13.12.04
Irelandclick.com
Collusion vigil disrupted by ‘off-duty PSNI men’
A candlelit vigil by the An Fhírinne group to highlight the issue of collusion was disrupted last Friday night by a group of men who claimed to be off-duty members of the PSNI.
Over 100 members of teh group gathered at the City Hall to demand the truth behind British Government collusion with loyalist death squads. During the vigil l a group of men — who claimed they were off-duty cops — abused those taking part.
“The actions of these men were totally insensitive,” says An Fhírinne spokesman and loyalist victim Mark Sykes.
“It was totally insensitive and upsetting for drunken PSNI officers to abuse members of the families of those killed through collusion,” said Mark.
“They approached Tom Hartley and at first asked him questions about An Fhírinne, what it meant, and he explained that it meant ‘The Truth’.
“But when they asked was this all not meant to be in the past and should it not all be forgotten about, and they were told that the families of those who’d been murdered needed closure on the loss of their loved ones, they started to poke one of the pictures on the posters and ask what about the 300 or so RUC families who’d lost people.
“And then they became abusive and were totally insensitive to the families.
“It was very upsetting for the family members who were there and it was uncalled for that a peaceful vigil be disrupted in this way.”
Councillor Tom Hartley said “the minor incident” shouldn’t detract from the focus of the evening. “We shouldn’t let the actions of a few overshadow the significance of the vigil which is part of the campaign to highlight the pain and hurt experienced by relatives, and the need for them to know the truth behind their loved ones’ deaths,” he added.
“The relatives at the vigil, in a dignified way, maintained a sense of themselves and we should support them in their efforts to have the truth told.”
* A Special Remembrance Mass for all those killed through collusion, and their families, will be held at Clonard Monastery on Wednesday evening, December 15, at 8pm, and all are welcome to attend.
Journalist:: Ciara McGuigan
Collusion vigil disrupted by ‘off-duty PSNI men’
A candlelit vigil by the An Fhírinne group to highlight the issue of collusion was disrupted last Friday night by a group of men who claimed to be off-duty members of the PSNI.
Over 100 members of teh group gathered at the City Hall to demand the truth behind British Government collusion with loyalist death squads. During the vigil l a group of men — who claimed they were off-duty cops — abused those taking part.
“The actions of these men were totally insensitive,” says An Fhírinne spokesman and loyalist victim Mark Sykes.
“It was totally insensitive and upsetting for drunken PSNI officers to abuse members of the families of those killed through collusion,” said Mark.
“They approached Tom Hartley and at first asked him questions about An Fhírinne, what it meant, and he explained that it meant ‘The Truth’.
“But when they asked was this all not meant to be in the past and should it not all be forgotten about, and they were told that the families of those who’d been murdered needed closure on the loss of their loved ones, they started to poke one of the pictures on the posters and ask what about the 300 or so RUC families who’d lost people.
“And then they became abusive and were totally insensitive to the families.
“It was very upsetting for the family members who were there and it was uncalled for that a peaceful vigil be disrupted in this way.”
Councillor Tom Hartley said “the minor incident” shouldn’t detract from the focus of the evening. “We shouldn’t let the actions of a few overshadow the significance of the vigil which is part of the campaign to highlight the pain and hurt experienced by relatives, and the need for them to know the truth behind their loved ones’ deaths,” he added.
“The relatives at the vigil, in a dignified way, maintained a sense of themselves and we should support them in their efforts to have the truth told.”
* A Special Remembrance Mass for all those killed through collusion, and their families, will be held at Clonard Monastery on Wednesday evening, December 15, at 8pm, and all are welcome to attend.
Journalist:: Ciara McGuigan
