By Stephen Murney
The following has been penned by Saoradh’s National Chairperson Stephen Murney in response to comments made by the SDLP leader Colum Eastwood following recent events in Derry.
I read, watched and listened with interest to the SDLP leader Colum Eastwood as he referenced “child abuse” in regards to young people involved in rioting in Derry.
Colum conveniently avoided the root cause of the trouble that occurred.
The riot manifested itself following one of many unwanted annual sectarian rituals that takes place on the edge of the Bogside in Derry. The sectarian hatefest coupled with a heavy Crown Force presence resulted in young people engaging in rioting.
When such sectarian hate displays occur the residents of Derry avoid their own city centre.
There used to be radical opposition to these marches, but this faded away due to a secret deal that was done over a decade ago. This shady deal was more about money than ending triumphalist sectarian marches.
British funding is paid out for meaningless “diversionary” events that are designed to “police youth” but in reality it’s mostly for SF members and their family connections to attend.
Inevitably trouble broke out recently when yet another sectarian hate march took place.
Colum took to the airwaves, the television and print to squeal about Republicans being behind the violence and went as far as labelling the response by young people as “child abuse”.
In regards to the claim that Republicans were orchestrating the riot, Colum has offered no proof or evidence whatsoever to back up his claim.
More importantly I would like to directly challenge his comments regarding “child abuse”.
Colum seems to be selective when it comes to this.
Colum Eastwood can sit comfortably from afar and berate these young people while ignoring the reason they took to the streets in the first place.
Would he have condemned a young petrol bomber, Paddy Coyle, in 1969?
He refuses point blank to condemn, blame or even identify the real reason. Poverty, capitalism, imperialism, sectarianism and it all stems from British occupation.
Young working class nationalists are continuously marginalised and oppressed whilst being treated as second class citizens.
They are being given no possible stake in their future in a United Ireland and regardless of whether our young people sink or swim politicians like Eastwood will continue to draw their pay packets.
I have lost count of how many times I have seen Republican families being raided or stopped & searched by the PSNI, most notably in Derry.
Time and time again children are forced from their parent’s cars as heavily armed members rifle through the vehicle, search their parents and their belongings.
For any child to endure this is a form of child abuse, one that undoubtedly has lasting effects.
On numerous occasions young children have been left traumatised as a result of dawn house raids involving dozens of armed PSNI members. At times their front doors are even cut down with chainsaws.
During these raids children are forced to watch their father or mother being handcuffed and hauled away.
Children’s ipads, tablets and laptops are routinely seized as “evidence” during these incursions. At times these laptops contain coursework for exams thus Interfering with children’s education.
On how many occasions has Colum Eastwood spoke out against the above incidents of child abuse?
I am a father of five children aged from three years to eighteen years and they have endured more stop and searches and house raids than most adults.
Our children are being punished because of the perceived sins of their parents, and that is wrong.
The constant silence of Colum & Co is deafening.
Mol an óige agus tiocfaidh sí
Praise the young and they will flourish
CLANRYE NEWS 