Irish News. Belfast. Monday, December 11, 2017

INFLUENTIAL figures within northern nationalism – including the GAA – have penned an open letter to Taoiseach Leo Varadkar urging him to act to protect the rights of Irish citizens in the north.

Signatories include former All-Ireland-winning Tyrone captain Peter Canavan as well as Republic of Ireland soccer international James McClean and boxers Paddy Barnes and Michael Conlon.

Prominent lawyers, business leaders, and figures from academia, the community, education, and sports sectors have also signed the unprecedented open letter carried in The Irish News today.

They call on the Irish government, as a co-guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement, to use its influence to end the political crisis. They outline how the stalled Stormont process and Brexit have led to a sense of abandonment not felt since the country was partitioned.

“We believe that the current crisis has come about fundamentally due to a failure to both implement and defend the Good Friday and St Andrews Agreements,” they say.

“The result has been a denial and refusal of equality, rights, and respect towards the section of the community to which we belong, as well as everyone living here.

“The impending reality of Brexit now threatens to reinforce partition on this island and revisit a sense of abandonment as experienced by our parents and grandparents.”

While the letter acknowledges some assurances given in Friday’s deal between the EU and the British government in relation to Northern Ireland, it also warns that “Brexit pushes us all into uncharted territory with huge uncertainty for business and the economy.”

Dublin and London, meanwhile, clashed yesterday over whether the Brexit agreement intended to trigger trade talks is legally binding or not.

The dispute was sparked when Brexit Secretary David Davis insisted it was much more a statement of intent than “legally enforceable.”

The Irish government’s chief whip, Joe McHugh, branded the comments “bizarre.” It came as Secretary of State James Brokenshire told the BBC’s Sunday Politics program the deal did not mean Britain and Northern Ireland would remain in alignment with the EU. “We are not… We are leaving [with] NI being part of that,” he said.

GAA figures including Peter Canavan among almost 200 signatories to pen an open letter to Taoiseach urging him not to abandon northern nationalists in the face of political crisis.

Allison Morris. Irish News. Belfast. Monday, December 12, 2017

Almost 200 high-profile members of the nationalist community have penned an open letter to Leo Varadkar urging him to work to “secure and protect the rights of all citizens in the north of Ireland.”

The list of signatories includes GAA sports stars including former All Ireland Tyrone GAA captain Peter Canavan and Republic of Ireland soccer international James McClean.

Prominent lawyers, academics, doctors, members of the arts community and media also feature on the list which is not party political.

In the major intervention, they call on the Irish government, as a co-guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement, to use their influence to end the current political crisis.

As it approaches the one-year mark since the collapse of the devolved assembly at Stormont, the unprecedented open letter to the Taoiseach states: “We believe that the current crisis has come about fundamentally due to a failure to both implement and defend the Good Friday and St Andrew’s Agreements.”

“The result has been a denial and refusal of equality, rights, and respect towards the section of the community to which we belong, as well as everyone living here.

“The impending reality of Brexit now threatens to reinforce partition on this island and revisit a sense of abandonment as experienced by our parents and grandparents.

“The fact that a majority of voters in the north of Ireland voted to remain within the EU must not be ignored.”

While the letter acknowledges some recent assurances given in Friday’s deal between the EU member states and the British government in relation to Northern Ireland, it also warns that “Brexit pushes us all into uncharted territory, with huge uncertainty for business and the economy.”

“We, our children and grandchildren should not be forced out of the EU against our democratic will.

“All of this is offensive and unacceptable to us and many others.”

Irish News columnists Brian Feeney and Danny Hughes are among those who have signed the letter as has well-known priest Fr Gary Donegan and respected academic Prof Patricia Lundy.

Among the many GAA players to sign are former Down player Ross Carr, former Antrim hurler Terence McNaughton, and Armagh’s All-Ireland-winning manager, Joe Kernan. Former GAA president and businessman Peter Quinn are also named.

Medal-winning boxers Michael Conlon and Paddy Barnes also signed the letter.

Lawyers including Peter Madden, Niall Murphy, Kevin Winters, Des Fahy, Patricia Coyle and Sinéad Larkin have also put their name to the call for action from the Taoiseach stating they “have no confidence” in the British government to defend their rights “with impartiality or objectivity.”

“This is most recently instanced in the British Government’s refusal to move on legacy inquest rights.

“The Conservative Party’s political pact with the DUP has now become a grave threat to political progress.

“We appeal urgently to you Taoiseach, and to the Irish government, to reassure us of your determination to secure and protect the rights of all citizens in the north of Ireland.”

 

High-profile figures appeal to Taoiseach to secure rights of Irish citizens in the north

Letter in full

A Thaoisigh, a chara,

WE are writing this letter to you as Irish citizens living in the north of Ireland to express our frustration and growing concern over the deepening nature of the ongoing political crises in the north.

