Mary Henry (Independent)

I support Senator O'Toole in his request that the Leader find out who is making the demands for the release of the killers of Detective Garda McCabe. I agree with those who said that everyone has to bear pain in this situation. What Senator Maurice Hayes said yesterday about the pain of those families who lost members of the RUC was important but I was disappointed with the media reports on the debate which omitted what Senator Cummins said about the matter being the concern of all, including those on the Government side of the House. The killers were pardoned before the Good Friday Agreement whereas we now have a new group of people coming in after that Agreement. It must concern all of us that there will be further such groups.

Nobody is trying to stop progress. I listened closely to the wise words of Senator Ó Murchú. For numerous people on this island there will be no closure. As Senator Ó'Toole said, we need to know exactly who is making the demands for the release of the murderers so that if there is no closure this time, we can say that while demands were met on this occasion, another demand is now being made.