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A CELEBRATION OF Vicky Phelan’s life in her native Kilkenny has heard that the 48-year-old was “a celebrated and national hero”, who campaigned for the “rights, well-being and health of all women” throughout Ireland.
Hundreds gathered at the Church of the Assumption in Mooncoin for a public service to pay tribute to the campaigner who died earlier this month following a lengthy illness.
Her sister Lyndsey Kelly told the service that Vicky’s strong morals became her weapons during her fight for justice.
She was not afraid of anyone and was an “incredible” sister and aunt to her children, who “stood by her side through thick and thin”.
“She captivated everyone and was the nation’s treasure,” Lyndsey told the service, “She wanted change and made sure she made a difference.”
Her family and friends “are all heartbroken beyond words”, with Vicky’s death leaving “a void that will never be filled”.
“I will miss our chats, our chalk-and-cheese moments,” she said, “It hurts deeply but I promise you this, to be the best aunt to your children.”
She closed her address with a quote from Vicky’s memoir Overcoming, saying that “there will be others who will continue this fight when I am gone . . . we all come from the same place, the mother’s womb. This is everybody story.”
“Vicky, I love you and rest in peace,” she said.
A note read out by family friend and campaigner John Wall, on behalf of Vicky’s husband Jim and her children Amelia and Darragh, thanked everyone for “sharing this time with us” and to to all who helped in recent weeks.
It added that Vicky’s family will do their best to support her parents John and Gaby “in all in the months and weeks head”.
“Vicky wanted an upbeat occasion after her passing where people could gather in celebration of life. I can’t believe to tell what this all means to the three of us.
“We’re incredibly proud of Vicky, all that she achieved and the amazing person that she was. Through the toughest of times she shared incredible strength looking after us, looking out for us and ensuring we always did our best as a family over the last number of years.
“Vicky want to tell you all to enjoy today and we hope that it will be as memorable for you all as it will be for us. Thank you, from Jim, Amelia and Darragh.”
Vicky’s brother Jonnie Kelly said he was “in awe” of his sister’s intelligence and poise, and found everyone else “just hung on her every word”.
“Even though Vicky’s time was running out she still gave her time to other people,” he said, adding that if she had been given more time in life then “the sky was the limit”.
“People say Vicky was the best president we ever had. I believe Vicky could have been so much more than that.”
He said she was always eager to show “preparing to give herself a chance to show what she was capable of” – including “insisting to her local school principal to be put in school at three years old by climbing upon a chair to demonstrate her reading ability – but that it was “heart wrenching” that it came during her fight for justice.
She was an “inspiration to a nation of people” who “got to love a girl as much as my family loved her”, Jonnie said.
Her fellow Cervical Check campaigner Lorraine Walsh told the ceremony that the two shared “many battles” as they sought transparency, some of which “reduced to us to tears but Vicky always seemed able to dig deep and progress with the plan”.
Walsh said Vicky was, like her, “another woman let down by the state” but who had the strength, determination and stubbornness” to fight her case
It was due to Phelan’s decision to take a High Court case over her misinterpreted smear tests, and her decision not to sign a non-disclosure agreement as part of the €2.5 million settlement, that we have a cervical cancer screening system now that is fit-for-purpose.
Walsh said that without her “courage to step forward” then “not only would we not know what happened, we would still be left with a very flawed Cervical Check programme”.
She added that her friend had “achieved a better Ireland” thanks to he work.
“Even from afar people fell in love with you, they felt they knew you and respected you,” she said, adding “a sincere and heartfelt thank you from Mná na hÉireeann.”
Gifts brought forward for the service included sand from her favourite place, a beach in Doonbeg, Co Clare, “where she found inner peace at the sound of the ocean”, her friend Mary Fizpatrick told those gatherd.
There was also her doctoral cap she received from the University of Limerick – brought forward by her son Darragh – and a gavel to represent her fight for truth and justice.
Other gifts included a medal from the Belfast City Marathon, a vinyl record, a family portrait and her memoir.
Her sporting interests were represented too, via a Kilkenny jersey, a Munster rugby jersey and her Darragh’s soccer jersey. Finally, there was a photo of the family’s cat.
Seven candles were lit by Vicky’s parents John and Gaby Kelly. They were coloured purple; their daughter’s favourite.
A private funeral was held for Vicky in Co Clare last fortnight. “Stories were told and tears were shed, but we also shared a smile or two as we remembered the remarkable life of our wonderful Vicky,” the Phelan and Kelly families’ said of her private funeral earlier this week.
They said that were mindful of giving all those who loved Phelan an opportunity to pay their respects following her passing.
