Extremists placing politicians and their families ‘under siege’ in their own homes, says Michael McDowell

The former Progressive Democrats leader, justice minister and attorney-general said the families of some Irish politicians were living in fear because of the actions of extremists in targeting family homes.

He stressed that Ireland needed to remember the harsh lessons of its past that political violence always results in even worse violence.

Senator McDowell's comments came after controversial protests by masked groups of agitators outside the homes of some politicians. Extremists have also in recent months targeted properties linked to accommodation of refugees and asylum seekers, leading to violent stand-offs with gardaí.

His remarks came as he delivered the oration at the unveiling of a plaque to War of Independence hero Commandant Sean O'Donoghue, who led the IRA attack on a convoy of British Auxiliaries in December 1920. The reprisal by crown forces resulted in the burning of Cork city centre, an event that helped turned the tide of global opinion against Britain in the conflict.

Cmdt O'Donoghue took the anti-Free State side in the Civil War and was summarily executed after being caught by Free State forces following an ambush in Cork in September 1922.

His death, just one month after the fatal shooting of General Michael Collins at Béal na mBlath in west Cork, was described as a tragedy for the fledgling Irish state.

"Democratic Irish politics have been described as the art of the possible or the art of the compromise," said Senator McDowell.

"For me, and for all democrats, for all of us who aspire to be genuine republicans, the practice of democratic politics is a vocation that is the very antithesis of violence. Compromise with realities and with each other is never a dirty word in the true democrats political dictionary.

“Violence almost always begets further and worse violence. “Nowadays I think we can all agree that the ballot box must decide all matters - never the bullet. "Extremism has no place in our democracy and I say that especially these days where extremism of various kinds actually puts those who participate in the democratic process under siege in their homes and also endangers their family's sense of wellbeing."

Senator McDowell warned that politicians today needed to remember the sacrifices made by Irish patriots to win the nation's freedom - and the values for which they fought.

"In honouring the memory and the bravery of Sean O'Donoghue today by this memorial, is it not appropriate that our gratitude to him and to young men gave their lives for Ireland, like him, that our gratitude should take the form of a renewed pledge - that, in future, no brave young Irish man or woman should ever again meet such a fate for want of political courage or determination on the part of politicians to uphold the political values of our free democracy.

"That should be our grateful pledge to Sean O'Donoghue - the sacrifice that he made deserves no less."

Senator McDowell is the grandson of Irish revolutionary Eoin MacNeill, who became a member of the first Free State government cabinet.

However, the senator's uncles took different sides in the Civil War - with Brian adopting an anti-Treaty side while both uncles Niall and Torlough were in the Free State army.

Brian was second in command of anti-Treaty forces in Sligo but was executed after being captured near Benbulben, despite the fact his father was one of the most senior Free State commanders.

Mr McDowell warned political leaders of today to remember the painful lessons of Irish history, in particularly the needless bloodshed of the Civil War.

"We are not gathering here today to re-open old controversies or old wounds. With the passage of 100 years since these events my reflection is that the Civil War in which those atrocious acts took place was a disastrous and wholly avoidable tragedy for the newly independent Ireland," he said.

"Both sides killed and were killed. The National Army lost many more men to the guns of the Republicans than vice-versa. None of the participants, however genuine their motives, who were willing to kill fellow Irishmen have totally clean hands.

"Those who give their lives for Ireland should have never been put in the position of taking the lives of fellow Irishmen.”

Mr McDowell unveiled a plaque to Cmdt O'Donoghue at the old Ballygiblin national school outside Mitchelstown - a short distance from where the IRA commander was born.

The sole remaining nephew of Cmdt O'Donoghue, Fr Sean Condon (90), travelled from California to attend the plaque unveiling.

Cmdt O'Donoghue, who had been involved in some of the highest-profile actions of the War of Independence and was promoted to Command of the Cork First Battalion of the IRA for his bravery, was just 24 when he was shot by troops he had previously fought alongside.