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Croydon councillor was IRA arms deal interpreter
5:50pm Tuesday 2nd December 2008
Comments (7)A clearly shaken Maria Gatland confessed to her links to the terrorist Irish Republican Army but claimed she had been “used”.
In an exclusive interview with the Croydon Guardian she said: “I was with them for a year. I realised I could not support violence in any way so I defected and came to England.
“I was in such a state to be honest because I was young and idealistic. It is hard for you to understand the turmoil in my life.
“I felt strongly about my country and my people which is why I joined the IRA but doing my part there I could not accept what was happening so I left.
“I was young, pretty and middleclass. I was used.”
She said she only worked as an interpreter translating for IRA members in arms deals on the continent.
She added: “I was asked to accompany some members to the continent trying to buy arms because I spoke a number of languages.
“I was just there if any languages needed speaking. Looking back I can see I was naive and stopped doing something I believed very strongly in.
“I regret my actions of course I do. I really believed in the cause of my country. It is something I have paid for since then and I am paying for now again.”
The 60-year-old said she was not privy to any information about bombing targets or attacks and did not partake in any criminal activities.
She added: “A book was written. I was in a state when I left and would say I was not entirely in control of everything. I let it go ahead and now I wish that I hadn’t.
“It was 30 years ago. It was a long time ago. I was not to any extent trying to cover up my tracks but to rebuild my life which was shattered.
“I was lucky I found a man who became my husband. I went through a very difficult time - I went through two breakdowns and he looked after me.
“I wanted to get on with my life and give something back.
“My husband was ill for a long time and I cared for him until he died. We ran a local business together and I wanted to give something back to the community and have a life again.
“I wanted to use my talents and skills.
“In retrospect perhaps I should have brought it up but it was such a long time ago I hope I would be able to be accepted on my merits as a person who tried to rebuild my life.”
The Croham ward member described the shock she felt when she heard her maiden name and references to her IRA past uttered in the council chamber.
“It was 30 years ago and my life has changed so much since then. I have tried to make a better life for myself.
“I was shocked and had to think about it overnight and then in the morning I rang the leader and offered my resignation.”
Mrs Gatland accepted the punishment given to her by the Conservative Party and said that that was the world of politics.
And she said she wanted her ward constituents to remember the hard work she had done for them.
“I regret that they should have found out in this way. I should have disclosed it.
“I want them to know I have tried to do the very best I could for them for the last 30 years.”
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ANNE GILES, SELSDON says...
10:37am Wed 3 Dec 08
I hope not, Sutton says...
11:07am Wed 3 Dec 08
Anne you say she was not involved in violence, you're right of course...She was only involved in buying the weapons that contributed to the murders of thousands of people and belonged to a group of terrorists that murdered thousands of people. So that's alright then.
She said she did it because she believed in her country and I guess she believed in it so much that's why she defected and became a tory counsellor.
As for saying that she was used, for goodness sake. Put your hands up, grow some b.a.l.l.s. and admit what you did without blaming other people. You say you made a mistake, well we all do, but stop blaming others for it, live with it and deal with it. You can't change what you have done, but you can accept responsibility for your own actions.
Bob Peel, Croydon says...
1:17pm Wed 3 Dec 08
ANNE GILES wrote:Not directly Anne but the IRA is a proscribed organisation.
Actually, she was not involved in the violence. Get it right, Cadiz.
If she joined the IRA who are by definition not a Royalist supporting organisation how can she become a Tory?
It certainly won't be because of her political ideology and a caring nature for the immediate community will it? More likely to be lots of ackers for not a lot of work.
Special Branch should've been onto this immediately, arrested her and sent her back to face a quick kneecapping and a whole new outlook on the organisation she sought to support.
papashanga, Ham says...
10:35pm Wed 3 Dec 08
At least she repented and was doing a useful job.
I am not pro Tory or IRA but there is an obsession in this country with digging for dirt just to ruin people.
I think the ex communist Dr Whatsit is a sanctimonious so and so. I presume he supported the mass murderer Stalin when he was a communist?
Bob Peel, Croydon says...
8:37am Thu 4 Dec 08
Mandela has no place in this discussion anymore than your personal take on the politics of this country or your supposition of Dr Latham's politics or his support of Stalin.
Maria Gatland at least resigned. That honourable action is one that hasn't been seen since John Profumo resigned for lying to the House over his affair with Christine Keeler.
Now we have those in government who cling to office despite their culpability in non-honourable activities and wait until they are removed.
As for Mrs Gatlands repentence, you just don't know. She came here and took a well paid job, one that used be done on the fringes of politics by ratepayers who cared for the community. Now it's a profession - so why repentence?
Zirconium, Upper Norwood says...
10:12pm Fri 5 Dec 08
Croydon Councillor Maria Gatland
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Cadiz, UK says...
1:08am Wed 3 Dec 08
it is the simple errors of youth, bank robbery, causing explosions, the odd ship load of semtex, nothing quite as serious as tory party membership.