Apology Owed The Family of Volunteer Patsy O'Hara, Irish National Liberation Army • 11 August 2006 The Sinn Fein 81 Committee have organised 'Night of Remembrance for Hunger Striker and INLA Volunteer Mickey Devine', in Derry's Guildhall on the evening of August 19th. We call upon The Ex-Lord Mayor of Derry City, Lynn Fleming (Sinn Fein), to use this opportunity to formally apologise, on behalf of the provisional Republican movement, to the Devine and O Hara families for the harassment and attacks which both suffered at the hands of their members, during many months, which in turn contributed to the imprisonment of Patsy and Mickey in 1976. It was due to death threats from the provisional movement upon the Republican Socialist Movement, which in turn directly led Mickey and Patsy to raid an arms shop in Lifford Co Donegal. During this raid they took 28 medium to low calibre rifles, to protect both themselves and the Movement to which they belonged. Both (along with two others) were later arrested in Derry and charged with possession with intent. The charges against Patsy were dropped due to no evidence. The other 3, including Mickey, were later sentenced to 12 years. If no threats had been made upon the membership and extended families of the RSM, then it would have been unlikely that Mickey would have found himself imprisoned during this period in time. Patsy had received a beating from a group of up to 13 of the provisional movement a few weeks previous to these threats. As a family, we have enormous admiration for the Volunteers of the IRA who fought the British war machine to a standstill. But the actions of some of those members (including its Derry leadership) fell far short of the noble aims, objectives, and conduct of that which a freedom fighter's should be. It is a truly sad reflection upon this organisation that they were busier harassing, threatening and attempting to prevent Irish Republican Socialist revolutionaries like Patsy and Mickey from conducting attacks against British army and RUC personnel.....than they were persuing republican objectives themselves. We also acknowledge the genuine people involved in the above committee who have worked tirelessly for months in setting up fitting commemorations for the ten H Block Hunger Strikers. And, as they have taken it upon themselves to organise this night of remembrance for Republican Socialist freedom fighter Mickey Devine — a leading member of the Irish National Liberation Army (without, we may add, any invitation to the RSM to participate in, or formally attend the event!), let them take the opportunity to formally acknowledge and apologise to our families.                                                                                 Index: Current Articles + Latest News and Views + Book Reviews + Letters + Archives

There is no such thing as a dirty word. Nor is there a word so powerful, that it's going to send the listener to the lake of fire upon hearing it. - Frank Zappa Index: Current Articles 13 August 2006 Other Articles From This Issue: Hunger Strike Anniversary Martin Galvin "Let the Fight Go On" Willie Gallagher Apology Owed The Family of Volunteer Patsy O'Hara, INLA Right the Wrong Harry Boland It's Who You Talk To Dr John Coulter As They Were Made They Were Matched Liam O Comain Poacher Turned Gamekeeper John Kennedy Criminality Figures Do Not Add Up David Adams The Siege of Derry Anthony McIntyre Repeat After Me: No Gods, No Masters Mick Hall Dual Presidency More Realistic Nathan Dowds Federal Unionism—Early Sinn Fein: Article 2 Michael Gillespie Santa Coming Early Dr John Coulter Media Matters Anthony McIntyre Light, Freedom & Song: A Cultural History of Modern Irish Writing Seaghán Ó Murchú Pass the Gravy John Kennedy ILIR is Blowing the Green Card Game for the Irish Patrick Hurley From Belfast to the Middle East Davy Carlin Manifesto of the Third Camp Anthony McIntyre • 3 August 2006 • A United Ireland or Nothing Liam O Comain Federal Unionism—Early Sinn Fein: Article 1 Michael Gillespie High Noon John Kennedy Fest or Flop Dr John Coulter Irish and Republican Music Ray McAreavey Qana Massacre again: Foreign and Domestic Enemies of our Constitution Mazin Qumsiyeh Israel Murders UN Observers Anthony McIntyre Managing Debate Mick Hall 4 Horsemen John Kennedy The Evil That Men Do Anthony McIntyre Chris Petit's Secret History: The Psalm Killer Seaghán Ó Murchú Soldier of the Legion of the Rearguard Liam O Ruairc Football and the Fifth Commandment Eamon Sweeney Don't Let Us Down Dr John Coulter Human Rights Forum Meeting Announcement Billy Mitchell Anthony McIntyre

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