We are committed to human rights and cherish our Irish cultural traditions and our Irish national identity, as do hundreds of thousands of others living in this part of our country.

We value equality for all citizens yet continue to be denied rights afforded to all others living on these islands.

We fully endorse the recent call from human rights groups and others on this island for no regression on rights and equality and respect for the principle of equivalence.

In 1998, the overwhelming population of the country voted in favor of the Good Friday Agreement.

In recent years, we have observed a concerted undermining of the political institutions established under the Good Friday Agreement and a laissez-faire approach being adopted by the two governments as co-guarantors of the Good Friday Agreement.

We believe that the current crisis has come about fundamentally due to a failure to both implement and defend the Good Friday and St Andrew’s Agreements.

The result has been a denial and refusal of equality, rights, and respect toward the section of the community to which we belong as well as everyone living here.

The impending reality of Brexit now threatens to reinforce partition on this island and revisit a sense of abandonment as experienced by our parents and grandparents.

The fact that a majority of voters in the north of Ireland voted to remain within the EU must not be ignored.

Against the stated will of a majority of voters in The North, and notwithstanding recent announcements, Brexit pushes us all into uncharted territory with huge uncertainty for business and the economy and continuing doubts about what this will mean in reality for Irish and European citizens living in this region.

We, our children and grandchildren should not be forced out of the EU against our democratic will.

All of this is offensive and unacceptable to us and many others.

Despite the British government’s co-equal and internationally binding responsibility for overseeing the Peace Process with the Irish government, we have no confidence in its commitment to do so with impartiality or objectivity.

This is most recently instanced in the British Government’s refusal to move on legacy inquest rights. The Conservative Party’s political pact with the DUP has now become a grave threat to political progress.

We appeal urgently to you Taoiseach, and to the Irish government, to reassure us of your commitment to stand for equality and a human rights-based society and your determination to secure and protect the rights of all citizens in the north of Ireland.

 

 

 

List of Signatories

 

 

 

 