While Phelan moved to Limerick with her family in later years, she maintained a strong connection with her native place.
Last January, she made an emotional homecoming to Mooncoin to meet with friends and neighbours for the display of a remarkable portrait of the campaigner.
Today’s service was led by Fr Martin Tobin who paid tribute to the campaigner as a celebrated hero for women’s healthcare not just in Mooncoin but also across the country.
The church, which could hold 300 people, was filled while several dozen gathered outside to watch the service on a screen. Thousands more watched the service on a livestream.
Stewards dotted roads and laneways throughout the village while park-and-ride facilities helped to bus people to the village.
Vicky’s family have said music will feature prominently for today’s celebration, with Bressie and The Stunning performing.
People rose in the church and swayed together as the Waterford-based Mount Sion Choir performed Stand by Me, while The Stunning played Heads are Gonna Roll. The service closed with a rendition of The Rose of Mooncoin.
Legacy
Vicky Phelan is survived by her husband Jim, their children Amelia and Daragh, her parents John and Gaby Kelly and her siblings Robbie, Lee, Jonnie and Lyndsey.
She was diagnosed with cervical cancer eight years ago but was given all clear after long and difficult treatment.
However, in 2018 she was informed that an audit carried out by CervicalCheck found that her 2011 smear test had been reported as a false negative.
Within weeks a CT scan revealed the cancer had returned and the diagnosis was terminal.
It was the 48-year-old who sparked a look at the State’s cervical cancer screening programme, CervicalCheck.
At the time, in 2018, it was suffering from a lack of expertise, poor governance, and even poorer communication with the women of Ireland.
Professor of Public Health Gabriel Scally later said that it was “doomed to fail”.
It was due to Phelan’s decision to take a High Court case over her misinterpreted smear tests, and her decision not to sign a non-disclosure agreement as part of the €2.5 million settlement, that we have a cervical cancer screening system now that is fit-for-purpose.
The effects of her actions have continued, with the latest report by Scally coming only in recent days and finding that while progress has been made, more still needs to be done to protect current and future patients.
Vicky Phelan also sparked a discussion on wider issues to do with people’s health: open disclosure, a policy to encourage health professionals to be transparent when things go wrong; the patient being centrally involved in their own healthcare; and the issue of assisted dying.
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A apology will hardly right the wrong which was Carefully planned against him
@SFLoonies: let’s be fair. I think most people would say he deserves something. It was a atrocious act he was accused of and some people would never recover from it…
@SFLoonies: and he deserves EVERY SINGLE PENNY.
@☘: who said it would? If he didn’t apologise people would be giving out about that
And what will happen to Callinan? Nothing – he’ll keep his big pension a d nothing more will be said about it.
@P Quinn: Well in a banana republic no one is accountable and they still ride off with a nice tidy pension…David Taylor at the center of all of this is the latest to step down and will be patted on the back and walk away with his pension in his back pocket……rotten to the core the whole bloody system…..and the sheeple in this country are so god dam ignorant and will go out and vote the same shower of idiots back in.
Very few were prepared to stand up for Maurice McCabe.
Very few would have been able to endure the sustained pressure he was subjected too.
Plenty more still think why could he not just shut up and stop making trouble for certain people.
He has done the State some service, I hope it was not all in vain.
@Aine O Connor: considering the good he has done, he deserves €100m +. Better than going into the pockets of the western bankers.
@Steven Fitzpatrick:
I agree.
Too little to late,this government is mired in cover up culture,how dare he question someone in authority.Forced to apologize should be the headline.
he is not apologising on my behalf !!!!! 99.9 % of the population knew he was a good man,the rest were trying to destroy a good mans reputation !
Enda Kenny should be apologising.
FFG knew nothing of said smear campaign… This country is very soft..
It may not right the wrongs but it’s a start and I wish Garda McCabe all the very best now that that horrendous shadow of doubt has been lifted from his shoulders.
Had this brave man committed suicide he would have gone to the grave as a guilty man but he stood his ground against the bullying and degradation and won.
Well done Garda McCabe, well done indeed.
(Can you sort an aoul ticket for me :) :)
Of course I am joking)
Take out a full page ad in the newspapers, citing the offenses for which the government is issuing the apologies. Signatures from the entire cabinet in place when the offenses occurred. That’s a suitable apology.
A bit late Charlie
Will it gather dust on a shelf like the moriarty tribunal report which found DOB bribed michael lowry,who is now propping up government.
They will need a minister for apologies at the rate theyre going
And the civil servant that cheered on Taylor from the ditch has apologized ?
