July 1981

IRSP reject Anderson criticism

Derry Journal
Published Date: 08 July 2009

The IRSP have described Sinn Féin’s Martina Anderson’s attack on those republicans calling for an inquiry to be held into the events of the 1981 hunger strike as “arrogant.”

Strabane man Willie Gallagher, a member of the IRSP’s ruling executive, was speaking after the Sinn Féin MLA called for an end to the current controversary over the hunger strike.

She also said some republicans were exploiting the grief of the hunger strikers families to attack Sinn Féin.

Ms Anderson made her remarks amid claims by former prisoner Richard O’Rawe that a deal which would have prevented the deaths of six of the hunger strikers was rejected by the IRA leadership outside Long Kesh, despite being accepted by the prisoners.

Independent inquiry

Mr Gallagher said: “The IRSP fully support the calls from the O’Hara and Devine families for an Independent Republican Inquiry as outlined in their recent statement. Just like the two families “We cannot understand why any republican would have anything to fear from such an inquiry, or why they would not support it.

“Furthermore we totally refute claims by SF’s Martina Anderson that by doing so is both shameful and dishonourable.

We are disgusted by her inflammatory language which may have contributed to creating the climate for the attack on Patsy O’Hara’s memorial plaque,” he claimed.

The IRSP man also said he will continue to press for an inquiry to be held.

FULL STATEMENT:

The IRSP fully support the calls from the O’Hara and Devine families for an Independent Republican Inquiry as outlined in their recent statement. Just like the two families, “We cannot understand why any republican would have anything to fear from such an inquiry, or why they would not support it.”

Furthermore we totally refute claims by SF’s Martina Anderson that by doing so is both shameful and dishonourable. We are disgusted by her inflammatory language which may have contributed to creating the climate for the attack on Patsy O’Hara’s memorial plaque.

Such arrogant claims and use of inflammatory language will not deter nor deflect the IRSP from fulfilling their responsibilities and
supporting and representing the wishes of the two families.

Willie Gallagher
IRSP
05-07-09

Sourced from the Derry Journal