Leitrim County Councillors have backed a motion by Sinn Féin member, Brendan Barry, calling for a State apology for the wrongful deportation of socialist, Jimmy Gralton.

Leitrim County Councillors have backed a motion by Sinn Féin member, Brendan Barry, calling for a State apology for the wrongful deportation of socialist, Jimmy Gralton.

Gralton was deported from Ireland in August 1933, the only Irish citizen to have ever been subject to such an order.

Addressing the Council in Carrigallen last Monday, Cllr Barry said he was seeking a State apology for the “unjust and wrongful deportation from Ireland of Effernagh, Co Leitrim native, James (Jimmy) Gralton”, noting that members of Mr Gralton’s family still resided in Co Leitrim.

“As we approach the 100th anniversary of the 1916 rising I am calling for a state apology for the unjust and wrongful deportation from Ireland of James Gralton native of Effernagh Co Leitrim in August 1933,” noted Cllr Barry.

“Jimmy Gralton is the only Irish citizen ever to be deported from his own country. He was deported by a religious conservative Fianna Fail government of Eamon de Valera. The actions of Fianna Fail and the church at this time go completely against what the men and women of 1916 were fighting for.

“Jimmy had very different political views from the government of the day, he tried to promote the ideals of the proclamation of 1916 and believed in equality for all. Jimmy should never have been deported.“

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