When the corruption is at the very top and the perpetrators are not punished for their crimes what message does it send to the rest of society? One rule for them and another for us . With this type of carry on I really hope people will open their eyes when it comes to the GE and get rid of these criminals.
When you need a change of subject
Fool ! No need to apologise on behalf of the state. Apologize on behalf of yourself and the gov.
The smell will go away but the stain will remain in everyone’s eyes
Ah cop yourselves on, FG are riding high in the poles, this country is very sick indeed
He should be told to stick his apologies
No chance that the corrupt garda involved will get a slap on the wrist or any time just ride off into the sunset with a a bonus and a nice fat pension This is the norm in this filthy corrupt State
Not on my behalf, i believed and supported the man, do it behalf of the liars and fraudsters who tried to frame him.
He should be able to take a civil action against Callanan and Taylor for defamation of character. But maybe he will take the soup and sign a waiver which could be more profitable. Whatever he gets, good luck to him
He read the apology ,
He should be told to stick you apologies
all this over penalty points
Bit late now lads
It was the gov and the gardai that tried to discredit and destroy him, not the people, and this ignorant idiot politician has the gaul to stand up and apologize as if we were all in it.
Sorry about this post but it seems to have been repeated.
Sorry about this posting but it seems to have been repeated.
I needed an apology from this Justice Minister But so far he has refused. My family and I have suffered many years of Garda harassment and we have no criminal records. It appears that we were dealing with some of these people that had affected very badly the McCabes lives. This is what happened to us:
I went to England in the 1960s to find work so as I might one-day return to set-up a lifelong dream to own my own grocery store in my native Ireland. There was no work to be had in Ireland at the time. I had some very good jobs in England for instance, shop manager, rent collector for a London Council, and Insurance Agent. Those were trusted positions for which I appreciated. I met a girl from Galway and eventually we married and had our first child. It was then that I decided to return home and try to set-up my dream store. That dream became reality in 1972. I was over the Moon to think that at last I had achieved the dream with many odds stacked against me. The store was doing fairly well and we were on friendly terms with our customers. But suddenly things began to change. We realised the area of our store appeared rough with gangs of thugs roaming the streets on a regular basis. The thugs caused a lot of vandalism to our store and began to terrorise us. Of course we took this situation up with local Gardai (Irish Police) but they advised us to leave the area, as they were not in a position to help us. We were very disappointed at what was happening and considered leaving the store. We were reluctant to leave as we had a bank loan on the store and that had to be paid back. But worse than the problem we were subjected to from the thugs amazingly the police began terrorising us and I was arrested on occasions and locked up in police stations cells. They were bringing charges and allegations against me that didn’t make any sense. I had no criminal record. We left the store and spent many years thereafter trying to come to terms as to why this had happened to us. The following is a list of allegations and charges against me:
30 YEARS OF GARDA HARASSMENTS AND WRONGDOING
1973. I was accused of making a false burglary claim. No action is taken.
1973. I was accused of assault and charged. The case against me was struck out at the Court of Appeal.
1973. Two Gardaí ignored an incident when I was assaulted behind the counter of the store. They refused to charge the perpetrator.
1973. I was accused of assault and charged. The case was dismissed at the Appeal Court.
1974. I was accused of dangerous driving. No action is taken.
1974. Subjected to Gardaí surveillance. No action is taken
1974. Store Street Gardaí searched our Store and several items were taken from shelves. Representations were made for the return of the items but this refused.
1975. My car was searched. No action is taken.
1975. I was accused on 1st March with a breach of the peace and locked in a cell. The case against me was dismissed at the Bridewell District Court.
1975. I was accused of receiving stolen property on the 28th June and locked in a cell. The case against me was dismissed at the Bridewell District Court.
1976. In the second car search. No action is taken.
1976. I was accused of threatening behavior by Gardaí. No action is taken.
1976. I was arrested under the O.A.S.A, at 10:30 am 7th January 1976 at Blackrock Co. Dublin. I was taken to Dún Laoghaire Garda Station and locked in a cell from 11 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. I was then released and told that I was free to leave. When I went outside they said they would drive me to my home, which was a twelve-mile journey. But Instead of driving me home, they brought me to the Bridewell Garda Station and rearrested me when I got out of the car. I was taken in there and locked in a cell until 11 a.m. the next day 8th January. In this arrest, I was accused of (1) being involved with subversives, (2) being involved with Sinn Fein, (3) arranging illegal meetings, (4) accused of bank robbery, (5) accused of being in possession of a stolen car, (6) accused of being involved with criminal gangs, (7) involved with the I.R.A. Barbara was told when she visited me at the Bridewell Garda Station that our store and home would be searched that night but that search never took place. She was also told that 3 years awaited me in prison.
