I don't think Westlife or its management thought this one through, but I hope that the issues I have raised make them think about why they are taking part in this British military festival.''
Following the adverse publicity, Westlife's record company mangers RCA distanced the band from the decision to take part in the Poppy Day appeal and said the decision to involve the band in the event was ``entirely that of the record company''.