Academia

Prof Bill Rolston, Antrim

Prof Patricia Lundy, Antrim

Prof Mark McGovern, Derry

Dr. Michael Pierse, Antrim

Prof Phil Scraton, Antrim

Prof Colin Harvey, Derry

An Ghaeilge

Aisling NÍ Labhraí, Antrim

Dr. Feargal Mac Ionnrachtaigh, Antrim

Dr. Antaine Ó Donnaile, Armagh

Ciarán Ó Pronntaigh, Antrim

Ciarain Mac Cearáin, Derry

Ciarán Mac Giolla Bhéin, Antrim

Niall Ó Catháin, Derry

Éilís Ní Chaiside, Derry

Dr. Pádraig Ó Tiarnaigh, Down

Arts

Michele Devlin, Down

Eibhlin Ní Dhochartaigh, Derry

Conor Caldwell, Antrim

Rónan Bennett, Antrim

Dr. Brian Ferran, Antrim

Ray Giffen, Down

John McSherry, Antrim

Eamonn Murray, Antrim

Barry Kerr, Antrim

Tony Devlin, Antrim

Terry George, Down

Pearse Elliott, Antrim

Seamie O’Neill, Antrim

Oorlagh George, Down

JB Vallely, Armagh

Donal O’Connor, Down

Malachi Cush, Tyrone

Business

James Conlon, Tyrone

Ciarán Mackel, Down

Eamon Blaney, Down

Christine Jones, Down

Stephen Thompson, Antrim

Shaun McElhinney, Derry

Seamus Ó hAodha, Down

Johnny Kelly, Tyrone

Brian McGirr, Tyrone

Chris Conwell, Fermanagh

Eamon Fitzpatrick, Fermanagh

Gerry Hicks, Fermanagh

Martin Carey, Fermanagh

Mary Connolly, Fermanagh

Sheamus Cosgrove, Fermanagh

Thomas McAloon, Fermanagh

Patrick Magee, Antrim

Ciaran McCavana, Antrim

Dougie Adams, Antrim

Peter Curistan, Antrim

Jane Adams, Antrim

Sean Napier, Antrim

Brian O’Neill, Derry

John McGowan, Derry

Gareth Creaney, Antrim

Frank Cullen, Antrim

Gerard de Brún, Antrim

Rosemary McKenna, Antrim

Andy McCallin, Antrim

Jim Conlon, Antrim

Peter Quinn, Fermanagh

Seamus McMullan, Antrim

Tony Shivers, Antrim

Dominic Kearns, Antrim

Cathal McAteer, Antrim

James Thornton, Antrim

Leo Carey, Antrim

Gerry O’Reilly, Armagh

Bernard Boyle, Armagh

Anthony Havern, Armagh

Pat McCorley, Antrim

James Toal, Antrim

Charlie Keenan, Antrim

Thomas McStocker, Antrim

Jim Clinton, Antrim

Gerry Carlile, Antrim

Damien Brown, Derry

Kieran Kennedy, Tyrone

Community

Fr Joe McVeigh, Fermanagh

Aodhán Harkin, Tyrone

Joe Duffy, Armagh

Ciarán Mac Airt, Antrim

Marie Quiery, Down

Annie Armstrong, Antrim

Harry Connolly, Antrim

Kevin Gamble, Antrim

Pilib Ó Ruanaí, Down

Seamus de Leaduis, Fermanagh

Oliver McCaffrey, Fermanagh

Frank Liddy, Antrim

Conal McDevitt, Derry

Alison O Neill, Antrim

John Kelly, Derry

Conal McFeely, Derry

Seamas Heaney, Derry

Ciara Ferguson, Derry

Davy Cunningham, Down

Conor Murray, Derry

Michelle Kelly, Antrim

Elizabeth McStocker, Antrim

Peter Bunting, Down

Andrée Murphy, Antrim

Mark Thompson, Antrim

Clara Reilly, Antrim

Fr Gary Donegan, Fermanagh

Eugene Reavey, Armagh

Gerard Rice, Antrim

Damien Lindsay, Antrim

Angela Hegarty, Derry

Paul O’Connor, Derry

Tish Holland, Antrim

Education

Bernard O’Connor, Fermanagh

Lorette Gleeson, Fermanagh

Seamus Ó Tuama, Antrim

Mairead Ní Chonghaile, Antrim

Gearoid MacRoibeaird, Antrim

Marie McBride, Antrim

Caireann Uí Mhuireagáin, Antrim

Liam Ó Flannagáin, Derry

Padraig Mac an tSaoir, Antrim

Máire Darragh, Antrim

Health

Dr. Peter Murphy, Antrim

Dr. John McSparran, Antrim

Dr. Brendan McDonald, Tyrone

Law

Pat Fahy, Tyrone

Peter Madden, Antrim

Padraig Ó Muirigh, Antrim

Adrian O Kane, Tyrone

Michael Fahy, Tyrone

Des Fahy BL, Tyrone

Colin Gervin BL, Tyrone

Frank McManus, Fermanagh

Anna McHugh BL, Tyrone

Ciaran Toner, Antrim

Michael Crawford, Antrim

Niall Murphy, Antrim

John Finucane, Antrim

Caitlin Bunting, Antrim

Rosie Kinnear, Antrim

Eamon McLaughlin, Antrim

Sean G Doherty BL, Derry

Darragh Mackin, Antrim

Martin Durkan, Down

Paul Foster BL, Derry

Blaine Nugent BL, Tyrone

Michelle McDonnell, Tyrone

Sinead Larkin, Armagh

Ciaran Roddy BL, Derry

Brian G McCartney QC SC, Antrim

Patricia Coyle, Derry

Claire McKeegan, Antrim

Peter Corrigan, Tyrone

Katie Dowling, Antrim

Marie Hans, Tyrone

Neil Fox BL, Antrim

Pearse McDermott, Derry

Paddy McDermott, Derry

Chris McCann, Antrim

John Keown, Down

Joe McVeigh, Antrim

Kevin Winters, Down

Anna Nugent, Down

Paul Pierce, Antrim

Sean Pol Begley, Tyrone

Media

Maria McCourt, Antrim

Patricia McBride, Derry

Brian Feeney, Antrim

Colm Dore, Antrim

Dr Jude Collins, Antrim

Martin Shannon, Fermanagh

Robin Livingstone, Antrim

Barry McCaffrey, Antrim

Sonia Nic Giolla Easpaig, Derry

Sport

Peter Canavan, Tyrone

Tommy Shaw, Antrim

Kieran McKeever, Derry

Tony Scullion, Derry

Paddy Bradley, Derry

Ciaran McLaughlin, Tyrone

Conor Gormley, Tyrone

Eamon Lindsay, Tyrone

John Lynch, Tyrone

Paddy Cunningham, Antrim

Patrick McBride, Antrim

Ronan McNamee, Tyrone

Neil McManus, Antrim

Terence McNaughton, Antrim

Tommy Quinn, Antrim

Gary O’Kane, Antrim

Gregory O’Kane, Antrim

Mark Carey, Antrim

Ross Carr, Down

Conor Laverty, Down

Chrissy McKaigue, Derry

Kevin Madden, Antrim

James McClean, Derry

Michael McCann, Antrim

Justin Crozier, Antrim

Cathy Rooney, Antrim

Paddy Barnes, Antrim

Michael Conlan, Antrim

Jamie Conlan, Antrim

Aoife Ní Chasaide, Derry

Shannon Lynch, Tyrone

Benny Tierney, Armagh

Enda McNulty, Armagh

Paddy Bradley, Derry

Ciaran McKeever, Armagh

Danny Hughes, Down

Joe Kernan, Armagh