Labhrás Ó Murchú (Fianna Fail)

In 1991, Ireland was in the middle of a local election campaign. As we know, local elections are the bedrock of our democracy. At 1 a.m. on May 25 that year, democracy was dealt a severe blow when a member of Donegal County Council and a candidate in the elections was brutally murdered. I refer to Councillor Eddie Fullerton, who was home with his wife Dinah at the time. A group of men burst into the house and took his life. His son, Albert, who was leading the campaign for justice for his father, died in recent months in a car accident.

Last year, Donegal County Council unanimously passed a resolution calling for an independent inquiry and asked the Irish Government to get the British authorities to co-operate. The reason I raise this matter is the perception abroad that because Councillor Fullerton was a republican activist, he is not high on the priority list for investigation. I would like Members to state that this House should support Donegal County Council when it seeks justice for one of its members. As we asked the British authorities in the past, we should now seek an independent inquiry and show the Fullerton family and all public representatives that democracy is well served by this State.