Rafferty’s murder by IRA will see no one brought to justice

While it might be debatable as to whether the McCartney sisters will see justice over the killing of their brother Robert, it seems that the family of Joseph Rafferty, who was shot dead by an IRA gunman in a west Dublin housing estate in April, are more likely never to see anyone prosecuted for the murder of their family member.

While the killing of Robert McCartney was brutal and savage, it essentially stemmed from a row in a pub and pervious bad feeling. The killing of Rafferty was a lot more insidious.

Joe Rafferty was assassinated because he stood up to a man who had assaulted his little sister. He was shot by a gunman who was dressed in builders clothing as he was about to drive off to work from his apartment in the Ongar area of Dublin 15.

The gunman had clearly planned the operation for several days, hence the disguise of builders clothing in an area still under development.

Rafferty, despite constant warnings and threats from what are believed to be Dublin Sinn Fein members, still stood up to the man who assaulted his sister. He paid with his life.

It is also likely that this episode will soon be forgotten and that no one is ever likely to be prosecuted.

If Sinn Fein are aware of the people involved in Rafferty’s murder, and lets not kid ourselves that they’re not, then what does that say about one of the potentially biggest political parties in Ireland.

Who would you rather have? Messrs Haughey, Burke and Lawlor and their conniving and swindling, or your ex-IRA volunteer Sinn Fein member?

As a republican I’m sickened. I’d hoped Sinn Fein would bring republican idealism to bear on Irish politics, but instead, it seems that covering up murder committed by its members is one of its major policies.