Seán Kelly.
474 Galtymore Road,
Drimnagh,
Dublin 12.
Thursday 26.09.02
Dear Senator Higgins,
Further to my letter of 10 September, forwarded to yourself and with a copy going to Mr. Enda Kenny TD, Leader Fine Gael Party. I thank you for yours of the 18th in reply to same. Deputy Kenny did not respond.
My original letter asked that I would be granted a meeting where documents could be hand transferred that give in a historic and chronological way background to my case.
Thereafter it was hoped that you would adopt my case in a personal capacity and give it public elevation. That request remains.
Your name and that of Deputy Enda Kenny were not picked out of a hat. One was aware of your contribution in bringing the Donegal McBrearty case to public notice. You displayed a professional grasp of the complexities and a commitment to public duty in airing it to a wider audience.
That apart, as with Deputy Kenny, you are a politician of some standing. Another reason for my writing to you is because my case has to do with national issues of political and security sensitivity of major proportions. It is not a local or constituency item.
Given the matters involved, there may an argument for the case to be taken forward within a broad collective framework of members of the Oireachtas.
To encourage a familiarity with aspects of my story, please find enclosed a proposed advertisement on the Nice Treaty referendum, forwarded early last Wednesday (18.09.02) to the Irish Examiner in Cork. A covering letter is attached.
A few short hours after its posting I entered a shop, following a well rehearsed routine, where I met a man known to me. His more usual practice is to head nod or hello and pass on. This day he gave me time. He told me that nearly every day he goes out he hears of somebody known to him who has died. He said a lot of his friends have died recently. He then adds, the next to die could be himself, or me...
This man, in respect of my person, did historic odd-jobbing on behalf of the security services. However, he was, so to speak, unemployed for some time up to today. Yes, I do believe I was being reminded of my mortality in the usual inimitable easy deniable double-talk way so beloved of national security agencies.
The man did once admit to working for the security services in the past (before my knowing him). His admission was logged.
In registering this I do so to educate. In theatrical terms the above effort is in the Mickey Mouse category. Far worse offerings have come my way and have been treated with contempt.
The advertisement submitted to the Irish Examiner last Wednesday (18th) received no return up to yesterday (24.09.02). Being concerned with the delay I telephoned the advertising department of the newspaper, speaking to a lady who informed me the submission had not been received. Within minutes another copy was winging its way to Cork by registered postal delivery.
Could it be just bad luck or is somebody trying to work a flanker? A double flanker (something else happened)? Censorship by a government agency?
Enclosed are two letters respectively dated Monday 22.04.02 and Monday 13.05.02, forwarded to Sir Steuart Pringle, a former Commandant General of the Royal Marines who had a leg blown off up to the knee in an IRA car bomb explosion in London in autumn 1981. The point of the exercise is that the explosive used in the autumn 1981 series of IRA London bombings came from the infamous Pangbourne (Berkshire) arms cache, a hoard compromised from at least end year 1980. The operations were allowed to proceed in order to protect an informer.
Deaths and serious injuries resulted in the bombings.
I have documentation that will support these extremely serious charges. The Irish services are aware of my understanding.
Would you remain silent and defer to convention if it was the blood of your own family that was so callously shed?
Talking about convention and (we could add) protocol. I say in the most direct terms that I wish no dumb question put to the "relevant minister" on my case. You will know the score. A dumb lie will be the return. It will be used by others as a peg to evade and avoid. A neat bureaucratic solution to perhaps the gravest and most embarrassing political-security dilemma to confront the state for many years. It is my determination that the story should be brought to the attention and judgement of the Irish people. That job, given the nature of the case, is more properly the function of a parliamentary political representative.
For anybody undertaking that task a first requirement is a reading of my documents. These have received a professional scrutiny and were found to have made case. They can be made available to you on loan.
Notwithstanding my application to you to take up my case, should you read the documents, it will be found that some members of the Fine Gael Party will not come out of it smelling of roses. In a particular instance, it seemed the preference of one member was to chase with the hounds rather than run with the hare.
The final enclosure is a brief one page item under the heading POINTS. Confining your attention to the personal aspect of the paper – morally shocking, isn't it? You do not have to accept my word for its veracity: put the question privately to the Minister for Justice. In saying that I am not seeking confirmation, I just want you and others to know what a staggering piece of moral depravity we have in our security services. Nothing is so low that they will not go below it.
After a reading of this letter and enclosures, would you review the position of giving personal consideration to my case?
For anything sincerely done I will be grateful.
Re. my proposed advertisement on the Nice Treaty referendum submitted to the Irish Examiner. Would you lend your voice to the said newspaper to ensure publication, notwithstanding its undoubted conflict with your own Party's position on the referendum? Full disclosure is a prerequisite for an informed democratic choice by the Irish people.
Copies of this letter (and enclosures) may be made available to other TD's.
Yours sincerely,
Seán Kelly.
Senator Jim Higgins.
Seanad Eireann,
Kildare Street,
Dublin 2.
Enclosures:
Note: As the enclosures are the same for Deputy Willie Penrose, they are not
included. The following items are return letters from Senator Jim Higgins and
Deputy Enda Kenny.
(2a) Letter to Senator Jim Higgins.
