Volunteer Kevin Murray 9th anniversary.
A Chairde Gael,
Today we gather at this spot to honour the memory of Vol. Kevin Murray affectionately known to his family and friends as Kiddo. I take this opportunity to offer on behalf of the 32CSM our sincere sympathy to his Wife Phyllis, daughters Paula and Rose Granddaughters Shannon,Alannah, Kayla, Hayden and his only Grandson Saoirse.
Kevin lost his battle for life 9 years ago on Saturday 13th November. After suffering from severe
headaches and dizziness for some months his appeal for medical attention was finally succumbed to and the tragic news reached his family and comrades that our Kiddo was suffering from a terminal illness, namely a brain tumour and he was released from Portlaoise prison into the care of his family. Make no mistake about it, this was not done on humanitarian grouds, rather was it done to avoid the scandal of a prisoner dying in a free state gaol for lack of medical attention.
Why was Kiddo in that Free State jail?
He joined the Provos as a young man like many other young men had done, firmly believing that
this was a fight to the end and nothing short of a United Ireland would bring peace to our country. When the ceasefire was called on the 31st August 1994 a lot of people were cajoled into believing that this was strategy and just another weapon in the mighty arsenal of the provos, however when Martin McGuinness told a special delegate meeting of the IRA an 1997 “read my lips, there is no ceasefire” a lot of people did just that, they read his lips and then they looked into their own hearts and realised they were being sold down the river. Kevin Murray wasn't so easily taken in.
He realised the only way to achieve his dream of a United Ireland was to continue the fight. He along with the rest of us had witnessed the about turns by the provo leadership, so many turns that they all got dizzy with the lust for power and on 10th april 1998 real republicans were crucified by a so called peace process that would divide comrades yet again. The lies of Adams Mc Guinness and Co.,were so blatent that only a fool would trust them and Kiddo was no fool.
1986 at the Ard Fheis Mc Guinness stated that they would never go into Stormont. On the question of decommissioning we were assured not a bullet would be handed over, it was written on the walls in west Belfast and other parts of the North. How true ,not a bullet was handed over, instead they handed over the
whole bloody arsenal without seeking permission from anyone.
As I said Real republicans were crucified that day but as Christ Himself arose again so too did the
men and women who could not be bought for place or gold, not for them a seat at the traitors table no, to continue the fight was their aim and tragically for me and my family my son Ronan was the first to sacrifice his young life in an effort to keep freedom's flame alive. It was at my son's wake that I met Kiddo, he was in the guard of honour and I felt such a sense of pride watching them watch over my son until he was laid to rest.
Padraig Pearse at the grave of O'Donovan Rossa spoke of the defenders of the realm and warned the people at that time “they think they can purchase one half of us and intimidate the other half but the fools the fools the fools they have left us our fenian dead and while Ireland holds these graves, Ireland unfree will never be at peace”. Those words apply equally today as they did then.
Anyone who disagreed with the 98 sell out were singled out for intimidation and in the case of Joe O' Connor, execution, and this after decommissioning. Did they seriously think that people who couldn't be bought by the Brits would give in to the intimidation of tyrants hypocrites and liars? Let no one be in any doubt that we are here to work unceasingly for a 32 county republic. We have seen the debacle of gangsters in another so Republican Party bring this country to the point of bankruptcy because of their corrupt politics and their former leader has no comment to make on the number of suicides taking place because those poor unfortunates could see no other way out. There is only one answer to our problem and it's the only solution that hasn't been tried the solution that would do away with cross border shopping, the Real solution the solution we in the 32CSM want ,A United Ireland, the Irish people in charge of their own destiny and and Ireland taking her place among the nations of the world. We can do it and with the hard work and dedication of real republicans we will win.
Before we leave this grave today let us spare a thought for another prisoner currently held in
Portlaoise Prison. I speak of Kieron Doran who has lost his appeal against extradition to France
where he was tried in his absence on terrorist related charges and sentenced to a 4 year term of
imprisonment After refusing him the right to appeal to the supreme court. Justice Perth then
proceeded to listen to the representative of the minister for justice Dermot Ahern who told the court that the order for surrender was being proceeded with even though the Minister had the power to overturn it on humanitarian grounds as Kieron is the Father of 7 children and his imprisonment abroad would have a detrimental effect on his family. Not so said the Free State judge, “In these circumstances an order for surrender is not a disproportionate measure. The family rights of the respondant are not interferred with to such an extent as to outweigh the right of the French authorities to seek his surrender. I will therefore make the order sought.” Dermot Ahern deems that the right of the French authorities overrides the right of 7 Irish children to be close to their Father for an Irish wife to be able to visit her husband and indeed for an Irish citizen to serve his sentence in his own country. Sans Frontiers, without borders means nothing to the Minister.
At this late stage the only avenue open to us is to petition Dermot Ahern to rethink his stance and remind him that his government has made innocent people pay for the greed of the bankers and the greed of his government. It's not too late for him to do the right thing in this case at least and overrule the Judges decision, Get those petitions going, beir bua.
