IRA victims back Micheal Martin over Sinn Fein legacy rebuff

Taoiseach Micheal Martin made his comments in response to a challenge from Galway West TD Mairéad Farrell – that the Irish government was not doing enough to have the Stormont House legacy mechanisms implemented.

During a question session at the Dail, Ms Farrell – a niece of her namesake shot dead by the SAS in Gibraltar in 1988 – told Mr Martin that a truth recovery process must be established, including “a proper archive of lived experiences and an examination of themes and patterns”.

She said: “Taoiseach, I am asking you to meet with Relatives for Justice and bereaved families, and to commit to me here today, and to the other 3,500 bereaved relatives, that you will do all you can to ensure the full implementaiton of the Stormont House Agreement without delay.”

Mr Martin responded, saying: “I think maybe your party could do something as well. Maybe it’s time for you to help and assist in truth recovery in relation to the terrible atrocities.”

Interrupted by heckling from the Sinn Fein TD, Mr Martin said: “Why is that shocking? Why is it shocking that the relatives of those who were murdered at Kingmills...that they should get transparency and some truth of what happened?

“You generically call it ‘the conflict’ as if the Provisional IRA, the Provisional Movement, had absolutely nothing to do with it.

“That people got killed by accident seems to be the assertion. But we know the reality, and we will do what we can, as a government we have played out part, through the Smithwick Inquiry, settuing up the Smithwick Tribunal and we will do more if necessary to bring truth. But you must also do more I think as well.”

Ms Farrell later tweeted that Mr Martin had engaged in “hurtful commentary” when addressed by “a bereaved relative of the conflict”.

Her aunt was on an IRA bombing mission in Gibralter when she was shot dead along with Sean Savage and Dan McCann. They were unarmed at the time.

The bombers’ target was the band of the Royal Anglican Regiment due to perform at a changing of the guard ceremony in the British Overseas Territory.

While a large number of Sinn Fein elected representatives and supporters expressed support for the party’s TD, several IRA victims were unhappy at Ms Farrell’s contribution.

Alan Black, the son of Kingsmills massacre survivor Alan Black snr, challenged Ms Farrell to state which part of Mr Mr Martin’s response “wasn’t true,” and said the taoiseach had “today raised more awareness about Kingsmill than any Sinn Fein politician has in an official capacity either side of the border”.

One comment said there is “no justice for the majority of IRA victims in Northern Ireland,” while another added: “I wonder if Mairead has ever asked any of those in Sinn Fein who were active in the PIRA campaign to provide truth to their victims?”

Sinn Fein MLA Emma Rogan, who father was murdered by the UVF in the Loughinisland atrocity, responded to Mr Martin, saying: “This narrative of whataboutery needs to stop.”

She tweeted: “The conflict in Ireland was not two sides at war”.

Replying to Ms Rogan, Fine Gael councillor for Finglas County, Ted Leddy, said: “I agree with much of what Mairead said about a truth recovery process. The problem Emma, and I mean this with the greatest respect as I know your family suffered terribly in the conflict, is that Sinn Fein are themselves in the possession of information that could solve many crimes and give many families justice. They choose not to divulge this information”.

READ: Gibraltar: Impact of IRA deaths on the Rock at hands of SAS still reverberates

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