All OF THE ABOVE ACTIONS FROM 1973 to 1976 WERE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF FITZGIBBON STREET GARDA STATION UNDER ORDERS FROM: NAMES HAVE BEEN OMITTED AND CAN BE OBTAINED IF REQUIRED.
===========================================================================
RATHCOOLE GARDA STATION:
1981. I was accused of operating illegal gaming machines but the action against me was dismissed at Court.
1982. Gardaí tried to block a compensation claim for an unprovoked attack against me. But despite this, I won my case 7 years later at the Compensation Tribunal. The judge said that irrespective of the Gardaí evidence that I was a credible witness and I was entitled to the claim. Two years later I received my claim.
1983. I was accused by Gardaí of causing malicious damages to a car but the case against me was dismissed at Kilmainham District court.
1984. The 2nd search of the home on the 11th of September. No action is taken.
1984. The 3rd charge of breach of the peace but the case against me was withdrawn at Rathfarnham District Court.
1984. The 2nd charge of assault. The action is withdrawn.
1984. The 2nd charge of malicious damages. The action is withdrawn.
1984. The 2nd charge of dangerous driving. No action is taken.
1984. I was accused of a threatening charge. No action is taken.
1985. The 3rd search of the home 20th April. No action is taken.
1985. The 3rd charge of assault against me. The case was withdrawn at Rathfarnham District Court.
1985. I was accused by the Serious Crime Squad of committing serious crimes. No action is taken.
1985. I was accused of refusing to stop when signaled by Gardaí. No action is taken.
ALL OF THE ABOVE ACTIONS FROM 1981 TO 1985 WERE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF RATHCOOLE GARDA STATION UNDER ORDERS OF: NAMES HAVE BEEN OMITTED AND CAN BE OBTAINED IF REQUIRED.
===========================================================================
TALLAGHT GARDA STATION:
1986. The 2nd accusation of dealing in stolen goods. No action is taken.
1991. The 4th search of the home. An apology was tendered by Gardaí.
2000. The 5th search of the home. No action is taken.
2000. 6th July search of the home. No action is taken.
2000. Accused of having drugs at my home. Held under house arrest by Gardai. Nothing was found. The explanation offered for this action was that they were in the wrong house.
ALL THE ABOVE ACTIONS FROM 1986 TO 2000 WERE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF TALLAGHT GARDA STATION UNDER ORDERS FROM: NAMES HAVE BEEN OMITTED AND CAN BE OBTAINED IF REQUIRED:
===========================================================================
FURTHER NOTE:
Although most of the accusations were serious, I was fortunate that the Gardaí were unable to frame me with an offense. I had always come out of it a free man but I was angry that, because of it, I had lost my home and my livelihood and had come very close to the breaking up of our family. The words “Why me?” are still ringing in my head. Many years have been spent trying to come to terms with our loss and figuring out why this had happened to my family and me. I have lived a psychologically tortured life because of these Garda actions and I have suffered ongoing nightmares and numerous hospitalizations. I have no criminal record.
After suffering those years of Garda harassment my wife Barbara passed away with a very heavy load on her mind. But she indicated that as we were innocent of any wrongdoing that the Gardaí would one-day call upon us and offer an apology. The Gardaí action against us had largely affected us particularly, Barbara with the bringing up of our five children. Barbara and I spent 53 years of our lives together.
I went to England in the 1960s to find work so as I might one-day return to set-up a lifelong dream to own my own grocery store in my native Ireland. There was no work to be had in Ireland at the time. I had some very good jobs in England for instance, shop manager, rent collector for a London Council, and Insurance Agent. Those were trusted positions for which I appreciated. I met a girl from Galway and eventually we married and had our first child. It was then that I decided to return home and try to set-up my dream store. That dream became reality in 1972. I was over the Moon to think that at last I had achieved the dream with many odds stacked against me. The store was doing fairly well and we were on friendly terms with our customers. But suddenly things began to change. We realised the area of our store appeared rough with gangs of thugs roaming the streets on a regular basis. The thugs caused a lot of vandalism to our store and began to terrorise us. Of course we took this situation up with local Gardai (Irish Police) but they advised us to leave the area, as they were not in a position to help us. We were very disappointed at what was happening and considered leaving the store. We were reluctant to leave as we had a bank loan on the store and that had to be paid back. But worse than the problem we were subjected to from the thugs amazingly the police began terrorising us and I was arrested on occasions and locked up in police stations cells. They were bringing charges and allegations against me that didn’t make any sense. I had no criminal record. We left the store and spent many years thereafter trying to come to terms as to why this had happened to us. The following is a list of allegations and charges against me:
30 YEARS OF GARDA HARASSMENTS AND WRONGDOING
1973. I was accused of making a false burglary claim. No action is taken.
1973. I was accused of assault and charged. The case against me was struck out at the Court of Appeal.
1973. Two Gardaí ignored an incident when I was assaulted behind the counter of the store. They refused to charge the perpetrator.
