A State Which Mocks A Dead Man ? Mocks Itself
NEWS FROM THE CELTIC LEAGUE
Any man's death diminishes me. Because I am involved in mankind.
These are the words of the poet John Donne and some in the Irish government would do well to ruminate on them.
When Ruairí Ó Brádaigh died earlier this week there were many and differing acknowledgements of his passing.
Some (notably in what is termed the dissident republican movement) praised him. Some condemned him and some in the media laced their obituaries with a tinge of mockery.
It is always so ? when a controversial and prominent figure dies the reaction to their death will always be controversial and contradictory.
However, when the dust settles and the time for the funeral arrives even a man's most bitter enemies will stay quiet and (metaphorically speaking) look away.
Not so the Irish government which over the last twenty-four hours deployed police (including riot police) in large numbers at Ruairí Ó Brádaigh's funeral.
It was a move that caused obvious distress to the family and anger to those who came to mourn.
What purpose was served, by this show of force for a dead man, is unclear.
A State which tries to create mockery at the funeral of a dead man makes a mockery of itself.
Related link (RTE news report) here:
J B Moffatt (Mr)
Director of Information
08/06/13
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