Finding aid databases

Hand-written letter from Maideilin Bean Mhic Aodha, Emmet Street, Dublin, to Eamon de Valera, 27 June 1943, requesting the release of her son, Sean Magee, an internee at the Curragh Camp. She opens the letter with references to her Republican background. 'As a Carysfort Student of 1912 to 1914; as the sister of Lieutenant Francis Macken who died fighting with the O'Rahilly in 1916; as the holder of an Active Service Medal; as the widow of a 1916 man who later was an Officer in the National Army and died in Canada some years ago and finally as the mother of Sean Magee, Internee, aged 19 years, I ask your kind consideration'. She condemns the Emergency Powers legislation which allows internment without trial. 'I suggest to you, that the loopholes for abuses under Article 2 of Emergency Powers (No 20), Order, 1940, are as many and varied, that its primary object - the Public Safety - is in fact defeated by the manner of its operation ... In my opinion, this whole case is a glaring example of a total lack of discrimination and common humanity, which is more in keeping with the methods of Soviet Russia and Nazi Germany than of our Catholic Eire for which my brother died and we all, you included worked so hard and made so many bitter sacrifices for'. She outlines, in detail, the circumstances surrounding her son's arrest and detention.
She also states that the operation of the Order constituted an infringement of her constitutional rights as a parent and guardian. 'I respectfully remind you that, as he is under 21 years, a minor in law, I have very definite rights concerning him, which have been completely ignored by the Department concerned ...I stress my point, that parents or guardians of a young person under 21 years of age are entitled to a reasonable explanation for the transfer of that young person from their custody to that of the State'. In conclusion, she requests and interview with the Taoiseach. 'Perhaps you would be kind enough to grant me and my sister the honour of a personal interview'.

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Copy letter to Maideilin Bean Mhic Aodha, Emmet Street, Dublin, from PS O'Muireadhaigh, 29 June 1943, acknowledging receipt of her letter requesting the release of her son, Sean Magee, an internee at the Curragh Camp. The letter states that the matter has been brought to the attention of the Minister for Justice. 'Owing to the extreme pressure of public business it is regretted that it is not possible to arrange an interview with the Taoiseach for yourself and your sister'.

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Copy letter to Maideilin Bean Mhic Aodha, Emmet Street, Dublin, from P Berry, 1 July 1943, informing her that her son, Sean, an internee at the Curragh Camp, has refused an offer of parole for three months. 'I may point out that prior to arrest your son was a prominent member of the Young Ireland Association, which was an unlawful organisation. The two other members arrested with him have since been released, one on medical grounds, the other on giving an undertaking not to take part in future in the activities of any unlawful organisation'.

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Hand-written letter to the Taoiseach from Maire Ni Mhaicin, Old Cumann na mBan, Emmet Street, Dublin, 10 July 1943, regarding the case of her nephew, Sean Magee, an internee at the Curragh Camp. She challenges the statements made by the Taoiseach in a recent speech on the subject of internment. 'In the Press of the 9 July you are quoted as stating that nobody was in prison because of his opinions. What about Sean Magee, who as you were told months ago, was interned solely for his election speeches for the two Republicans - Bohan and O'Kelly in the recent Municipal Elections. Has he not been put in prison and interned for the public expression of his opinions?'

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Letter [in Irish] from Maideilin Bean Mhic Aodha, Emmet Street, Dublin, to the Taoiseach, 8 July 1943, regarding the case of her son, Sean Magee, an internee at the Curragh Camp. She refers to her son's decision to decline an offer of parole and to his alleged membership of the Young Ireland Association.

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Copy letter from Maideilin Bean Mhic Aodha, Emmet Street, Dublin, to the Taoiseach, 13 July 1943, regarding the case of her son, Sean Magee, an internee at the Curragh Camp. She refers to an interview which she had with Mr Berry, Secretary, Department of Justice, at which she discussed her son's internment. 'I state that I was appalled and horrified at the web of evidence, which has been so skilfully and maliciously woven round my son, Sean Magee. The Secretary insisted that the Young Ireland Association was an unlawful one. No publication to this effect was ever made, nor was this fact conveyed to Sean by those in authority'. She also threatens legal proceedings should her son be pestered or victimised in the future.

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Copy letter to Maire Ni Mhaicin, Emmet Street, Dublin, from PS O'Muireadhaigh, 14 July 1943, acknowledging receipt of her letter regarding the case of her nephew, Sean Magee, an internee at the Curragh Camp.

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Copy letter [in Irish] to Maideilin Bean Mhic Aodha, Emmet Street, Dublin, from PS O'Muireadhaigh, 14 July 1943, acknowledging receipt of her letter requesting the release of her son, Sean Magee, from the Curragh Camp. The letter states that the matter has been brought to the attention of the Minister for Justice.

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Hand-written letter [in Irish] from Maideilin Bean Mhic Aodha, Emmet Street, Dublin, to the Taoiseach, 13 July 1943, thanking him for her son's [Sean Magee] release from the Curragh Internment Camp.

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Hand-written letter from Maire Ni Mhaicin, Old Cumann na mBan, Emmet Street, Dublin, to the Taoiseach, 12 August 1943, thanking him for her nephew's release from the Curragh Internment Camp. She requests the return of a typewriter which was seized after her nephew's arrest. 'I ask your kind recommendation of return of a typewriter, taken from my home following, the recent Municipal Election Campaign 1942. Its loss is a serious one to him, as he requires it at home to aid his speed in typing, in preparation for coming exam for Commercial Teacher'.

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