Martin Doherty remembered
The fifth annual Volunteer Martin Doherty Commemoration took place in
Dublin on Sunday, 6 May. IRA Volunteer Martin Doherty was shot dead as he
foiled a UVF bomb attack on a function for republican prisoners at the
Widow Scallans pub in Dublin's Pearse Street on 21 May 1994.
Several hundred people marched from Finglas to Glasnevin Cemetery where the
ceremonies were chaired by former republican hunger-striker and Sinn Féin
candidate for Finglas, Dessie Ellis.
Ellis welcomed everyone, in particular Martin Doherty's family and his sons
Martin and Michael and former political prisoners including the Balcombe
Street Four, one of whom, Joe O'Connell, addressed the crowd.
O'Connell reminded everyone of the quick thinking and bravery of Martin
Doherty which had saved so many lives during the attempted massacre by the
UVF at the Widow Scallans five years ago. Martin Doherty had spent much of
his young life in the service of the republican struggle, whether directly
engaged in the IRA's war in Britain or defending those at the prisoners
function in 1994.
Those who carried out the attack on the Widow Scallans had come to Dublin
in an attempt to destroy the fledgling peace process but they were
thwarted. The reaction of certain Irish politicians in the aftermath of the
attack was despicable, O'Connell said, as they spent their energies
demanding that the Irish government attack the funeral of Martin Doherty
rather than pursue an investigation into the circumstances of the loyalist
attack in the heart of Dublin. They had played into the hands of those at
the time who were actively trying to destroy the prospects of a meaningful
peace process. If such politicians had shown a fraction of the courage
displayed by Martin Doherty, the peace process would now be well on the way
to a successful conclusion.
Sinn Féin Minister Designate to the proposed Six County Executive, Bairbre
de Brún said republicans were angry and frustrated a year on over the
continued failure to implement the Good Friday Agreemen. She urged everyone
present to continue to weigh in behind the Sinn Féin project and to
increase the party's strength in the weeks and months ahead so that the
momentum to implement the Agreement and forge ahead with the quest for
justice and freedom would be maintained.
On Friday evening, friends and relatives of Martin Doherty gathered at the
spot where he was killed to dedicate a new plaque, erected by the National
Graves Association, to his memory.
Flowers were laid at the spot by Martin Doherty's family and Seán Crowe of
Sinn Féin recalled the events surrounding the gun and bomb attack and paid
tribute to the memory of Martin Doherty.
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