Plans to hold a hunger strike commemoration event at the Casement Park GAA stadium in Belfast were condemned yesterday by the Fine Gael Seanad Leader, Brian Hayes.
"I believe it would be deeply regrettable if an event like this went ahead at a GAA ground when the GAA has always prided itself as being apolitical as is clear from its own rules," said Senator Hayes.
"This commemoration will be viewed as a sectarian event and it should not be held in a public stadium. Imagine what people would say if the UVF was allowed to hold a similar event in Windsor Park," he said.
"It is important that the GAA, a major recipient of Government funding, is kept above politics," he said.
Mr Hayes added that the event would be an affront to many people on both sides of the Border. "I am thinking especially of the many members of the Garda and the Defence Forces who were strong GAA supporters and who were killed by members of the provisional movement, like Limerick garda Jerry McCabe and Mayo garda John Morley, who was shot in pursuit of armed robbers in 1980."
Senator Hayes added that the essence of the peace process required people to move on. "Moving on is not helped by high-profile commemorations of some of the worst parts of our recent history.
"Instead, it only helps to fuel suspicion and tension, particularly within the other community in Northern Ireland," he said.
