Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Anybody who has been in this Chamber in recent years when we discussed pre or post European Council statements will remember that I have been continuously raising the plight of Julian Assange. I was going to raise Mr. Assange's imprisonment again here today but I am delighted to be able to say that he has now landed in Australia and is reunited with his wife and family.

Julian Assange undoubtedly is one of the most important journalists and publishers in the history of journalism and publication. He revealed war crimes, human rights abuses, government misbehaviour and on. Nothing WikiLeaks ever published later proved to be false. When we talk about speaking truth to power, we can say that Julian Assange is the embodiment of that phrase. As he has said, "If wars can be started by lies, peace can be started by truth." The world owes this man a huge debt of gratitude and that cannot be overstated. He was confined for nine years, first in the Ecuadorian embassy and then five years in Belmarsh Prison. During that time, his detention and this condition was linked by the UN to torture. He suffered numerous mini-strokes during his time there and the medical attention he received simply was not up to standard. I am pleased that we can now see that Julian Assange has been freed and that he is reunited with his family, particularly with his children, who have only known him in captivity. It is a powerful message here today that we need to stand up for the freedom of journalists and for journalism. I am really pleased to say that today.

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