An interview with Peter Preston

national | crime and justice | news report

Wednesday October 24, 2007 14:15

by Seán Ryan

Peter commenced a thirst strike on Monday

Peter Preston went off liquids on Monday. This is day three of his thirst strike and day 29 of his hunger strike.

I recorded an interview with Peter that runs close to half an hour (I’ve converted the bit rate of this audio so the quality has suffered somewhat, but it’s only 11MB in size) so this written report will be quite short.

Peter has a chest infection and is unsurprisingly not feeling well. The loss of his tent is taking its toll. He’s praying that it won’t rain.

Mr. Preston told me that he feels that the Government’s constant focus on the criminal case, resulting from the actions of a young woman who’d scarred Peter’s daughter for life and who was ordered to pay her €3,000, will put his family in danger. Peter’s protest is not about the criminal case and it never was. He feels that the Government are sending out the message that he has unfinished business with the criminal who attacked his daughter and he fears that this might draw this criminal towards his family once more. Peter says that his relationship with this criminal and his want to have anything to do with her ended the same day as the criminal case.

Peter has asked to be left outside the Dáil, should he collapse.

I asked Peter about Finian McGrath, I asked him was it time for Finian to put his money where his mouth is. Peter said that it was and that he hopes that Finian will withdraw from Government and withdraw his support of Fianna Fáil in an act of solidarity with him.

I don’t hold out much hope with regard to that happening. However, it does put Mr. McGrath in a very awkward position. Mr. McGrath in the past has informed the Dáil that they should all support Peter Preston. Couple that with the fact that before Mr. McGrath succumbed to politics he was a school teacher who first hit the campaign trail on a social justice platform.

As I wound up the interview, ex-leader of the Green Party walked up to us. After a brief chat with Peter and one of his supporters, Mr. Sargent agreed to enter the Dáil to see if he could garner any support for Peter.

I don’t hold out much hope there either.

Day one of the hunger strike:- Starving outside the Dáil - http://www.indymedia.ie/article/84406

Day 22 of the hunger strike:- Blind Indifference - http://www.indymedia.ie/article/84710