22 Days on Hunger Strike

national | crime and justice | news report Monday June 12, 2006 04:54 by Michael Gallagher libertypix at yahoo dot co dot uk

This is Peter Preston's statement.

Make of this what you will.

Evil triumphs when good men and woman do nothing.
Before each Dail session, the Ceann Chomhairle says a prayer that goes something like this:

'Through your Divine inspiration may all our actions, works and words come from thee.'

My name is Peter Preston. This is my twenty first day on hunger strike, the last eighteen having been outside government buildings on Kildare Street. I am seeking truth and justice for my daughter and to expose -with no stone left unturned- who was responsible for what was done to her.
My nineteen-year-old daughter had a glass smashed into her face in a public house -where our Taoiseach Bertie Ahern frequents- by a girl and for no apparent reason she perpetrated this assault. My daughter received twenty-five stitches to her face, was and still is suffering severely from post traumatic stress (PTS). the person responsible for this, is and was as well known around the our locality for her vicious thuggery as Al capone was around Chicago.

To make a long story short, the public house where this assault took place set up a conspiracy of corruption to criminally defraud my daughter of her due compensation. This was done solely to avoid a black mark against this pub. in so doing, they raped my daughter of her human rights, civil rights, constitutional rights and her dignity. My daughter was bullied, threatened and intimidated, in other words she was raped of her humanity. My wife was also threatened and intimidated.

Let me tell you who was and is involved in this conspiracy of corruption to destroy my child and family -and all because they see a black mark as more important than my daughter. The licensed premises owner/owners, their legal team, my daughter's legal team, gardai from two garda stations and a high court judge.
I took the documented evidence of this - in the form of transcripts and files- to Joe CostelloT.D., who was at the time Labour Party spokesperson on justice.

Approximately six months later when I got transcripts and files returned, some of the original transcripts were changed and files were missing. On May 13th or 14th 2004, I phoned Labour Party leader Pat Rabbitte's office and asked his secretary for a meeting with him. I informed her that I had very serious charges to make against Joe Costello. I also informed her that if I did not get this meeting, that I was going to get leaflets printed and distribute them to Joe Costello's constituents.
Within one hour, Labour Party councillor, Dermot Lacey phoned me and we arranged a meeting for the 17th of May 2004 for 10.30am in government buildings. I arrived there at 9.55am and asked for Dermot Lacey at the reception. Usually when you have a meeting in government buildings your name is left at the reception desk, but on this occasion mine was not? Dermot Lacey was contacted and we met at 10.10am in the Dail grounds outside the cafe. I explained what happened to my daughter and the part played by Joe Costello in the subsequent events. I told him that Joe Costello was a corrupt politician, a white collar criminal, a hypocrite and a liar. I also told Dermot Lacey that I wanted a meeting with himself, Pat Rabbitte, Joe Costello and Labour Party councillor, Aodhan O'Riordan.
I demanded to have this meeting on or before 28th May 2004, or I would go on hunger strike outside the Dail. They did not grant my request and no contact was made with me -I was completely ignored.

On the 31st of May 2004 I went on hunger strike outside the Dail.

Independent T.D. Finian Mc Grath, -who is helping me with my quest- asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Michael McDowell, to meet me and we met outside the Dail. The minister told me we would have another meeting after the local elections.
I came off the hunger strike on the Tuesday after the elections in June 2004 and went to see Finian McGrath to arrange a time and meeting with the minister. The Minister informed me that he would only grant a private meeting between himself and me. I replied that a private meeting was no good to me and that a formal meeting was what I wanted.
I continued to highlight what happened to my daughter and Joe Costello's involvement in it to his constituents, including at public meetings.

On the 3rd of September 2005, I attended a meeting in Raphoe Co. Donegal, organised by Frank McBrearty. Over 400 people attended with politicians and media including RTE television.
I gave a quick summary to the audience. The following weeks edition of the political magazine The Village, included what I said in an article about the meeting.
I continued to highlight what happened and as much as I could, keep it in the public eye.

On the 19th of November 2005 at a meeting in the Mannsion House, Dublin, I had asked for Joe Costello to be invited. I told him in the presence of the attendance at the meeting, that, "...he was a corrupt politician, a white collar criminal, a hypocrite and a liar, and that if I'm lying or mistaken, then take me to court..." I also said, " ...for two years I have been telling everyone about you and not even a solicitors letter have I got from you..."
He sent me two Christmas cards in December that year.

I have been on hunger strike since 21st of May 2006 and intend to stay until I am given assurances that every stone will be unturned, to get to the very heart of what happened to my daughter and expose it to the citizens of this country.

These parasites, predators, cowards and bullies are not fit to lace the shoes of the girl that smashed that glass into my daughters face. I never thought for one moment that I would have to tell my children to be wary of the gardai, solicitors, barristers, judges and politicians. I believed that the Garda Siochana were there to uphold the law.

There is nobody from an ordinary famiily that has destroyed my family, but only the so called 'cream' of society has. These cowards and bullies took on my post traumatic stressed daughter, well now I take them on. I am outside the Dail to take on Joe Costello and Pat Rabbitte, but not the state, and yet the state is taking me on.

Pat Rabbitte is blowing his trumpet about a bill he is trying to bring in to protect whistle blowers, well two years ago I blew the whistle on Joe Costello and was ignored.
I would like to remind the Labour Party to remember what happened to the Catholic Church when it ignored the whistle blowing of the children of abuse. What was done to my daughter would not be done to a rabid dog!

There is much more to this than what is in the statement, for instance perjury, changing of statements, witnesses under age, details omitted,statements not signed, what was said in my home by witnesses, who changed statements and went over to the pubs side etc.
I find it hard to put this in writing as I am much more comfortable explaining it in person. On my placard outside the Dail, I say some of this and Joe Costello has not even sent me a solicitor's letter, why not?
I have sacrificed my marriage, family and home. I sit outside Dail Eireann, sacrificing my health and life, but most important of all, if I am lying or mistaken about Joe Costello then everyting that happened to my daughter never happened.

Joe Costello and Pat Rabbitte have betrayed James Connolly, the Labour Party constituents, the electorate and the country, shame on them.

As I have said, I find it hard to put down in writing what happened, so if the person reading this would like to meet me as I can explain all in person.
This is of major public interest because it could happen to any person.
There is lots and lots more to this.

Signed,
________________
Peter Preston