FR. JOHN’S CORNER
“My heart besieged by anger,
my mind a gap of danger
I walked among their old haunts,
the home ground where they bled
And in the dirt lay justice
like an acorn in winter
Till its oak would sprout in Derry
where thirteen men lay dead.”
Those lines from Seamus Heaney’s seminal poem “The Road to Derry” set the tune for the historic publication of the Saville Report into what has become known as Bloody Sunday, January 30th 1972.
Vincit Omnia Veritas
The truth will set you free
Thirty eight years, £120m, heartbreak and frustration, all were needed to come to a truth that was known on that fatal evening in Derry in 1972. The paratroop regiment of the British Army was guilty of brutal murder. As the then Fr. Edward Daly later Bishop Daly of Derry said “At the time I said mass murder had taken place, and I still believe that today. Perhaps more people now believe that it happened.” John Hulme the former SDLP leader and Noble Peace prize winner said on the publication of the report “Today is the day when truth won out.”
How sad it is that it took all that heartache. The lies of Lord Widgery and others blocked an admission of truth which could have led to negotiations that might have prevented subsequent years of turmoil, conflict, death and destruction.
It was always a question of justice for the minority. It was a political issue. The disaster was that the powers that be believed a military solution could be imposed on the will of the risen people. That has never happened anywhere, fixed bayonets never fixed anything. The apology from Mr. Cameron was magnanimous, but January 30th 1972 should be remembered. In a similar situation of conflict in Peru where the armed forces backed by some sections of church and state perpetrated awful crimes in the 1980-1990’s, a commission for truth and reconciliation was established. Heinous crimes were brought to light, the past could not be obliterated, but by recognizing the evil, the slogan ‘Para que no se repita’ ‘that it may not be repeated’ became the motto. So may it be in the North East of Ireland, in Iraq, in Afghanistan and in South Africa or wherever ‘man’s inhumanity to man’ has brought out the base instincts that reduce us to a state of nothing less than wild animals. May the Derry dead of January 30th 1972 rest in peace and may all of us alive today work for the justice on which peace is based.
A return to the bad old days
And no one has to answer for it!!
Within the field of criminology white collar crime has been defined as – “a crime committed by a person of respectability and high social status in the course of his or her occupation.”
White collar crime overlaps with corporate crime because the opportunity for fraud, insider trading and embezzlement is more available to white collar employees. Such crime was rife in pre ‘Nama’ Celtic Tiger Ireland. Irresponsible bankers, greedy developers, unscrupulous accountants played with the savings of gullible sometimes vulnerable people. Offers of instant gilt-edged fortunes were thrown at the uninformed. Nobody is guilty; the saver looses his or her hard earned money. The accountant/finance guru makes a handy commission and walks away (legal jargon protecting him). The banker hides in Nama, the developer declare himself bankrupt. The money is somewhere – there is no redress. We have so much to answer for as a society. Greed-Gold-Grandeur, the three ‘Gs’ destroyed the three Fs – Friendship-Fidelity-Fairness. Oh Ireland, Mother Ireland! How could you have allowed it to happen? The immigrant ship is laughing again to the tune of “Ireland needs her children to work for her at home” but there are no jobs.
Irish Community Care honoured
I was very happy to accompany Deirdre Carroll, present manageress, and Sr. Elizabeth Cahill, a former one to the Irish Embassy in London. Irish Community Care, Manchester was recipient of the prestigious Forgotten Irish Award from the Irish Fund for Britain. Much of the important work of Irish Community Care goes on behind the scenes; the real needy cases where dejection an oblivion beckon are picked up and given life by the expertise, time and generosity of the people that make up the organization. It was a proud moment to see that work recognized in the presence of the Irish Ambassador, His Excellency Mr. Bobby McDonagh. Well done to all who have made Irish Community Care an organization that is valued in the highest echelons of Irish life at home and abroad.
News from Peru
As I write this a De La Salle brother from the south of England is being expelled from Peru at the behest of the oil company Pluspetrol. Bro. Paul has campaigned for decades on behalf of the indigenous people living along the banks of the Maranon River in Amazonia. The contamination of the environment is horrific. Oil companies make their own rules and because it is a lucrative business they can buy governments (and football clubs) and ride roughshod over the rights of people. Bro. Paul has become a thorn in their side, so trumped up charges that he incites terrorism have been used by the Ministry of the Interior to get rid of him.
Last September a group of young footballers from that region visited St. Bede’s College and along with lessons in football, music and dance they treated the upper college to an awareness of the problems they face from international companies who rape and plunder their environment.
Conservative Church Organizations will not be to the forefront in defending Bro. Paul, but I am sure that CAFOD and other development agencies will take up the cry he has emitted on behalf of those who have no voice.
The Guardian paper had a feature on Bro. Paul last weekend and you can read about him and his struggle for justice on the Internet, just Google in Brother Paul McAuley.
