Saturday, December 6, 2008

Senior Conservative councillor who was an IRA gun runner

This beats the Bill Ayers story into a cocked hat in many respects.
Until this week Maria Gatland was Conservative Councillor for Croham ward on Croydon Borough Council (see her council web site profile above) and, furthermore, the Council's Cabinet member for Children's Services.
Then, to the bemusement of council colleagues, last Monday evening Councillor Gatland was referred to by an opposition councillor, in a heated debate, as "Councillor McGuire". It turns out that the lady was an IRA gunrunner nearly 40 years ago. However, she defected from the IRA and Willie Whitelaw, then Home Secretary, "ensured she wasn't arrested" (according to the Times) when she came to England.
Full marks to the lady. She defected and has built a new life for herself. It just seems utterly remarkable that she landed up as a Senior Conservative councillor. The Conservatives have dropped her like a hot potato, quickly accepting her offer of resignation from the Council Cabinet and the party. Perhaps they were mindful of David Cameron's address to the UUP today.


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