'We stand with Ukraine and its people': Longford councillors express solidarity with war-torn country

As Putin's war on Ukraine continues more than two weeks on, members of Longford County Council have expressed their solidarity with the people of Ukraine who are fighting valiantly against Russian invaders.

At the monthly council meeting, which took place today, Cathaoirleach of Longford County Council, Peggy Nolan, requested that the heads of each local political party speak a few words about the atrocities being carried out in Ukraine.

"On this day, 9th of March 2022, the world is facing its greatest threat since the second world war," said Cathaoirleach of Longford County Council Peggy Nolan.

"Fifteen days ago, the Russian president, Vladamir Putin, invaded Ukraine - an independent state. Despite the horrific destruction brought by his forces, the Russian president dismisses damning evidence of war crimes by his forces as gross propaganda.

"The president of Ukraine, President (Volodymyr) Zelensky, is reported to have survived three assassination attempts. This president stands with his people and has earned worldwide respect, while Mr Putin denies his people access to the facts of his tyranny by denying access to social media and legislating against the press reporting on his atrocities with a fifteen-year prison sentence for those journalists who report the truth.

"On Friday, Russian forces shelled Europe's largest nuclear power station in a battle with Ukrainian forces, causing a major fire," she continued.

"President Zelensky branded Putin a nuclear terrorist and the US envoy to the UN said the world had, by the grace of God, narrowly averted a nuclear catastrophe. We stand with Ukraine and its people and we wish a speedy cessation to all aggression from Russia."

Cllr Seamus Butler spoke on behalf of the Fianna Fáil councillors at the table, branding Putin "a bully".

"We have been in a situation for the last number of months where President Putin has been threatening to invade but even the Russian Ambassador to Ireland laughed it off," he said.

"The trouble with a bully is that once you let them get away with it once, as they did in 2008 in Georgia and then 2014 in Crimea, it was inevitable that this was going to happen.

"I certainly think one of the factors in this is that he was very much emboldened by President Trump. They saw the west as being very weak and disunited. One thing this has done is unite Europe and it has united the western powers.

"We're facing hardship but nothing like the hardship of people being killed in their homes. There was the first case of a child dying of dehydration since the second world war. War is a horrible thing.

"What we must do, I think, is have a national conversation on our so-called neutrality. I think we need to consider that in light of this. In the future, if we want to be there, we're a small state and we're extremely vulnerable. But defending our morals and our ethical interests on this is very important."

On behalf of the Fine Gael councillors, Cllr Colm Murray echoed Cllr Nolan's sentiments on hopes for a speedy resolution.

"It's something that's not alone being felt in Ukraine but being felt internationally for various reasons - for economic reasons - and there will be a lot of serious discussions about defence. But in particular, we will feel it when the numbers of Ukrainian refugees come to our shores, seeking help from us - and being gladly welcomed with open arms," he said.

"This country has a long history whereby we know what it's like to have an invasive force come in, take your sovereignty, not be welcome here and to suffer at their hands. So there's no doubt about it that the Irish people can empathise with what the Ukrainians are going through at the moment.

"It's important that we stand up, that we make our voices heard, that our actions are seen because actions speak louder than words as well. The Irish people have been excellent in terms of the contribution that they have made in sending medical aid, non-lethal military aid, food aid to the war zone to try and help people who have been displaced because of the acts of what is becoming quite clear is a mad man.

"As a nation, we do really need to examine that neutral stance. We took a neutral stance in the second world war when it was quite clear there was horrific genocide being perpetrated on millions of people and I don't think we can just stand by and let the same thing happen here."

Cllr Murray also suggested the council do whatever it can to try and facilitate those who are trying to escape the war.

Independent councillor, Gerry Warnock, also offered his voice to the discussion.

"Certainly in my lifetime, this is the biggest risk to peace I've encountered since the first half of the 20th century when we experienced nearly 50 years of pure bloodshed that the world had never encountered before.

"One would have thought that would be a lesson to mankind to really and truly try and grow up as a species and see how futile and barbaric war can be and try and find other ways to resolve our differences as a people, as a nation, as a species of man," he said.

"All we can do is try and remember those people. I think the Irish people have really stepped up and shown how great of a nation we can be. For a small nation, we have a big heart. And how charitable we can be to be able to put down our own problems and try to rush to the aid of these people whose lives have been ripped apart over the last couple of weeks and that makes me very proud to be Irish.

"Despite our differences and all our giving out as a nation - and we do lots of it - but when the chips are down, Irish people have a heart of genuine compassion and they're always the first, despite their own circumstances, to roll up their sleeves to try and bring a bit of peace for those that are less fortunate than ourselves.

"There are no winners in any war. I think it was one of the last surviving World War I veterans that said war is organised murder. It's as simple as that. And that's exactly what it is.

"But we also have to remember the ongoing war in Syria, in Yemen, in Gaza, in parts of Africa, where people are experiencing the same difficulties and I know the Irish people were there to the forefront of charitable contributions to try to ease the burden for these people as well.

"All we can do is follow suit and pray that this war comes to a conclusion in a very short space of time and that these people can look forward to going home at some stage and rebuilding their lives in a peaceful way."

Ballinalee's Cllr Colin Dalton has organised for a number of pallets with non-perishable goods to be transported to refugees in the next number of days.

Cllr Nolan thanked him for engaging with members of the council and the executive who are also supporting the call for funding to cover the costs of those pallets.

"We were going to do it quietly, but in order to thank Cllr Colin Dalton, I'm mentioning it today. He didn't want any fuss but, Colin, what you're doing has to be recognised today. You're leading the charge, you're engaging with all of us and all of us are supporting you," she said.

Longford ladies deliver aid to Ukraine