Fintan Warfield (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome Mr. Shannon to the Gallery. I am very grateful for the opportunity to speak on an issue which goes to the core of human rights. Operation Demetrius was a British military operation which flagrantly disregarded the human rights of communities in the North. Not only were these men tortured, but 342 people were interned without trial. This number grew to 1,981 by December 1975. In 1978, this State was the first to bring a complaint against another through the European Court of Human Rights. The case was Ireland v. the United Kingdom. At that time, the State prioritised standing up for human rights over cautious diplomatic relations. This should be considered in light of the recent events in Gaza and the tenure of Israeli diplomats within this State.

The State has an opportunity within its grasp to seek absolute justice for these men. The grave injustice done to them was not carried out by rogue military officers, it was co-ordinated carefully by those in the upper echelons of British politics. These wrongs must come to light and the island must be one which stands against violations of core human rights. I commend Senator Niall Ó Donnghaile on his work in respect of this issue and on the way in which he has championed human and civil rights on every part of the island. It says something about him that, notwithstanding the fact that he is one of the younger Members of the Oireachtas, he and his office have taken on an prioritised something that happened 50 years. This goes to show that young people demand rights and peace, not only from the gun but for people living as survivors. I commend the Government for not opposing the motion and assert that the case must be fought with absolute vigour by the Department. For over 45 years, Mr. Shannon has fought alongside others for justice and we must honour that fight by our efforts in all further litigation.