Today we gather at this spot to honour the memory of Vol. Kevin Murray affectionately known to his family and friends as Kiddo. I take this opportunity to offer on behalf of the 32CSM our sincere sympathy to his Wife Phyllis, daughters Paula and Rose Granddaughters Shannon,Alannah, Kayla, Hayden and his only Grandson Saoirse.
Kevin lost his battle for life 9 years ago on Saturday 13th November. After suffering from severe
headaches and dizziness for some months his appeal for medical attention was finally succumbed to and the tragic news reached his family and comrades that our Kiddo was suffering from a terminal illness, namely a brain tumour and he was released from Portlaoise prison into the care of his family. Make no mistake about it, this was not done on humanitarian grouds, rather was it done to avoid the scandal of a prisoner dying in a free state gaol for lack of medical attention.
Why was Kiddo in that Free State jail?
He joined the Provos as a young man like many other young men had done, firmly believing that
this was a fight to the end and nothing short of a United Ireland would bring peace to our country. When the ceasefire was called on the 31st August 1994 a lot of people were cajoled into believing that this was strategy and just another weapon in the mighty arsenal of the provos, however when Martin McGuinness told a special delegate meeting of the IRA an 1997 “read my lips, there is no ceasefire” a lot of people did just that, they read his lips and then they looked into their own hearts and realised they were being sold down the river. Kevin Murray wasn't so easily taken in.
He realised the only way to achieve his dream of a United Ireland was to continue the fight. He along with the rest of us had witnessed the about turns by the provo leadership, so many turns that they all got dizzy with the lust for power and on 10th april 1998 real republicans were crucified by a so called peace process that would divide comrades yet again. The lies of Adams Mc Guinness and Co.,were so blatent that only a fool would trust them and Kiddo was no fool.
1986 at the Ard Fheis Mc Guinness stated that they would never go into Stormont. On the question of decommissioning we were assured not a bullet would be handed over, it was written on the walls in west Belfast and other parts of the North. How true ,not a bullet was handed over, instead they handed over the
whole bloody arsenal without seeking permission from anyone.
As I said Real republicans were crucified that day but as Christ Himself arose again so too did the
men and women who could not be bought for place or gold, not for them a seat at the traitors table no, to continue the fight was their aim and tragically for me and my family my son Ronan was the first to sacrifice his young life in an effort to keep freedom's flame alive. It was at my son's wake that I met Kiddo, he was in the guard of honour and I felt such a sense of pride watching them watch over my son until he was laid to rest.
Padraig Pearse at the grave of O'Donovan Rossa spoke of the defenders of the realm and warned the people at that time “they think they can purchase one half of us and intimidate the other half but the fools the fools the fools they have left us our fenian dead and while Ireland holds these graves, Ireland unfree will never be at peace”. Those words apply equally today as they did then.
Anyone who disagreed with the 98 sell out were singled out for intimidation and in the case of Joe O' Connor, execution, and this after decommissioning. Did they seriously think that people who couldn't be bought by the Brits would give in to the intimidation of tyrants hypocrites and liars? Let no one be in any doubt that we are here to work unceasingly for a 32 county republic. We have seen the debacle of gangsters in another so Republican Party bring this country to the point of bankruptcy because of their corrupt politics and their former leader has no comment to make on the number of suicides taking place because those poor unfortunates could see no other way out. There is only one answer to our problem and it's the only solution that hasn't been tried the solution that would do away with cross border shopping, the Real solution the solution we in the 32CSM want ,A United Ireland, the Irish people in charge of their own destiny and and Ireland taking her place among the nations of the world. We can do it and with the hard work and dedication of real republicans we will win.
Before we leave this grave today let us spare a thought for another prisoner currently held in
Portlaoise Prison. I speak of Kieron Doran who has lost his appeal against extradition to France
where he was tried in his absence on terrorist related charges and sentenced to a 4 year term of
imprisonment After refusing him the right to appeal to the supreme court. Justice Perth then
proceeded to listen to the representative of the minister for justice Dermot Ahern who told the court that the order for surrender was being proceeded with even though the Minister had the power to overturn it on humanitarian grounds as Kieron is the Father of 7 children and his imprisonment abroad would have a detrimental effect on his family. Not so said the Free State judge, “In these circumstances an order for surrender is not a disproportionate measure. The family rights of the respondant are not interferred with to such an extent as to outweigh the right of the French authorities to seek his surrender. I will therefore make the order sought.” Dermot Ahern deems that the right of the French authorities overrides the right of 7 Irish children to be close to their Father for an Irish wife to be able to visit her husband and indeed for an Irish citizen to serve his sentence in his own country. Sans Frontiers, without borders means nothing to the Minister.
At this late stage the only avenue open to us is to petition Dermot Ahern to rethink his stance and remind him that his government has made innocent people pay for the greed of the bankers and the greed of his government. It's not too late for him to do the right thing in this case at least and overrule the Judges decision, Get those petitions going, beir bua.
1 comment:
Great to see a brave Volunteer remembered fittingly. May he rest in peace.
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