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FINE GAEL SENATOR Neale Richmond has criticised a republican march which took place in Dublin city centre this afternoon, less than 48 hours after journalist Lyra McKee was killed by dissident republicans in Derry.
Republican group Saoradh held a demonstration on Dublin’s O’Connell Street this afternoon. It’s understood that several hundred people took part in the march.
In a statement following the demonstration, Richmond, who chairs the Seanad’s Brexit Committee, said: “Today’s antics in Dublin city centre by Saoradh have no place on the streets of our capital.”
“The tragic events of Thursday night in Derry that resulted in the cold murder of the wonderful Lyra McKee were a flashback to a very dark period of our history that every decent soul on this island are determined to leave behind.”
Today’s demonstration, which began at the Garden of Remembrance on Parnell Square, was not required to hold a permit because the attendance was less than 5,000 people, a spokesperson for Dublin City Council told TheJournal.ie.
Pathetic cowards. No place in our democracy https://t.co/qZYI4b2g9t
— Simon Harris TD (@SimonHarrisTD) April 20, 2019
Demonstrators were seen marching down the city’s main thoroughfare wearing green military-style jumpers and reflective sunglasses. A number of those marching today carried tri-colour flags and a banner which read: “Unfinished Revolution – Unfinished Business”.
The Guardian newspaper in the UK has reported that a statement on Saoradh’s website, which has since been disabled, said that McKee’s death was a result of an “incursion” by “heavily armed crown forces” in the Creggan estate on Thursday evening.
“A republican volunteer attempted to defend people from the PSNI/RUC. Tragically a young journalist, Lyra McKee, was killed accidentally.”
McKee’s death has been blamed on the so-called new IRA. Her killing has been widely condemned across the political spectrum.
The PSNI has since launched a murder inquiry, and has arrested two men aged 18 and 19 under the Terrorism Act in connection with her murder.
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald TD said earlier today that the actions of those opposed to the Good Friday agreement “serve no cause and their continued existence only brings hardship, injury and death. The war is over, the future is in the hands of all who share this island.”
“A new and united Ireland will not come from conflict, but by dialogue, agreement and democracy.”
Following this afternoon’s march in the capital, which ended at around 5pm, Richmond said that “paramilitary style parades like we’ve seen today are a disgusting attempt at intimidation by a worthless organisation intent on bringing back misery.”
We must be clear that Saoradh and the dissidents they defend do not act in our name.
Asked about today’s march, a garda spokesman said earlier: “A peaceful demonstration is currently underway at O’Connell St in Dublin. No incidents have been reported. Gardaí are at scene.”
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The title says it all. No need for a comment:-)
As said best by Thoreau, “The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation.” And this, they consign themselves to for fear of what others might think.
Being there to listen without judgement is a great gift to somebody in despair.
Yes it does, Leslie Alan Rock.
If this country had more men of the character of John McCarthy we wouldn’t be where we are.
john, i met you at the launch of “Vision for Change” i am still facing massive stigma every time i go into A&E and i do so now often due to crohns and other serious physical health issues. Yes, John, many survive the original trauma of life events, but we consider this history when others dont allow us do just that! i feel a heavy albatross around my neck, that is stigma, ignorance and consultants!
Reading and listening to how he coped with motor neuron was inspirational. He believed in the medicinal use of cannabis to relieve the debilitating the effects of motor neuron.
The approach to mental distress in use today, with too much emphasis on medication and the medical model and not enough emphasis on a Psychosocial approach, is inadequate. He wanted forced Electric Shock treactment (ECT) banned. Very good article by John McCarthy in the health supplement of the Irish Times last October. http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/health/2011/1011/1224305573629.html
That has made me so sad to hear about john. Heard him on an interview on today fm only last month. Amazing even with his illness he kept fighting the stigma. Really sad.
Really good to see all the articles being published on the journal lately raising awareness of mental health issues. Great work but I still think the coverage of Kate Fitzgerald’s treatment at the hands of the Irish Times was really disappointing.
John, good article.
We’re also working to change attitudes and end stigma – here’s our video – feel free to share it
http://www.youtube.com/depressionhurtsvideo
You may have seen a little about #depressionhurts in The journal.ie
Fell free to get in touch
Norah Bohan @Talentcoop on Twitter e: talentcooperative@hotmail.com
In my experience the greatest ‘stigma’ around mental illness in this country is not so much the fear of being placed in the loony bin, but the sense that many behaviours are ‘normal’ and people just need to ‘pull themselves together’. The more likely response to mentioning depression is not so much ‘you should be locked away’ but ‘ah sure stop moaning and get on with it’. Not to mention the amount of self-medicating with alcohol that goes on, and is viewed as ‘normal’ in this country.
(Great post and not meaning to argue against it, just want to add my two cents to the reasons-for-stigma side of things!)
I have to agree Claire. I have had huge figts with friends re. my depression because they would rather tell me that I was “childish”, “making it all up” and to just “deal with it” instead of them trying to appreciate that I have a problem
Kevin Myers has a very questioning article in The Independent on the invisibility of suicide on the government agenda. Well worth a read http://www.independent.ie/opinion/columnists/kevin-myers/kevin-myers-as-a-society-we-seem-paralysed-by-suicide-2984955.html
He did what hundreds of thousands of people wished to do. Speak open and honestly from the heart and from the mind, which salmon this country takes a hell of alot to do, people are running away everyday in towns and villages, from all age categories and depression and the people running away i believe are linked, it is the elephant in the room that some will voice their opinion on but for the majority myself included for whatever reasons why, we keep our mouths shut and let the pressure build
No harm but that is a load of crap about stigma. There is no evidence that stigma affects peoples perception of the mentally ill. It is behaviour that is the prevelent discrimination. I agree though that we must acccept mental illness and not discriminate. But please write accurate information. Evidence at Kirk (1974) and Phillips (1964).
Then why do children throw stones at the Mad Woman of Cork?
@Blaine….is this not what stigma actu
ally is….????
Seamus its a reaction against her persumably abnormal behaviour and could some people learn to spell a name right especially when it is printed in front of them #rude
@Blane: There definitely is a stigma. Anything which tries to address this is very welcome. Calm down.
yeah Blaine
‘Madness’ is a healthy reaction to a sick society.
if someone told me they had a mental health problem I would; listen, then remind them that they are human and MUST be kind to themselves and question negative ideas they have about themselves and others. Not easy but I believe it works with practice.
Honestly Mary, that’s a very simplistic way of looking at it. If it was that easy we would all be fine.
Siomha, just offering benefit of my experience with my depression. cognitive therapy would urge us to challenge our perceptions. perhaps what I am saying is simple . I didnt say it was easy. got to stop waiting for
others to understand. that might be too late.
i would also like to see more discussion around the subject of ‘sefl injury’ a very mis-understood behavioural response to trauma, i feel because itr is lasting, that is the effects remain and cannot be erased leaves a person open to stigma long after the issues around it have been resolved.
any more thinking on this one please.
Re: the selective mentioning of studies above leading to a slightly-bigger-conclusion-jump-than-is-warranted, an overview of several studies on mental health and stigma can be found here for anyone interested – http://orthomolecular.org/library/jom/1982/pdf/1982-v11n02-p087.pdf
have your say