The redemption of Sean O’Callaghan

THE untimely death at the age of 62 of Provisional IRA informer Sean O’Callaghan will for some go towards closing another chapter on one of the darkest periods in recent Irish history, but his passing, first and foremost, should remind us of the wicked deeds of the IRA, of which its political wing, Sinn Fein, harbours increasingly expressed ambition to participate in Government here in the not too distant future.

Moreover, O’Callaghan’s death also reminds us of the extraordinary and sometimes uncomfortable lengths to which the security forces of the State were required to go in a deeply fought counter-terrorism challenge to combat the real and sinister threat to the State posed by the IRA throughout much of the period of his eventful, sometimes tragic but ultimately redemptive life.

The period concerned was throughout the 1970s and 1980s, when O’Callaghan — born and reared into a republican hotbed in Co Kerry — was drawn into terrorist activities at which he excelled but, relatively quickly, became entirely disillusioned.

From subsequent events, we know that his story was far from unique. He turned informer. The IRA was, in fact, rife with informers of which O’Callaghan was the best known and most publicly identified, but perhaps not the most senior.

By the time ceasefires and cessations in Northern Ireland eventually arrived, the IRA had been run to a standstill as a terrorist outfit, a full account of which has yet to be revealed, and will, indeed, be revealing whenever the full facts emerge, a testament to the actions of the security forces on both sides of the border.

As for Sinn Fein, its attempt to dismissively portray Sean O’Callaghan as a Walter Mitty-type fantasist tells us more about that party than it does about the informer, of whom it at least can be said, ultimately did the State some service. A well-regulated property rental market is a key characteristic of a successful urban society. By that standard, urban society here has a way to go.

The property crisis is now year-round, but there are specific housing crises for each season. Homeless rough sleepers are to the forefront as the winter begins; increases in purchase prices and inaccessible mortgages are evident during the spring and summer house-selling season; autumn sees a crisis over rented accommodation as the new academic year pits students against workers in search of a place to live.

The rental debate always seems to end once immediate needs are met, which is unfortunate, because renting is one of the most important and neglected areas of public policy.

Many will be surprised, for example, that over 50pc of homes in Dublin are rented. Changing behaviour and attitudes means that renting can be expected to increase. As more people rent, the issue will assume greater policy dominance.

The property sector is still in denial, however. Rental needs different planning, financing, building types and the need to foster the emergence of professional and larger-scale landlords as well as the need to support build-to-let. The recent coming on stream of student accommodation is an example of success in specialist housing.

However, more types of specialist housing are needed for workers, youths and visitors, both short-let and social users. This newspaper again calls for joined-up thinking between all of the agencies of the State, with the property industry, to meet the various demands which exist and will only continue to grow.