Pól Ó Lorcáin
Paul Larkin


Chroniclers are privileged to enter where they
list, to come and go through keyholes, to ride
upon the wind, to overcome in their soarings up
and down, all obstacles of distance, time and
place.
Charles Dickens - Barnaby Rudge,
Chapter The Ninth
Broad Translation to English of Denis Donaldson article below.
(I am aware that the Denis Donaldson story possibly goes far deeper than the details we have at the moment. At the same time, I believe that the points below are still relevant with regards to the "Empire" which is still in control of things in this country.)
Like many people I was deeply shocked when I heard of the allegations being made against Denis Donaldson to the effect that he had been a spy (possibly the most important spy) working for the intelligence services in the Six Counties inside the republican movement.
I met Denis several times whilst working for the BBC in the North and he came across as a gentle and considered person. It’s a very sad story; the fact that he took the decision, in company with many other republicans, to begin working for the colonial enemy. In my journalistic experience, this desperate decision is very often taken after huge pressure being applied by the "security" forces and whilst this person is confined to a lonely prison cell, and very often under serious personal pressure for a variety of reasons.
Its my view that the reaction amongst the people to the story reveals an awful lot about the situation in our country and two things in particular which have not been properly addressed in the media. The first thing is the fact that the country is totally split between, on the one hand, people who have an anti colonial attitude and have an explanation for such events via this philosophy; and then on the other hand the people who are happy, or at least unconcerned, that this country is still under the Empire's sway. The second point comes in the form of a question, and again I have not heard this question being raised in all the hullabaloo about Denis Donaldson. And the question is what exactly are the reasons for the huge spy machine which the English have built and continue to maintain in this country?
I have an answer to that question. It’s a very simple answer. The English ruling class hates the Irish. I am not talking here about ordinary English people but rather that invisible but all powerful gang in our neighbouring country. They created an extensive spy network here hundreds of years ago because long experience has told them that this is the best way, not only to control a country, but also to leave a permanent mark there as well. Denis Donaldson is only the latest example of this policy and when you observe this little man and then think of his family and the permanent stain on their lives, I believe it is easy to see who is David and who is Goliath in this story. And what was it exactly we asked for to bring this apparatus of terror down upon our heads?
Again, it is very simple. We asked for equality and self rule over our own destinies. Denis Donaldson forms part of the answer to those demands from our colonial masters. It is them telling us yet again that, for as long as they are able, or allowed, to put a stop to it. And if small insignificant people can be used then abandoned as part of that process of Judge and Executioner - well So Be It.
Denis Donaldson – agus seo uilig cionn is gur iarr muid cothrom féinne.
(Tá mé eolach faoi gur féidir scéal Denis Donaldson a bheith i bhfad níos doimhne ná go bhfuil fhios againn faoi láthair. Cibé ar bith, silim go bhfuil na pointí seo thíos go ginearálta oiriúnach maidir leis an “Impireacht” atá i gceannas sa tír seo go fóill…..)
Mar aon le go leor daoine, bhí iontas bocht orm nuair a mhothaigh an scéal faoi Denis Donaldson agus na líomhaintí a rá go raibh sé ina spiaire fadtréimhse ar son na fórsaí rúnda sna Sé Contae (seans an spiaire is mó) laistigh den ghluaiseacht phoblachtach. Is beag gur chreid mé é go dtí gur admháil Denis é féin é fríd preasráiteas ag an deireadh seachtaine seo (15/6ú na Nollag).
Chas mé ar Denis cúpla uair agus mé ag obair sa BBC sa Tuaisceart agus tháinig sé trasna mar dhuine séimh agus macánta. Scéal brónach ar fad atá ann gur ghlac sé, macasamhail go leor poblachtaigh eile, an cinneadh ag obair ar son an namhad. An cuid is mó den am bíonn an cinneadh seo glactha i ndiaidh brú millteanach a bheith curtha ar an duine aonair ó na fórsaí “slándála" agus an duine seo i gcillín uaigneach, agus go minic faoi bhrú go pearsanta.
Silim go nochtann an fhreagairt ar an scéal imeasc an phobail dhá rud airithe nach bhfuil mórán cainte air sa mheán cumarsáide. Sa chéad dul síos, tá an tír scartha go huile is go hiomlán idir taobh amháin, áit a bhfuil daoine le dearcadh frithchoilíneachta agus iad ábalta an scéal a mhíniú fríd an radharc sin; agus ar an taobh eile, daoine a bhfuil sásta, nó ar an laghad ar nós cuma leo, go bhfuil an tír faoi smacht na hImpireachta go fóill. Ceist atá ann an darna pointe, agus seo rud nach bhfaca mé luaite áit ar bith sa chaint uilig faoi Denis Donaldson. Agus is í an ceist ná, cad é na fáthanna go díreach don hollchóras spiaireachta a thóg agus chothaigh na Sasanaigh fríd na blianta i dtír s’againne?
Tá freagra agamsa ar an gceist seo. Freagra iontach simplí atá ann. Tá fuath ag an aicme cheannais i Sasana ar na hÉireannaigh. Nil mé ag caint faoi na gnáthdhaoine i Sasana ach an dream sin atá dofheicthe ach lán cumhachta thall. Cruthaigh siad córas spiaireachta anseo na céadta bliain ó shin cionn is go bhfuil taithí mhaith acu i go leor áiteanna gur seo an modh smachta is fearr agus dóigh do lorg a fhágáilt go buan sa tír. Níl Denis Donaldson ach an sampla is deireanaí den pholasaí seo agus nuair a amharcann tú ar an fhear beag seo, agus smaoiníonn tú ar a theaghlach agus an náire a bhfuil orthu anois go síoraí, feiceann tú, dar liomsa, cé atá ina Daithí agus cé atá ina Goliad sa scéal seo. Agus cad é go díreach atá ann gur iarr muid chun an chineál innill sceimhlitheoireachta stáit seo a tharraing anuas orainn féin?
Aríst, tá sé iontach simplí. D’iarr muid cothrom féinne agus féinsmacht ar ár gcinniúint féin. Tá Denis Donaldson mar roinnt den fhreagra ón ár “mhaistrí” a bhfuil a rá linn nach mbeidh neamhspleáchas againn a fhad is go bhfuil siadsan ábalta stop a chur air.