3 Taoisigh refused to meet Glennane Gang Victims While Charlie Flanagan Undermines Campaign

Aontú Leader & Meath West TD Peadar Tóibín has expressed shock and annoyance at the conduct of FG’s Charlie Flanagan seeking to undermine the Unquiet Graves film and the heart-wrenching stories of the victims and survivors of the Glenanne Gang. He stated;

“To hear a prominent government TD get on the radio to question and undermine the truth of the survivors and victims of the Glenanne Gang, is beyond shocking. Over 5 years I have formally requested 3 Taoisigh to meet with victims and survivors of the Glenanne Gang. Enda Kenny, Leo Vardakar and Micheál Martin have all declined to even respond”.

“To victims and survivors such as Denise Mullen whose father was shot dead in front of her when she was just 4 years old, this is a shocking snub. To have a government TD, a former Minister for Justice getting on national radio to query why their stories were being told in the way they were rubs salt into the wound. This particular TD seems to have shown more sympathy towards the Black & Tans than the victims of British collusion.”

“Charlie Flanagan called the film questionable. His ‘concerns’ vary from feeling that the documentary film makers were not objective enough, to where the money comes from, to whether RTE did their due diligence in showing the film. In reality, it looks like Charlie Flanagan just didn’t want the film shown, the stories of survivors and victims told, and the abject failures of successive Irish governments to tackle the Glenanne Gang or meet with victims and survivors”.

“This underscores how out of touch FG are and were with the suffering of the people in the North, and the refusal of FF and FG to tackle the legacy of the Troubles. Rather than trying to censor the stories of Glenanne Gang survivors, Charlie Flanagan would do better to meet with survivors and aid their fight for justice. I have formally requested that Charlie Flanagan meets with the victims and survivors of the Glenanne Gang before he critiques their fight for justice”.

The Irish political system is radically broken

In Ireland the vast majority of elected representatives put a finger in the air to check which way the political wind is blowing. They have one eye on their leaders – seeking brownie points – and another eye keeping their seat safe. If elected reps shut up and do as they’re told, they are promoted; if they stand up for what they believe in, they are demoted. No wonder we have the political class we have. No wonder one point one billion euro is being buried in a hole under the National Children’s Hospital and that Stormont is in stalemate.

Throughout Ireland, many people are now afraid to say what they feel, many are afraid to respectfully engage on a range of different topics. Many feel there is a new censorship and a new political correctness in Ireland, that opposition to the establishment is being deleted.

Respectful opposition is not the enemy. Respectful opposition is a critical element of a functional democracy. Aontú will have the backbone to stand up, without fear, for you.