1973. I was accused of assault and charged. The case was dismissed at the Appeal Court.
1974. I was accused of dangerous driving. No action is taken.
1974. Subjected to Gardaí surveillance. No action is taken
1974. Store Street Gardaí searched our Store and several items were taken from shelves. Representations were made for the return of the items but this refused.
1975. My car was searched. No action is taken.
1975. I was accused on 1st March with a breach of the peace and locked in a cell. The case against me was dismissed at the Bridewell District Court.
1975. I was accused of receiving stolen property on the 28th June and locked in a cell. The case against me was dismissed at the Bridewell District Court.
1976. In the second car search. No action is taken.
1976. I was accused of threatening behavior by Gardaí. No action is taken.
1976. I was arrested under the O.A.S.A, at 10:30 am 7th January 1976 at Blackrock Co. Dublin. I was taken to Dún Laoghaire Garda Station and locked in a cell from 11 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. I was then released and told that I was free to leave. When I went outside they said they would drive me to my home, which was a twelve-mile journey. But Instead of driving me home, they brought me to the Bridewell Garda Station and rearrested me when I got out of the car. I was taken in there and locked in a cell until 11 a.m. the next day 8th January. In this arrest, I was accused of (1) being involved with subversives, (2) being involved with Sinn Fein, (3) arranging illegal meetings, (4) accused of bank robbery, (5) accused of being in possession of a stolen car, (6) accused of being involved with criminal gangs, (7) involved with the I.R.A. Barbara was told when she visited me at the Bridewell Garda Station that our store and home would be searched that night but that search never took place. She was also told that 3 years awaited me in prison.
All OF THE ABOVE ACTIONS FROM 1973 to 1976 WERE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF FITZGIBBON STREET GARDA STATION UNDER ORDERS FROM: NAMES HAVE BEEN OMITTED AND CAN BE OBTAINED IF REQUIRED.
===========================================================================
RATHCOOLE GARDA STATION:
1981. I was accused of operating illegal gaming machines but the action against me was dismissed at Court.
1982. Gardaí tried to block a compensation claim for an unprovoked attack against me. But despite this, I won my case 7 years later at the Compensation Tribunal. The judge said that irrespective of the Gardaí evidence that I was a credible witness and I was entitled to the claim. Two years later I received my claim.
1983. I was accused by Gardaí of causing malicious damages to a car but the case against me was dismissed at Kilmainham District court.
1984. The 2nd search of the home on the 11th of September. No action is taken.
1984. The 3rd charge of breach of the peace but the case against me was withdrawn at Rathfarnham District Court.
1984. The 2nd charge of assault. The action is withdrawn.
1984. The 2nd charge of malicious damages. The action is withdrawn.
1984. The 2nd charge of dangerous driving. No action is taken.
1984. I was accused of a threatening charge. No action is taken.
1985. The 3rd search of the home 20th April. No action is taken.
1985. The 3rd charge of assault against me. The case was withdrawn at Rathfarnham District Court.
1985. I was accused by the Serious Crime Squad of committing serious crimes. No action is taken.
1985. I was accused of refusing to stop when signaled by Gardaí. No action is taken.
ALL OF THE ABOVE ACTIONS FROM 1981 TO 1985 WERE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF RATHCOOLE GARDA STATION UNDER ORDERS OF: NAMES HAVE BEEN OMITTED AND CAN BE OBTAINED IF REQUIRED.
===========================================================================
TALLAGHT GARDA STATION:
1986. The 2nd accusation of dealing in stolen goods. No action is taken.
1991. The 4th search of the home. An apology was tendered by Gardaí.
2000. The 5th search of the home. No action is taken.
2000. 6th July search of the home. No action is taken.
2000. Accused of having drugs at my home. Held under house arrest by Gardai. Nothing was found. The explanation offered for this action was that they were in the wrong house.
