In
this weeks An Phoblact, the PIRA issue a statement
in which they apologize for the murder of Eoin
Morley in Newry in 1990. They go on to say that
they never issued any order for Eoin's murder,
and they also apoligise for trying to stigmatise
Eoin's memory by calling him an informant at the
time, an allegation they now concede was false,
and only used in a desperate attempt to justify
the indefensible, and blacken Eoin's name. The
Morley family have always been, and will remain,
a Republican family. We will not let the Provisional
movement hijack an ideal we passionately believe
in. The following is a response from the Morley
family to the PIRA statement in this weeks An
Phoblact.
The Morley family would like to comment on the
statement from the IRA regards the murder of Eoin.
Seventeen
years have passed since Eoin was shot on Easter
Sunday 1990. We understand that it would have
been easier for the Provisional movement to continue
with the charade that were the ever changing “reasons”
given to try to justify Eoin’s murder. For
the PIRA to take the unprecedented step of fully
retracting the explanation given at the time and
in subsequent statements, and to apologise for
what happened is a bold move and we, Eoin’s
family, welcome it.
We
have always known that the PIRA did not sanction
Eoin's murder. Privately many members of the Provisional
movement confirmed this and expressed their disgust
at what happened. From the outset we suspected
that Eoin died at the hands of British agents.
Sadly
history has proved us right. The statement from
the IRA, and the recent investigation from the
police ombudsman, Nuala O'Loan ,confirm what we,
Eoin's family, and Republicans in Newry have known
for years.
Eoin
was an active republican. The only people to benefit
from his murder were the enemies of Republicanism.
It has now been established that the RUC Special
Branch shielded Eoin's killers, helping them to
plan the killing and avoid prosecution, even though
a wealth of evidence was available against them.
Collusion
took many forms throughout the conflict, from
the blatant targeting of Catholics by the RUC
and their loyalist allies, to the age old tactic
of using paid agents planted within the IRA and
other Republican groups, who were used to agitate
from within, all to a FRU and RUC special branch
agenda.
Eoin
was murdered on Easter Sunday, still wearing his
Easter lilly on his lapel. Easter Sunday is a
day that is special to all Republicans. On that
day we remember all those throughout the years
who made the ultimate sacrifice in pursuit of
the goals laid out in the proclamation of 1916.
Eoin Morley also paid the ultimate price, murdered
by British agents because he dared to take up
the fight. On this Easter Sunday, and every one
to follow, we the Morley family will remember
them all.
