Westmeath raid raises questions about Garda agenda
Róisín De Rossa
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, answering a question from Sinn Féin TD
Caoimghin O'Caolain, gave his assurance that repressive
legislation introduced in September, would not be used against
organisations on ceasefire.
Nevertheless, at 8.20 am, last Tuesday, in Multifarmham, County
Westmeath, Det. Sgt. Garda Gerry Nohilly, and Sgt. Liam Daly
arrived at the door of Larry Maxwell, his wife, Bridget and 4
children, with a warrant under Section 29 of the Offences Against
the State Act authorising a search of their farm property and
buildings up the road.
Larry's brother Simon a republican and former political prisoner
was released from Portlaoise just 3 months ago, and only last
Friday had a welcome home function in Navan.
Since his release, Simon Maxwell complains that has been
harassed, stopped and threatened by Special Branch detectives.
Up to 22 gardai were involved in the raid on the Maxwell farm.
They who tore farm buildings apart and destroyed the concrete
flooring of cattle sheds, drilling it with 3ft. deep holes.
A digger was uised to excavate a 15ft square hole, at least 10 ft
deep in a hayshed, throwing rubble everywhere. Larry Maxwell
replaced the floor to the hayshed at a cost of £12,000.
In a blatant attempt at intimidation Gardai openly videoed Sinn
Fein representative Peter Rodgers and an AP/RN reporter when they
arrived with Larry Maxwell to survey the damage done to his
property.
Speaking to An Phoblacht Larry Maxwell wondered: ``Is this the
private agenda of Sgt. Daly against our family? Does the rule of
law permit a garda to pursue a private vendetta in this way?
``Following the assurances Bertie Aherne gave to Leinster House
in September, certain questions need to be asked such as who
could have authorised Chief Superintendent Gerry Clifford, in
Mullingar, to sign the search warrant and whether the garda are
subject to the elected government, or are they singing from a
different hymn sheet altogether?'' Immediately on hearing of the
search, Caoimhghin O'Caolain, T.D. addressed a letter to Minister
of Justice, Donoghue, asking for an explanation.
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