ALL THE ABOVE ACTIONS FROM 1986 TO 2000 WERE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF TALLAGHT GARDA STATION UNDER ORDERS FROM: NAMES HAVE BEEN OMITTED AND CAN BE OBTAINED IF REQUIRED:
===========================================================================
FURTHER NOTE:
Although most of the accusations were serious, I was fortunate that the Gardaí were unable to frame me with an offense. I had always come out of it a free man but I was angry that, because of it, I had lost my home and my livelihood and had come very close to the breaking up of our family. The words “Why me?” are still ringing in my head. Many years have been spent trying to come to terms with our loss and figuring out why this had happened to my family and me. I have lived a psychologically tortured life because of these Garda actions and I have suffered ongoing nightmares and numerous hospitalizations. I have no criminal record.
After suffering those years of Garda harassment my wife Barbara passed away with a very heavy load on her mind. But she indicated that as we were innocent of any wrongdoing that the Gardaí would one-day call upon us and offer an apology. The Gardaí action against us had largely affected us particularly, Barbara with the bringing up of our five children. Barbara and I spent 53 years of our lives together.I went to England in the 1960s to find work so as I might one-day return to set-up a lifelong dream to own my own grocery store in my native Ireland. There was no work to be had in Ireland at the time. I had some very good jobs in England for instance, shop manager, rent collector for a London Council, and Insurance Agent. Those were trusted positions for which I appreciated. I met a girl from Galway and eventually we married and had our first child. It was then that I decided to return home and try to set-up my dream store. That dream became reality in 1972. I was over the Moon to think that at last I had achieved the dream with many odds stacked against me. The store was doing fairly well and we were on friendly terms with our customers. But suddenly things began to change. We realised the area of our store appeared rough with gangs of thugs roaming the streets on a regular basis. The thugs caused a lot of vandalism to our store and began to terrorise us. Of course we took this situation up with local Gardai (Irish Police) but they advised us to leave the area, as they were not in a position to help us. We were very disappointed at what was happening and considered leaving the store. We were reluctant to leave as we had a bank loan on the store and that had to be paid back. But worse than the problem we were subjected to from the thugs amazingly the police began terrorising us and I was arrested on occasions and locked up in police stations cells. They were bringing charges and allegations against me that didn’t make any sense. I had no criminal record. We left the store and spent many years thereafter trying to come to terms as to why this had happened to us. The following is a list of allegations and charges against me:
30 YEARS OF GARDA HARASSMENTS AND WRONGDOING
1973. I was accused of making a false burglary claim. No action is taken.
1973. I was accused of assault and charged. The case against me was struck out at the Court of Appeal.
1973. Two Gardaí ignored an incident when I was assaulted behind the counter of the store. They refused to charge the perpetrator.
1973. I was accused of assault and charged. The case was dismissed at the Appeal Court.
1974. I was accused of dangerous driving. No action is taken.
1974. Subjected to Gardaí surveillance. No action is taken
1974. Store Street Gardaí searched our Store and several items were taken from shelves. Representations were made for the return of the items but this refused.
1975. My car was searched. No action is taken.
1975. I was accused on 1st March with a breach of the peace and locked in a cell. The case against me was dismissed at the Bridewell District Court.
1975. I was accused of receiving stolen property on the 28th June and locked in a cell. The case against me was dismissed at the Bridewell District Court.
1976. In the second car search. No action is taken.
1976. I was accused of threatening behavior by Gardaí. No action is taken.
1976. I was arrested under the O.A.S.A, at 10:30 am 7th January 1976 at Blackrock Co. Dublin. I was taken to Dún Laoghaire Garda Station and locked in a cell from 11 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. I was then released and told that I was free to leave. When I went outside they said they would drive me to my home, which was a twelve-mile journey. But Instead of driving me home, they brought me to the Bridewell Garda Station and rearrested me when I got out of the car. I was taken in there and locked in a cell until 11 a.m. the next day 8th January. In this arrest, I was accused of (1) being involved with subversives, (2) being involved with Sinn Fein, (3) arranging illegal meetings, (4) accused of bank robbery, (5) accused of being in possession of a stolen car, (6) accused of being involved with criminal gangs, (7) involved with the I.R.A. Barbara was told when she visited me at the Bridewell Garda Station that our store and home would be searched that night but that search never took place. She was also told that 3 years awaited me in prison.
All OF THE ABOVE ACTIONS FROM 1973 to 1976 WERE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF FITZGIBBON STREET GARDA STATION UNDER ORDERS FROM: NAMES HAVE BEEN OMITTED AND CAN BE OBTAINED IF REQUIRED.
===========================================================================
RATHCOOLE GARDA STATION:
1981. I was accused of operating illegal gaming machines but the action against me was dismissed at Court.
1982. Gardaí tried to block a compensation claim for an unprovoked attack against me. But despite this, I won my case 7 years later at the Compensation Tribunal. The judge said that irrespective of the Gardaí evidence that I was a credible witness and I was entitled to the claim. Two years later I received my claim.
