INLA Chief of Staff was shot by Official IRA in 1977
Cullen wants Costello case to be re-opened
The assassination of the late Wicklow county councillor, Seamus Costello, was raised in the council chambers on Monday.
A notice of motion from Cllr Tommy Cullen, put down in April 2005, called on the Minister for Justice to reopen the investigation in the political assassination of Seamus Costello in the light of an article published in that year by Vincent Browne.
Cllr Cullen stated that the Bray man was assassinated in the 1970s but no one had ever been held to account. He said that Vincent Browne's article contained a lot of information and suggested that the minister should reopen the investigation in the light of its contents.
I'd like to think that if any member of this council was murdered or assassinated that members would want to see someone held to book,' he told Monday's monthly meeting.
Cllr George Jones said he would be nervous of passing such a resolution as Mr Costello's family was still in the area.
Cllr John Byrne also warned that it would be unwise to make a policy based on an article in a newspaper.
He added that Seamus Costello did a lot of good work for the county but that he was also the leader of an illegal organisation.
He had his own private army which hasn't accepted the peace process and hasn't surrendered their arms,' he stated.
The council's vice chairperson, Derek Mitchell, said that the consensus was that the council would not be writing to the minister but Cllr Cullen said that the issue should be dealt with. He called on Vincent Browne to give the information he had to the Gardaí.
If someone murdered Jimmy O'Shaughnessy, God between us and all harm, I would like to think that we would support an investigation,' he stated.
Cllr Nicky Kelly pointed out that there was precedent in councils calling for investigations to be reopened in Donegal.
He seconded Cllr Cullen's motion to call on Vincent Browne to bring his information to the Gardaí.
