DÁIL DEBATE:THE DÁIL is to debate a Sinn Féin motion on the Dublin-Monaghan bombings next Tuesday, the same day Queen Elizabeth arrives for a State visit to the Republic.
The motion, published by the party yesterday, repeats the call made in an all-party resolution in 2008 for the British government to release all files relating to the bombings.
Sinn Féin TD Aengus Ó Snodaigh said the motion had been tabled because no action had been taken since the original motion was passed. He urged Taoiseach Enda Kenny to raise the matter with British prime minister David Cameron during the visit.
Mr Ó Snodaigh said it was widely believed that the attacks were carried out with the involvement of British intelligence.
While the motion has been timed to maximise the Government’s embarrassment during the royal visit, Tuesday marks the anniversary of the bombings, which killed 33 and injured 300.
The Barron report into the bombings, published in 2003, found that they were carried out by loyalist paramilitaries. It said there were grounds for suspecting the bombers may have had assistance from members of the security forces, but this was not proven.
Sinn Féin appealed to people wishing to protest at the visit of the Queen to Cork to do so in a dignified and peaceful manner as they announced details of a rally to oppose the visit and celebrate the city’s republican tradition.
Cork North Central Sinn Féin TD Jonathan O’Brien explained that the party would be organising a “People’s Rally Against the Royal Visit” on Sullivan’s Quay from 12.30-2.30pm on May 20th.
“Sinn Féin believes the English Queen should not be welcomed to Cork . . . The democratic and republican traditions of our city are far more worthy of celebration that the pomp and circumstance of royalty,” said Mr O’Brien, adding that the rally would include pageantry, poetry, music and speakers and is expected to attract several hundred people.
He said that Sinn Féin had met the Garda to discuss the rally and would be providing its own marshals to steward it.
“We know there are people out there who will try to use this visit to cause trouble and we . . . approached it responsibly and provide leadership to people opposed to the visit and give them an opportunity to voice that opposition in a dignified manner.
“This isn’t going to be a bunch of republicans standing across the quay with placards, screaming abuse at her as she passes . . . we have said that anyone with any thoughts of causing trouble would be doing a disservice to republican ideology.”
Councillor Chris O’Leary said Sinn Féin had declined offers to hold the rally on Patrick Street or Daunt Square.