Yousef Allan

``How is it with you''? These were invariably the words that began a conversation with the delegate-general of Palestine in Ireland, Yousef Allan. No matter what the issue, how important the meeting or how difficult events were in Palestine at that moment in time, a conversation with Yousef always began with his polite but earnest enquiry into how things were for you and for your family.

This and his relaxed easygoing disposition made Yousef one of those people you just couldn't help but find yourself wanting to talk with. Often in the busy world we live in today we have many friends and acquaintances who, if you met them in the street you might politely say hello, but not Yousef Allan. He had a way of compelling you to stop and talk, no matter how busy you or he was. Yousef's sudden death last week came as a complete shock to the many friends he had made in the Republican Movement over the years.

In his address to the 1999 Sinn Féin ard fheis, Yousef spoke of the terrible century that was ending for the Palestinian people, a century that had left them without a state. His wish was that the new century would be one where the Palestinian and Irish people would both achieve the future of true statehood they deserved.

Yousef's time in Ireland was frustrated and hampered by the crises in the Middle Eastern peace process and the failure to make the move from Palestinian Authority to state. Yet despite this he went about his work, his mission to press home the Palestinian case, with an unrelenting dedication.

There will be many who might expect us to eulogise Yousef's political work and yes he will be missed sorely for that. However, the Yousef I think many of us will miss was the gentle man we saw, and paused to talked with, while breakfasting or snacking out, in the maze of coffee shops and restaurants in the streets of Dublin's south city.

This man, usually sitting and drinking coffee while surrounded by a range of Arabic papers with their pictures of upheaval, conflict, rebellion and brutal Israeli oppression, still could always ask first about ``how is your peace process?''. Then you would talk, telling Yousef the dreary details he no doubt already knew but still wanted to hear from you.

It was the same integrity and honesty and at times stoic nature of Yousef that shone through in many recent media appearances he made to comment on and debate the latest upheaval in Palestine. Yousef didn't resort to what would have been righteous anger and indignation at the slaughter of Palestinians, many of them children. Instead, he calmly made the Palestinian case in the face of unnecessary and ill informed provocation from broadcasters and other commentators. With the utmost dignity and clarity, Yousef outlined the grave wrong that was being done to his people.

While many of those who attended Yousef's funeral last week might have found the Islamic ritual a world away from the Irish experience of mourning, maybe we could instead remember Yousef by having that coffee, reading that paper, discussing those events that are important to us and above all, being prepared to stand up for those who have been denied the right to speak for themselves.

BY ROBBIE MacGABHANN

Jack Coney

Jack Coney, Philadelphia, died suddenly on 21 January 2001, aged 57. He had just returned from attending the Irish Northern Aid Dinner in New York City the night before.

He was married to Marge (née Burns) for over 37 years. They had four children and are the proud grandparents of ten grandchildren.

Born in 1943 in South Philly, Jack graduated from Southeast Catholic High School in 1960. He belonged to the Longshoreman's Union, Local 129 until his retirement.

Jack served his church as a Eucharistic Minister and was a past director of a crisis pregnancy home.

He was a member of the Mairéad Farrell Unit of Irish Northern Aid in north east Philadelphia. Through the last decade, Jack visited Ireland yearly, always visiting with our men and women Irish political prisoners. Just this past November he visited with the men being held in Castlerea, County Roscommon, in contravention of the Good Friday Agreement.

Since July 1997, Jack served as National Coordinator for the Irish Political Prisoners Children's Holiday programme. Under Jack's leadership, the programme was able to double the number of republican children to come to America for summer holidays. The US Regional Coordinators and members of the Irish Political Prisoners Children's Holiday programme have extended their condolences to the Coney family. In a statement, they said: ``Jack was an inspiration to all of us and to the entire programme. His dedication, good humor and easy going manner will be missed. His memory will live on as an ispiration to others to not sit idly by while the people of Ireland suffer.''

Paul Doris, Chairman, the National Executive and the entire membership of Irish Northern Aid have also expressed their sorrow at Jack's sudden death.

They said: ``Jack was a staunch friend and supporter of Irish Northern Aid and of the Irish Republican Movement. He is one of the unsung heroes, who toiled tirelessly for the oppressed people of Ireland with no thought of reward or commendation. We are proud to have known Jack. He will be sorely missed.''

A friend of Ireland and of Irish political prisoners and their families.

I measc laochra na nGael a raibh sé.