1983. I was accused by Gardaí of causing malicious damages to a car but the case against me was dismissed at Kilmainham District court.
1984. The 2nd search of the home on the 11th of September. No action is taken.
1984. The 3rd charge of breach of the peace but the case against me was withdrawn at Rathfarnham District Court.
1984. The 2nd charge of assault. The action is withdrawn.
1984. The 2nd charge of malicious damages. The action is withdrawn.
1984. The 2nd charge of dangerous driving. No action is taken.
1984. I was accused of a threatening charge. No action is taken.
1985. The 3rd search of the home 20th April. No action is taken.
1985. The 3rd charge of assault against me. The case was withdrawn at Rathfarnham District Court.
1985. I was accused by the Serious Crime Squad of committing serious crimes. No action is taken.
1985. I was accused of refusing to stop when signaled by Gardaí. No action is taken.
ALL OF THE ABOVE ACTIONS FROM 1981 TO 1985 WERE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF RATHCOOLE GARDA STATION UNDER ORDERS OF: NAMES HAVE BEEN OMITTED AND CAN BE OBTAINED IF REQUIRED.
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TALLAGHT GARDA STATION:
1986. The 2nd accusation of dealing in stolen goods. No action is taken.
1991. The 4th search of the home. An apology was tendered by Gardaí.
2000. The 5th search of the home. No action is taken.
2000. 6th July search of the home. No action is taken.
2000. Accused of having drugs at my home. Held under house arrest by Gardai. Nothing was found. The explanation offered for this action was that they were in the wrong house.
ALL THE ABOVE ACTIONS FROM 1986 TO 2000 WERE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF TALLAGHT GARDA STATION UNDER ORDERS FROM: NAMES HAVE BEEN OMITTED AND CAN BE OBTAINED IF REQUIRED:
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FURTHER NOTE:
Although most of the accusations were serious, I was fortunate that the Gardaí were unable to frame me with an offense. I had always come out of it a free man but I was angry that, because of it, I had lost my home and my livelihood and had come very close to the breaking up of our family. The words “Why me?” are still ringing in my head. Many years have been spent trying to come to terms with our loss and figuring out why this had happened to my family and me. I have lived a psychologically tortured life because of these Garda actions and I have suffered ongoing nightmares and numerous hospitalizations. I have no criminal record.
After suffering those years of Garda harassment my wife Barbara passed away with a very heavy load on her mind. But she indicated that as we were innocent of any wrongdoing that the Gardaí would one-day call upon us and offer an apology. The Gardaí action against us had largely affected us particularly, Barbara with the bringing up of our five children. Barbara and I spent 53 years of our lives together.
I went to England in the 1960s to find work so as I might one-day return to set-up a lifelong dream to own my own grocery store in my native Ireland. There was no work to be had in Ireland at the time. I had some very good jobs in England for instance, shop manager, rent collector for a London Council, and Insurance Agent. Those were trusted positions for which I appreciated. I met a girl from Galway and eventually we married and had our first child. It was then that I decided to return home and try to set-up my dream store. That dream became reality in 1972. I was over the Moon to think that at last I had achieved the dream with many odds stacked against me. The store was doing fairly well and we were on friendly terms with our customers. But suddenly things began to change. We realised the area of our store appeared rough with gangs of thugs roaming the streets on a regular basis. The thugs caused a lot of vandalism to our store and began to terrorise us. Of course we took this situation up with local Gardai (Irish Police) but they advised us to leave the area, as they were not in a position to help us. We were very disappointed at what was happening and considered leaving the store. We were reluctant to leave as we had a bank loan on the store and that had to be paid back. But worse than the problem we were subjected to from the thugs amazingly the police began terrorising us and I was arrested on occasions and locked up in police stations cells. They were bringing charges and allegations against me that didn’t make any sense. I had no criminal record. We left the store and spent many years thereafter trying to come to terms as to why this had happened to us. The following is a list of allegations and charges against me:
30 YEARS OF GARDA HARASSMENTS AND WRONGDOING
1973. I was accused of making a false burglary claim. No action is taken.
1973. I was accused of assault and charged. The case against me was struck out at the Court of Appeal.
1973. Two Gardaí ignored an incident when I was assaulted behind the counter of the store. They refused to charge the perpetrator.
1973. I was accused of assault and charged. The case was dismissed at the Appeal Court.
1974. I was accused of dangerous driving. No action is taken.
1974. Subjected to Gardaí surveillance. No action is taken
1974. Store Street Gardaí searched our Store and several items were taken from shelves. Representations were made for the return of the items but this refused.
