In the 1950s my dad told me there was an IRA man who bore our surname. This was Dublin born Sean Garland who became President of the Workers’ Party and was arrested at their party conference to face possible extradition to the USA on charges related to counterfeiting - which he denies.

I first saw Sean Garland during the 1960s when I went to a rally in Milltown Cemetery on the Falls Road. As a fairly militant unionist standing at the edge of the crowd I felt uneasy and began thinking “What if they sing the Soldier’s Song?” I foolishly thought I could not honour the Irish National Anthem and imagined taking to my heels but then I wisely moved on. Later while working in a store in Aberdeen Street on the Shankill I noticed a republican newspaper - United Irishman - had blown in and was lying at my feet. My eyes fell on the name Sean Garland and the speech he gave at a Wolfe Tone Rally at Bodenstown in June 1968. This confirmed the IRA’s move to the left and Sean Garland’s efforts to initiate change. A few years later he helped bring about the Official IRA’s ceasefire but in the article Sean said “no longer would the army of the Irish revolution stand idly by”. This seemed ominous but it is said, Sean was reassuring the faithful while trying to take the gun out of Irish politics. In the 1990s I contacted him through the Workers’ Party in Dublin hoping to discuss family history. He knew little beyond the fact that his family hailed from near Dublin. However both families appear to stem from a certain Roger Garland/Gernon who came from Essex with Strongbow in the 12^th century and settled mainly near Dundalk.

During the conversation Sean spoke about his time in Belfast’s Crumlin Road Prison in the 1950s. On Sunday afternoons he would listen to evangelical mission choirs singing hymns. This was a means of getting a break from prison routine but he was deeply impressed by these people. They gave their time freely and while observing their demeanour Sean was struck by their sincerity. Something about them challenged him deeply, “they were so committed to what they were doing” he realised the Irish problem was not a “simplistic question of freeing territory”. He went on to question many things, to digest new ideas and was influenced by Cathal Goulding, the IRA’s radical chief of staff in Dublin. Some years later I met Sean again this time at Castle Bellingham - in Irish Baile anGhearlanaigh- Garlandstown. There his wife Mary shared vivid memories of a day in 1975 when he was nearly taken from her by extreme left nationalists. I could almost feel the pain her story was so vivid. It was as if it had only happened yesterday. Walking home they noticed men loitering near their home and Sean began to run. It was too late, he was hit in the leg and as he lay on the ground they pumped 15 bullets into his arms, legs and abdomen. Mary was literally knocked against a wall and then ran forward screaming at Sean’s attackers. He managed to whisper to her, “get word to Cathal and the others” knowing there would be further attacks. When the Garda arrived they wanted to interview Mary right away but she demanded they take Sean to hospital first. There Sean’s health deteriorated as he underwent major surgery. When he regained consciousness he noticed there was nothing in a vital tube going into his body. There was no one available to help and so, despite his weakened condition, he managed to free up the drip himself and save his own life. Sean Garland survived and with others who believed in Wolfe Tone’s message about replacing Catholic, Protestant and Dissenter with the common name of Irishman, he rejected narrow nationalism, supported peace-making and encouraged others to move towards socialist politics. Attempts were made to influence loyalists and although there was no meeting of minds, some were attracted by non-sectarianism and the willingness to put working class interests before the holy grail of Irish nationalism. Other lessons were learned and Sean Garland and his Workers’ Party helped to humanise nationalists and to move people beyond the morass of a deeply flawed sectarian conflict.

- Roy Garland, Columnist with The Belfast Daily Irish News

24 October 2005

Roy is a long-time peace activist and well-known author who wrote the biography of Gusty Spence.  He is also a member of the Official Unionist Party.

Letter from C F J Doebbler, International Human Rights Lawyer - 14 October 2005

Dear Mr. John Lowry

Please note my strong support for Mr. Sean Garland's objections to his extradition to the United States.  The extradition request not only violates principles of nature, justice and Irish/UK law, but also the European Convention on Human Rights.

As an international human rights lawyer I would welcome the opportunity to file a case on behalf of Mr. Garland should domestic remedies fail to secure his rights.  Such a case should be filed immediately after the exhaustion of the extradition request.  As extradition could take place within hours after such exhaustion of domestic remedies, I hope that some thought will be given to preparations for a European Court action.

Of course, I hope that justice will be done through the domestic legal system, but if it is not, I hope that you will be prepared to appeal to international human rights law which I believe can provide Mr. Garland significant protections in this case.

Thank you

Regards

Dr Curtis his Doebbler