Pearse Doherty (Sinn Fein)

Ní bhainfidh mé úsáid as an t-am ar fad atá agam, mar tá cruinniú eile agam. Ba mhaith liom mo thuairimí a nochtadh don Seanad agus dul ar an record i dtaobh Dónal de Róiste agus an tacaíocht atáim ag tabhairt don rún a chuir an Seanadóir Harris faoi bhráid an Tí. Cuirim fáilte roimh an leasú fosta. Tá sé contráilte, i ndiaidh 40 bliain agus níos mó don éagóir seo a bheith déanta, go bhfuil sé suas chuig Seanadóirí le rún a chur os comhair an Tí sé sa dóigh agus go mbeidh fiosrúchán neamhspleách againn ar na doiciméid a bhaineann leis an cás seo. Níl dabht ar bith go bhfuil Dónal de Róiste ag iarraidh a ainm a ghlanadh le tamall fada anois agus go bhfuil cúl tugtha ag an Rialtas ar an gceist sin.

I support the motion and welcome the amendment and the review of the documentation on Dónal de Róiste's case, which will be carried out. Dónal de Róiste was dismissed from the Defence Forces without charge, court martial, trial or due process of any kind. It should not have happened in the first place. It was a dismissal on a spurious basis which amounted to the charge of guilt by association because he was alleged to have been seen in the company of members of a republican splinter group, Saor Éire. We have heard the real reasons behind it, in particular in Mr. Mullan's book, that it may have been because of Dónal de Róiste's refusal to support a civil court case involving a senior officer responsible for a drink driving incident.

It is important to note that it is more than 40 years since Dónal de Róiste was dismissed from the Defence Forces without charge. After all his efforts to clear his name, it is wrong that a Member of the Seanad must table a motion in Private Members' time to get some movement on a case which is a miscarriage of justice. Dónal de Róiste was not given an opportunity to clear his name and was wrongfully dismissed from the Defence Forces. Persons in such circumstances should not have to rely on politicians whom they know are in a position to table motions on their case.

I am pleased Senator Harris tabled the motion as I know and it is widely accepted that he was the source of the information which resulted in the furore at the time of the 1997 presidential election. I am glad there has been an acknowledgement in this matter. Perhaps the Senator is trying to heal the wounds of that time.