1975. My car was searched. No action is taken.
1975. I was accused on 1st March with a breach of the peace and locked in a cell. The case against me was dismissed at the Bridewell District Court.
1975. I was accused of receiving stolen property on the 28th June and locked in a cell. The case against me was dismissed at the Bridewell District Court.
1976. In the second car search. No action is taken.
1976. I was accused of threatening behavior by Gardaí. No action is taken.
1976. I was arrested under the O.A.S.A, at 10:30 am 7th January 1976 at Blackrock Co. Dublin. I was taken to Dún Laoghaire Garda Station and locked in a cell from 11 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. I was then released and told that I was free to leave. When I went outside they said they would drive me to my home, which was a twelve-mile journey. But Instead of driving me home, they brought me to the Bridewell Garda Station and rearrested me when I got out of the car. I was taken in there and locked in a cell until 11 a.m. the next day 8th January. In this arrest, I was accused of (1) being involved with subversives, (2) being involved with Sinn Fein, (3) arranging illegal meetings, (4) accused of bank robbery, (5) accused of being in possession of a stolen car, (6) accused of being involved with criminal gangs, (7) involved with the I.R.A. Barbara was told when she visited me at the Bridewell Garda Station that our store and home would be searched that night but that search never took place. She was also told that 3 years awaited me in prison.
All OF THE ABOVE ACTIONS FROM 1973 to 1976 WERE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF FITZGIBBON STREET GARDA STATION UNDER ORDERS FROM: NAMES HAVE BEEN OMITTED AND CAN BE OBTAINED IF REQUIRED.
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RATHCOOLE GARDA STATION:
1981. I was accused of operating illegal gaming machines but the action against me was dismissed at Court.
1982. Gardaí tried to block a compensation claim for an unprovoked attack against me. But despite this, I won my case 7 years later at the Compensation Tribunal. The judge said that irrespective of the Gardaí evidence that I was a credible witness and I was entitled to the claim. Two years later I received my claim.
1983. I was accused by Gardaí of causing malicious damages to a car but the case against me was dismissed at Kilmainham District court.
1984. The 2nd search of the home on the 11th of September. No action is taken.
1984. The 3rd charge of breach of the peace but the case against me was withdrawn at Rathfarnham District Court.
1984. The 2nd charge of assault. The action is withdrawn.
1984. The 2nd charge of malicious damages. The action is withdrawn.
1984. The 2nd charge of dangerous driving. No action is taken.
1984. I was accused of a threatening charge. No action is taken.
1985. The 3rd search of the home 20th April. No action is taken.
1985. The 3rd charge of assault against me. The case was withdrawn at Rathfarnham District Court.
1985. I was accused by the Serious Crime Squad of committing serious crimes. No action is taken.
1985. I was accused of refusing to stop when signaled by Gardaí. No action is taken.
ALL OF THE ABOVE ACTIONS FROM 1981 TO 1985 WERE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF RATHCOOLE GARDA STATION UNDER ORDERS OF: NAMES HAVE BEEN OMITTED AND CAN BE OBTAINED IF REQUIRED.
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TALLAGHT GARDA STATION:
1986. The 2nd accusation of dealing in stolen goods. No action is taken.
1991. The 4th search of the home. An apology was tendered by Gardaí.
2000. The 5th search of the home. No action is taken.
2000. 6th July search of the home. No action is taken.
2000. Accused of having drugs at my home. Held under house arrest by Gardai. Nothing was found. The explanation offered for this action was that they were in the wrong house.
ALL THE ABOVE ACTIONS FROM 1986 TO 2000 WERE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF TALLAGHT GARDA STATION UNDER ORDERS FROM: NAMES HAVE BEEN OMITTED AND CAN BE OBTAINED IF REQUIRED:
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FURTHER NOTE:
Although most of the accusations were serious, I was fortunate that the Gardaí were unable to frame me with an offense. I had always come out of it a free man but I was angry that, because of it, I had lost my home and my livelihood and had come very close to the breaking up of our family. The words “Why me?” are still ringing in my head. Many years have been spent trying to come to terms with our loss and figuring out why this had happened to my family and me. I have lived a psychologically tortured life because of these Garda actions and I have suffered ongoing nightmares and numerous hospitalizations. I have no criminal record.
After suffering those years of Garda harassment my wife Barbara passed away with a very heavy load on her mind. But she indicated that as we were innocent of any wrongdoing that the Gardaí would one-day call upon us and offer an apology. The Gardaí action against us had largely affected us particularly, Barbara with the bringing up of our five children. Barbara and I spent 53 years of our lives together.
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