Martin Galvin Letter Published today in the Irish News
Posted by Jim on September 6, 2013
MARTIN GALVIN
ATTORNEY AT LAW
903F SHERIDAN AVENUE
BRONX, NEW YORK, 10451
718-665-1800
EDITOR IRISH NEWS
113-117 Donegal Street
Belfast, Northern Ireland BTI 2GE September 1, 2013,
LONG KESH U-TURN
A chara
As we await the end of Robinson’s holidays and the coming of Richard Haass’ magic wand to disappear all flags and parades troubles, one question remains paramount.
Will Robinson keep any deal, if he can disavow his commitments to Republicans with impunity?
Robinson’s Florida poolside u-turn on the Peace Centre deal played well within his party and with other unionists who think any promise of concessions to nationalists should be broken or “unpicked”. His declaration of intent to withdraw from the Long Kesh centre was unambiguous. Robinson proclaimed that all promises to Republicans are hostage to our subsequent good, meaning docile, behavior.
When Republicans dared to march against new forms of Internment on Internment Day or to honor the memory of Republican patriots, Robinson declares that Republicans breached his unwritten code of conduct and nullified any deal. The Croppies failed to lie down and will get no Long Kesh centre, even one built by DUP ally Terence Brannigan.
Robinson’s bullying will only be a “mistake” if Republicans stand up to him and make it so. Thus far he has not been forced to shorten his holiday much less reverse his u-turn. If Robinson can bully Republicans into more concessions, it will hardly be a mistake for unionists.
Robinson is copying the example of his British mentors. The British discarded their WestonPark promises by jailing Gerry McGeough and arresting John Downey, safe conduct letter in hand. They waited as Sinn Fein sat still for it at Stormont instead of walking out and showing the party would not swallow broken promises. The British think they hobbled their former foes with Stormont titles and dreams of becoming junior coalition partners north and south. Why should Robinson not take advantage?
My own view is no secret. The Hunger Strikers were patriots whose names, legacy and victory over Thatcher’s attempt to criminalize their struggle against British rule will never be forgotten, no matter what happens to the spot where they died.
Thatcher could not bully or break the Hunger Strikers in Long Kesh. Will those elected to represent Republicans today allow the likes of Peter Robinson to use Long Kesh to bully them?
Slan, MARTIN GALVIN