News from Carrickmacross
Carrickmacross born journalist captured in Israeli Flotilla attack |
by Joe McCabe, Apex News & Public Relations A CARRICKMACROSS born journalist was on board the flotilla of humanitarian ships on which ten people have been killed when it was stormed by Israeli commandos. Sydney Morning Herald journalist, Paul McGeough who was born in Carrickmacross was on board one of the smaller aid ships and is currently being detained with hundreds of flotilla members at Ela prison in Beersheba in Israel along with his photographer Kate Geraghty who has also spent time in Ireland on an exchange programme. Mr McGeough has written extensively about the Middle East for twenty years and is considered one of the foremost experts on the region. He was not travelling on the ship attacked by Israeli Commandos but was on board a smaller vessel in the Flotilla which was subsequently towed to Israel. The editor of the Sydney morning Herald, Mr Peter Frey, speaking on Tuesday, has called for the release of his two colleagues and has stressed to the world’s media that Paul McGeough holds and Irish passport. Paul McGeough was born to a local doctor in the South Monaghan town and lived at Upper Main Street in the town until the age of 11 when his family emigrated to Australia. Mr McGeough returned on a visit to his native town eight years ago.A Department of Foreign Affairs official has stated that strong objections have been made to Israel at the suggestion that anyone on the flotilla had entered Israel illegally. ''As far as we are concerned they were abducted in international waters and brought here against their will.''The spokesman added that prison authorities had indicated they might gain consular access on Tuesday. ''Our first concern is to make sure that all our nationals are OK. We then want to ensure that their legal rights are being properly observed. We will be challenging any moves to deport them,'' he concluded. |
