Belfast Telegraph Comment Will Sinn Fein tell us the difference between a ‘good republican’ and a ‘bad republican’? Don’t bet on it Pearse McAuley (Martin McCullough/PA) Pearse McAuley (Martin McCullough/PA)
The funeral of Pearse McAuley in Strabane, Co Tyrone The funeral of Pearse McAuley in Strabane, Co Tyrone
Pearse McAuley (Martin McCullough/PA) Pearse McAuley (Martin McCullough/PA)
The funeral of Pearse McAuley in Strabane, Co Tyrone The funeral of Pearse McAuley in Strabane, Co Tyrone
Andrew Madden Today at 18:18 It was a familiar sight during the Troubles and, on occasion, in the years since: a coffin draped in an Irish tricolour, with a black beret and gloves placed on top. It was a clear sign that the coffin carried the body of a staunch republican and, to be more exact, a former IRA member. This was the scene at the funeral of Pearse McAuley last week.
So what did McAuley do during the so-called ‘war’ to merit him such a send-off?
He was sentenced to 14 years in jail for the manslaughter of Garda Detective Jerry McCabe, who was shot dead by an IRA gang during a post office robbery in Co Limerick in June 1996.
Then, in 2015, he was sentenced to 12 years for brutally stabbing his estranged wife Pauline Tully, who is now a Sinn Fein TD, at her home in front of their two children the previous Christmas Eve.
peculation from some quarters that Sinn Fein had some part in McAuley’s funeral, which party TD Eoin Ó Broin was quick to dismiss, adding that the Garda killer would not be seen by republicans as someone of “good standing”.
Then, on Wednesday, Michelle O’Neill said the Irish flag should not have been placed on the coffin. This raises the question: when exactly is someone seen as not in “good standing” by republicans?
This week also saw the funeral of IRA woman Rose Dugdale. Her death prompted messages of tribute from Sinn Fein and an Irish flag was draped over her coffin; the party seemingly had no issue with that.
But, it should be noted, Rose Dugdale was an IRA bombmaker and through these devices she may well have been indirectly involved in the killing of scores of people.
So where exactly is the line when it comes to someone being deemed a “good republican” or a “bad republican”?
South Armagh man Thomas ‘Slab’ Murphy, reported to be a senior IRA figure during the Troubles, was described as a “mass murderer” in a BBC Spotlight documentary in 2016 and was jailed for tax offences the same year. Gerry Adams described him as a “good republican” — and Conor Murphy, the local MLA and current Economy Minister, later said the party stood by Mr Adams’ comments.
It seems Sinn Fein’s moral barometer can be quite flexible in such cases, dependent on circumstance and context. Is it that Troubles-related crimes are acceptable but those that fall outside that category are not?
It is interesting to note that McAuley was greeted with open arms by Sinn Fein members when he was released from prison in the Garda manslaughter case, but not after his second release, for the stabbing of his estranged wife.
Sinn Fein is now the largest party at Stormont and on track to come out on top in the next general election south of the border. There is no doubt that it will face further tough questions going forward, particularly when it comes to its connection with the IRA and reconciliation.
Will there come a day when Sinn Fein tells us what constitutes a “good” versus “bad” republican”? Don’t hold your breath.
by Gazmac_868855
2 comments
Meh. At least it’s not that American twat posting.
