Justice at last for the forgotten victims of sectarian murder in Dundalk

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"We have waited a very long time just to get this far. It's not over yet. We will keep going until there is justice" 

- Maura McKeever, daughter of the late Jack Rooney

The Argus 12 December 2007:

Memorial for Crowe Street bomb victims

Now, a specially commissioned sculpture is being erected beside the Town Hall, close to where they lost their lives.

The sculpture, entitled "Free Spirit" by Dublin artist Leo Higgins, has been funded by the Remembrance Commission.

Maura McKeever, daughter of Jack Rooney, welcomes the erection of the sculpture, which she sees as another step in the families' quest for justice. "We're very happy that this is being put in place," she told The Argus. "We started looking for this in 2005 and once the Commission gave it the go ahead, we were able to have a say in what piece was chosen."

Dundalk Town Council invited submissions from artists for the piece, and with the approval of the families, selected the design put forward by Leo Higgins, who created the cast bronze of Phil Lynott which was erected in Dublin.

The sculpture, which incorporates symbols of the dead men's occupations as a tailor and fireman, will be a permanent memorial to their deaths, says Maura. "This is something which shouldn't be brushed under the carpet - it's part of our history and it should be remembered."

She said that the families are continuing with their campaign to find the truth surrounding the events leading up to the Dundalk bombing. It is due to be debated in the Dail and Seanad next year and hopefully something will come out of that," she said.

Maura's mother Mary will be among those present when the sculpture is unveiled at 1.30pm next Wednesday. "We've also invited Alan Bracknall whose father was killed in Donnelly's Bar in Silverbridge the same night," said Maura.

Hugh Watters' daughter Margaret English said her family also welcome the memorial. My feeling is it's very important that this goes down in history, that what happened to our fathers isn't forgotten about."

She added that while the families had originally hoped that An Taoiseach Bertie Ahern would have been able to officially unveil the sculpture, he had other engagements that day but had indicated that he intends travelling to Dundalk to see it and meet with the families in the spring.