Drew Harris Should Divulge All Information He has on the Glenanne Gang

Aontú Leader & Meath West TD Peadar Tóibín, and Aontú Cllr for Mid Ulster Denise Mullen, have called on Garda Commissioner Drew Harris to explain and clarify his role and knowledge of the actions of the Glenanne Gang, and to explain his decision to thwart a court-ordered inquiry into the murders of the Glenanne Gang. Cllr Denise Mullen’s father was shot dead by the Glenanne gang when she was just 4 years old.

Tóibín & Mullen: “Drew Harris was an officer in the RUC since 1983, and was Deputy Chief Constable of the PSNI from 2014. During that time he would have had access to British intelligence and police intelligence reports regarding the actions of the Glenanne Gang. He has never stated what he knew, what actions did he take, and why he failed to act on what he knew. And, as many Irish people will have no doubt seen, he was a member of the PSNI leadership that thwarted a court-ordered inquiry into the murders of the Glenanne Gang and British collusion”.

“The public have a right to know. The victims and survivors of British collusion deserve and have the right to know. This underscores the importance of a meeting between survivors and an Taoiseach. Three Taoisigh have snubbed formal requests that we have made to meet the survivors. The Good Friday Agreement commits all parties to addressing the legacy of the conflict. Central to that legacy is the plight of survivors, and central to that is Drew Harris revealing either in public or to survivors what he knew and why he acted the way he did.”

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.