Republican News · Thursday 31 January 2002

The Tom Smith Commemoration

No justification for Iraq war

"His sacrifice will never be forgotten." This was the message from Aengus Ó Snodaigh, Sinn Féin TD, at the annual Tom Smith Commemoration last Monday. Smith was shot dead by 26-County troops as he tried to escape from Portlaoise Prison on St Patrick's Day 1975.

Led by a colour party and the Hugh Hehir/Lisa Bell band, the commemoration set off from Berkeley Road Church in Dublin on what was one of the warmest St Patrick's Days in years.

Mary Lou MacDonald, the candidate for next year's EU election in Dublin, chaired the proceedings at Glasnevin Cemetery, where Tom was buried 28 years ago. Dave Ryan spoke on behalf of Ógra Shinn Féin.

Ó Snodaigh said it was "fantastic to see so many people making the effort to come out and remember this man, who did so much for our cause".

He asked those present to think especially of Tom's family and friends, and all the families who had lost loved ones throughout the struggle.

"It is easy to forget that there are still people out there who have suffered a personal loss and are still suffering. As well as honouring the dead, we should be thinking of the living who have to deal with their pain daily."

During the course of his address, Aengus dealt with developments in the Peace Process before turning to the impending war on Iraq.

"There is no justification for the war, which will have catastrophic consequences, not only in Iraq itself but throughout the Middle East," he said.

"We believe that the UN inspectors should have been allowed to continue their work. Our experience of the Irish Peace Process has shown us in a very real way that dialogue and negotiation is the best way to achieve the peaceful resolution of conflicts."

He referred to the Bill seeking to enshrine neutrality into the Constitution, which Sinn Féin recently brought before the Dáil but which the government defeated.

"The government seems intent on avoiding answering the public on this issue," he said. "It voted against our Bill, which would have protected this state's neutrality, and that in itself says a lot."

Ó Snodaigh criticised the continued use of Shannon Airport for the landing and refuelling of US military planes. "We will be having a debate in the Dáil about this soon. The onus is on the government to put an end to what the whole country has said it is against."

Mary Lou MacDonald announced plans for demonstrations when the war breaks out.