Firinne members meet Dalai Lama
Published: July 25, 2007
LAST WEDNESDAY, local Lisnaskea-based Firinne members, Betty Leonard and Loretta Gleeson took up an invitation from Richard Moore, the founder and director of Children in Crossfire to attend a private reception in Derry for the Dalai Lama.
He is the spiritual leader of the Tibetan Buddhists.
Mr Moore was blinded when he was 10 years old as a result of a rubber bullet fired by the British Army in 1972.
Last year he tracked down and met the now retired British Army major who fired the bullet.
Since then, the two have become friends and have met on a number of occasions.
It was also in 1972 that Betty Leonard’s husband, Louis was murdered in controversial circumstances at his place of work in Derrylin.
At the time, the perpetrators were thought to be Loyalists but, seven years later, Mr Leonard’s brother, Ciaran formally accused members of the security forces of involvement in his brother’s death.
Ciaran was then chairman of VOICE (Victims of Injustice Campaigning For Equality) and, on that occasion, he revealed he was compiling a dossier on 12 deaths in Fermanagh in which, he believed, members of the security forces had a hand in.
‘WONDERFUL HONOUR’
Bernice Swift, the Project Manager with Firinne who accompanied Mrs Leonard and Mrs Gleeson, said it was a wonderful honour to meet such a distinguished international figure.
“He is a well recognised Nobel Peace Prize winner whose stalwart efforts I totally admire as a champion of world peace.
“The people of Ireland have long been impressed by the Dalai Lama’s steadfast commitment to peaceful means in the struggle for Tibetan independence.
“I have watched with great admiration his struggle for freedom and justice for his people.
“The Tibetan people”, she added, ” have borne the oppression of foreign occupation with great dignity and fortitude, and it would be wonderful to take example from them and their experience.
“I am quite confident that all those who met the Dalai Lama have been inspired by his quiet strength, openness, happiness and deep dedication to the pursuit of peace and justice.
INSPIRATIONAL
“He is an excellent ambassador of non-violent conflict resolution around the world, and it was truly inspirational for Firinne members to have been given the opportunity to discuss those issues with the Dalai Lama.
“A nice memory to treasure”.