Return Visit
Ita Sheehan, her husband Mark and brother John are making a return visit to Chimbote on Monday July 19th. I am sure that they will be welcomed with open arms. They take our good wishes to Fr. Jack, Sister Peggy and all the good people of Parroquia Nuestra Senora de Perpetuo Socorro. Que les vaya bien
Fr. Pat Keane’s memorial Mass at St. Bernard’s
The people of St. Bernard’s showed Fr. Pat’s family how much he meant to them and to the Salford Diocese. It was nice that so many of the family were able to be present at the Mass on June 25th. All of them have expressed their gratitude for what was a sad but fulfilling visit for them.
Deaths of Great Gaels
Recently the great Dermot Earley of Roscommon football fame died at a relatively early age. Dermot represented everything that was positive and genuine in a human being; a role model at a time when society is crying out for such. He was always a model sportsman, perhaps he was the best Gaelic footballer to have never won an All Ireland medal. His gentle manly composure and total lack of self aggrandizement made him somebody whose company you treasured. He became Chief of Staff of the Irish Army, it is believed that while he was serving abroad that he contracted CJD the disease from which he died
He was first and foremost a family man, married to Mary, father of six fine children, he upheld the ‘unity and indissolubility of marriage’ by example. I was fortunate to have made friends with him through St. Lawrence’s G.A.A., he was our quest of honour in the centenary year of 1984. He was also active with his friend the late Michael Butler in promoting the newly formed Manchester Roscommon Association through 1985-1986. He was the speaker at the inaugural Roscommon Dinner Dance at Belle Vue where he spoke with simplicity and eloquence. Celebrity is a word that would do scant justice to the man. It was indeed a sad day for Roscommon and for gaeldom when he was called home to God. He embodied everything that was noble and beautiful in ‘pre celtic tiger’ Ireland. Dermot ‘leaba agat I measc na naomh.
Kilkenny’s No.1 Supporter leaves us also
Here in Manchester we were saddened by the passing of Jim Phelan from the beautiful village of Inistioge. Jim was known to one and all from his days in Arran Travel, also for his involvement with the Kilkenny Association and St. Lawrence’s G.A.A.
At is funeral in Sale there was a gathering of the Irish Community young and old. Jim like Dermot Earley represented the values of our race. Dutiful in all areas of life; to his wife Kathleen, children James and Eimear and to his grandchildren goes our sympathy and our prayers.
Sporting Life
– Soccer
The World Cup fizzles out to the raucous tuneless sound of the ‘Vuvuzela’ all I can say is what a flat and drab tournament it turned out to be! – one of my four is still standing; Spain look to have too much flair for Holland. It would be ironic if Holland were to win in the land of the Boers.
England what a shambles – clueless and passionless they exited the scene, at least they showed us how to drink (national pastime) and enjoy the so called pleasures of life. Football wise they are light years away from success. It will be so as long as foreign owners keep importing foreign players for astronomical wages, and they will still call the premier league British and claim that it is the best in the world! What a laugh!! I am harsh, but I think my views are shared by many genuine football supporters.
-Gaelic Football
We are entering the business end this weekend. Kerry are in the last eight. They have played some great football but indiscipline may cost them. Provocation is no excuse for retaliation. The loss of Paul Galvin and Tomàs O’Sė could prove too much, depending on who they draw in the quarter finals.
Sligo are the romance of this year, they are going from strength to strength. Mayo were the flops. Whatever has happened to them? Maybe John O’Mahony bit off more than he could chew by trying to combine politics with football management. It is sad to see a great footballing tradition die before our eyes, but we should remember the darkest hour comes before the dawn – so maybe next year will be different for the weavers of the famed ‘Red & Green’ it is a long time since 1951.
I expect Tyrone to prevail in Ulster and Meath in Leinster, but out there in the long grass are the men from Cork and don’t dismiss Limerick either. Munster is fast becoming the strong province. Louth like Sligo would be the romantic’s choice. What of a Louth v Sligo All Ireland final? Is it a dream too far?
-Hurling
Just one word ‘Cats’ surely the best team of all time, a joy to watch. Oh how the rebels would love to stop them of making Main Street, Kilkenny into ‘Fifth Avenue’.
-English Soccer
Manchester City a.k.a. Abu Dhabi United are where they always are at this time of the year, alphabetically they are one above Manchester United. It remains to be seen if the newest influx of mercenaries can push them nearer the Promised Land. It will be interesting!!
Holiday Time
The coming weeks will see many go on holidays. Wherever you go, go safely; enjoy your break, mind and body need renewing. I often think of the words of ‘The Master’ “Come to me all you who labour and are overburdened and I will refresh you.” As St. Teresa of Avila said “Quien tiene a Dios nada le falta” “he who has God lacks nothing.” The Irish poet W.B. Yeats asked “Can one reach God by toil?” “He gives himself to the pure in heart. He asks nothing but our attention.”
Wherever you go may God go with you.
Go dtì an cėad uair eile
Go dtė tú slàn
Fr. John Ahern
July 2010
