Event for Farrell on hold as Adams tells of suspicions over Irish role in killings
Belfast Telegraph
Thursday 28, February 2008
An Assembly Commission visit to Dublin is likely to delay a decision over Sinn Fein plans to commemorate an IRA bomber in Stormont.
The Commission, which is responsible for the day-to-day running of the Assembly, travelled across the border yesterday to meet its counterpart body in Dublin.
The two-day visit includes talks with the body which organises the Dail in Leinster House and senior TDs from all parties in the Republic.
The trip is likely to delay a decision, however, on Sinn Fein’s application to hold a commemoration of IRA bomber Mairead Farrell in Stormont’s Long Gallery as part of International Womens Day celebrations on March 8.
The DUP has put on hold an application for a commemoration of the SAS, which shot Ms Farrell with two other IRA members, Danny McCann and Sean Savage, in Gibraltar in 1988, until the Commission reaches a decision.
It is thought, however, if the Commission refuses permission to use the Long Gallery, Sinn Fein will stage the event in its own Stormont offices.
Meanwhile, Gerry Adams claimed yesterday that the IRA unit was gunned down after the Irish government passed on information about their movements.
The west Belfast trio were shot by undercover soldiers as they prepared to launch a car bomb attack on troops based on The Rock.
It was claimed they had been under surveillance by British intelligence and the authorities in Spain who monitored their movements as they crossed the border into Gibraltar, apparently after leaving Ireland on a flight out of Dublin.
The Sinn Fein president declared: “It is my strong view that the killings in Gibraltar were authorised by Margaret Thatcher, and it is my strong view that the Irish government of the day passed information to the authorities about the movements of those killed.
“I cannot prove that, but that is my conviction.”
'So venceremos, beidh bua againn eigin lá eigin. Sealadaigh abú.'
--Bobby Sands