MOUNTBATTEN MEMORIAL DEFACED
DISMAY VOICED AT ‘BITTER’ VANDALISM
A PEACE memorial to Lord Mountbatten near the spot in Mullaghmore, Co Sligo, where he was killed by the IRA has been vandalised.
A photograph of Prince Charles, which is contained in the display in the village, has been defaced ahead of next month’s 38th anniversary of his great-uncle’s assassination.
The memorial, which was erected last December, contains photographs of the Mountbattens, who regularly holidayed at their summer home in village, 12 miles from the border.
Tributes in the display are in both Irish and English, and refer to reconciliation between the royals and Ireland.
The memorial includes a photograph of Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall taken during their emotional visit to Mullaghmore two years ago.
The vandals were last night condemned by victims’ campaigner Kenny Donaldson, who claimed they were seeking to poison relationships at a time when there was “growing respect” in the Republic for the royal family.
He said: “Those who carried out this act of wanton vandalism stand in glaring contrast to the generous efforts of Prince Charles and his mother in seeking to lead by example and promote a new way forward between the peoples of the UK and nationalist/republican Ireland.”
Mr Donaldson, of the victims’ group the South East Fermanagh Foundation (SEFF), claimed the vandals probably thought they were “doing their bit to advance Ireland’s cause”.
He added: “That is the same delusional and bitter logic towards all things perceived to be British that those who were be- hind the terrorist outrage in Mullaghmore shared.
“But history is overtaking the mindset of those who deface memorials. Relationships between the UK and the Republic of Ireland have never been stronger.
“There is substantive and growing respect for the royal family right across the Republic.”
Lord Mountbatten (79) was killed when a bomb hidden on his boat Shadow V exploded off the coast of the small fishing village in August 1979.
His 14-year-old grandson Nicholas Knatchbull and 15-yearold Paul Maxwell from Killynure, Enniskillen, who was in the village for the summer and worked on the royal’s boat, also died in the explosion.
Another passenger — Lady Doreen Brabourne, the 83-yearold mother-in-law of the earl’s daughter — died the day after the attack.
Despite warnings from the Garda, Lord Mountbatten went lobster-potting and tuna fishing in the vessel.
IRA member Thomas McMahon slipped onto the Shadow V in darkness and attached a radio-controlled 50-pound bomb.
It was detonated by remote control at 11.39am the next day when the boat was about 200 yards from the harbour.