Interview with Ruairí Ó Brádaigh published in SAOIRSE
The forces, tendencies and trends are there! The same as before. British rule remains, the new Patron of Sinn Féin Poblachtach, Ruairí Ó Brádaigh said.
In an interview with the Austrian historian Dieter Reinisch for the Republican paper SAOIRSE, Ó Brádaigh, asked if he sees the Continuity IRA declaring a ceasefire in the near future, said: “I have no reason to think they would”. He went on: “There will always be another campaign while the situation remains as it is.”
Ó Brádaigh was succeeded as President of Sinn Féin Poblachtach, a political organisation he lead since 1969 with a three year break from 1983 to 86, by Des Dalton from Athy, Co Kildare at the annual Sinn Féin Poblachtach Ard Fheis in November 2009.
Asked about the new situation in Sinn Féin Poblachtach he said: “I am glad to say I have been succeeded by a person who is utterly reliable and is prepared to carry the burden. I am quite happy with the new arrangements.”
Questions about a possible deal that could have saved the lives of six of the ten hunger strikers were answered with: “I know that the Ard Chomhairle of Sinn Féin and I, as a president of Sinn Féin knew nothing of the terms of such a deal. There was a committee in Belfast which was dealing with the day-to-day situation. I don’t know what they may have known.”
The interview appeared in the April issue of SAOIRSE which is available at this week's Sinn Féin Poblachtach Easter Commemorations and from the Sinn Féin Poblachtach Office in 223 Parnell Street, Dublin 1.
Críoch/Ends.