Courage and determination
Funeral oration by Sinn Féin Vice President Pat Doherty
I am very honoured to have been asked to speak here today as we
pay tribute to our friend and comrade Pat Kelly. Volunteer Pat
Kelly was a man who devoted his life to a vision of an Ireland
free and united, with justice for all. We gather here today in
pride to honour his memory and to commemorate his courage and
determination in the face of tremendous odds.
On behalf of Irish Republicans everywhere, I want to extend
deepest sympathy and condolences to Pat's partner Angela, to his
family and to his brothers Peter, John, Paul and Anthony and
sister Mary.
One week from now republicans will gather to honour Theobald
Wolfe Tone, the founder of Irish republicanism. Like Wolfe Tone
Pat believed in the need to break the connection with England;
like Wolfe Tone he died as a result of his treatment in prison by
the British government.
Among Republican activists and those who campaigned for Pat's
release there was great sadness and anger on hearing the news of
Pat's death on Wednesday night. Anger at a British government
who delayed and prevaricated over allowing Pat Kelly access to
treatment when he was in jail in England. It was this neglect
and delay which led to the death of Pat Kelly this week.
In June 1992 Pat was diagnosed as suffering from skin cancer and
received treatment in Ireland When he was arrested in London
five months later he suffered a recurrence of the disease while
on remand in Belmarsh Prison but was refused the necessary
medical treatment.
He was sentenced to 25 years in a British court, and transferred
to a Special Secure Unit first in Full Sutton and then Whitemoor.
At this time there was a serious deterioration in the conditions
under which republican prisoners were held in English jails as a
result of the repressive policies pursued by Michael Howard, the
then British Home Secretary. These repressive conditions still
exist today.
Although ill, Pat refused to allow himself to be degraded and he
went on protest in Whitemoor where his condition continued to
deteriorate and proper medical attention continued to be refused.
For almost two years after his cancer reappeared Pat was not
allowed attend a doctor qualified to treat him. It was only
after a long, highly public, worldwide campaign, which included
the Irish government, the British government in August 1995
allowed Pat to be transferred to hospital for surgery.
When Pat was finally operated on in Peterborough General
Hospital, he was chained to a Prison Warder during his entire
time there. Within days of the operation he was moved to the
medical wing at Whitemoor and then quickly to the Special Secure
Unit. Here he was placed on punishment in a cell that had only a
mattress and no heating, sanitation or water. He was locked up
for 23 hours a day and was refused reading material or a radio.
In December 1995 when it was clear that Pat was terminally ill,
the British government allowed his transfer to Maghaberry Prison.
It was while he was in hospital in Belfast that myself and Martin
McGuinness first met with Pat. A year earlier I had tried to see
him when I was visiting republican prisoners in Full Sutton jail.
While I did meet with Michael O'Brien and other prisoners the
prison authorities refused to allow me to see Pat. On that day
they spoke of the courage, suffering and determination of Pat
Kelly.
It was some months later (October) when he arrived in Portlaoise
that I met with Pat for the last time. On that day I arrived to
find out how he was and all he wanted to do was to talk about the
republican prisoners who were still in English jails and what was
happening in the peace process. He remained there until the
Irish government gave him temporary release for urgent medical
treatment. The temporary release also allowed him to spend some
time with Angela, his young daughter and family, something he
had spoke of at some length while in England.
Here in Laois today we lay to rest a good Irish patriot whose
life was dedicated to the people. He was a life long republican
who showed courage and determination in everything he did. He
devoted his entire life to the establishment of an independent
Ireland because he believed, as we all do, that only by the
removal of the British government and partition can the people of
Ireland live in a just and equal society.
His family can be proud of him. And we, his Republican comrades,
his friends from all walks of life, from all parts of this
country and beyond are proud to have known and loved him.
Slán, Pat, rest in peace. We will continue the struggle for
freedom, justice, peace and equality.
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