Irish Echo “Letters” 309 Fifth Avenue New York, NY June 19 2001 Dear Editor; Responding to Joseph A. Salvayon’s letter, “Clarification on Cumann na Saoirse”, (Irish Echo, June 13-19, 2001); let it be known that a motion had been offered by Mr. Michael Costello of the present-day “National IFC”, during the original reorganization meeting held in New York on May 24, 1998, urging that we offer support to families of ALL certified republican prisoners; not simply those affiliated with Cabhair. In fact, though he will probably deny it today, Mr. Costello had requested a breakfast meeting with myself in Boston in April 1998, at which time he sought support for future aid to families of ALL anti-Stormont political prisoners. I had supported this suggestion, since to do otherwise smacks of exclusiveness as well as being a throwback to the Provos’ discriminatory practices against prisoners other than their own. A subsequent meeting held on April 3, 1999, established the IFC Board of Trustees and Executive Committee; with the proviso (affirmatively voted by current members of what is today known as “Naional IFC”), that these offices would prevail “pending ratification by a formal membership” one year hence. Further, the minutes of a May 1999 meeting, attended nearly exclusively by NY/NJ members (with one exception), reveal a motion accepting Chicago as the National office. It is very clear and apparent at this writing that certain members of what now has become “National IFC” only last year, had no intention to honor their pledge to meet in April 2000 to advance the work of a combined and stronger organization – as had been agreed on back in May of 1998. Also, we cannot allow the disinformation and outright lie to remain extant that members from “Chicago, Boston, and elsewhere were expelled effective April 29, 2000”, for in fact neither John McDonagh or anyone else in today’s “NIFC” had, or will have, any authority to expel us. Headquartered in Chicago, and presently incorporated in both Massachusetts and Illinois; we in the Irish Freedom Committee have lived up to the agreements and votes concurred in by those in “NIFC”, who continue to criticize our legitimate and legal efforts to soften the blows to the families of republican political prisoners. Should not these people, including Mr. Salvayon, consider utilizing their time and talents in a more constructive and productive fashion, e.g. fundraising to benefit their acknowledged recipient in Ireland, CABHAIR? Finally we, as an American-based and not-for-profit organization, have no affiliation with any foreign entity, nor do we receive orders or directives from the same, it should be pointed out that our offers on two occasions to donate contributions to Cabhair have been rejected. Our only request to Dublin had been for a listing of their prisoners, including their places of incarceration – with a response that it was not their “policy” to reveal such information. With all due respect to these good individuals in Cabhair’s Dublin office, when they can afford to be so selective as to donors, may we assume their financial situation is quite acceptable? Since it has long been evident that Mr. Salvayon and his New York/New Jersey associates have never been amenable to cooperation and discourse, or to meaningful and full harnessing of support for ALL current Irish political prisoners; may we suggest that they simply “live and let live”, for neither they nor we need further difficulty and aggravation. Sincerely; Joe Dillon National Chairman, Irish Freedom Committee Boston |
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