President Catherine Connolly has offered to meet Ann Travers, the sister of a woman murdered by the Provisional IRA in 1984, following public backlash over a photograph showing the Irish head of state standing alongside convicted killer Mary McArdle during a recent Belfast visit.
The Belfast Encounter and the Photograph That Sparked Outrage
The controversy unfolded after President Connolly visited the Falls Road Women’s Centre in Belfast, where she was photographed standing next to Mary McArdle. McArdle is the only person convicted for the murder of 23-year-old primary schoolteacher Mary Travers, who was shot and killed on April 8, 1984, while walking home from Sunday Mass with her parents.
The original target of the 1984 assassination attempt was the victim’s father, Tom Travers, a resident magistrate who survived being shot six times. During the attack, a gun was placed to the head of the victim’s mother, Joan, though the weapon jammed. McArdle received a life sentence for murder alongside an 18-year concurrent sentence for attempted murder, wounding with intent, and firearms offenses. She served 14 years before receiving early release in 1998 under the terms of the Belfast Agreement.
Ann Travers, aged 57, voiced immediate distress upon seeing the imagery. In a widely discussed intervention, she wrote in The Irish Times about the profound impact of the encounter.
“To see her standing alongside our President broke me.”
Ann Travers, victim’s sister and advocacy worker, via The Irish Times
She criticized the backdrop of a women’s shelter as ironic
and lamented that individuals responsible for the violence of the Troubles are increasingly accepted into normal society.
The Office of the President Responds Following Criticism
The initial fallout saw strong political reactions. DUP MLA Trevor Clarke criticized the Áras for a week of silence before any official engagement was offered, accusing the head of state of refusing to even acknowledge, let alone apologise for the additional hurt caused by this photograph.
Initially, a spokesperson for President Connolly declined to comment when contacted by journalists. However, after Ann Travers submitted formal correspondence to the head of state, the official stance shifted. A spokesperson for the President confirmed that the Office of the President has received correspondence from Ann Travers and will be replying to her directly on the matters which she has raised.
The President’s office subsequently emailed to confirm that Connolly would be glad
to meet with her to discuss her concerns directly.
Unresolved History and the Search for Accountability
Beyond the photograph itself, the public discourse highlights deep-seated tensions surrounding the legacy of paramilitary prisoners in modern civic life. Ann Travers serves as a case worker with the South East Fermanagh Foundation, assisting other victims of terrorism. She noted that while some political figures view former prisoners as an essential part of the peace process, accountability remains unfulfilled in her family’s case.
According to The Irish Times, the Historical Enquiries Team previously asked McArdle to assist with the investigation into Mary Travers’ murder, but she declined to help. Ann Travers expressed her belief that McArdle retains critical knowledge about the identity of the gunman who killed her sister, stating she promised her dying father that she would secure full justice.
Legislative Precedent From Past Controversies
This is not the first time Mary McArdle’s post-prison career has sparked intense public debate. Following her release under the Belfast Agreement, McArdle went on to serve in 2011 as a special adviser to Sinn Féin culture minister Carál Ní Chuilín, a role she held for over a year.
That appointment directly prompted Ann Travers to campaign for statutory restrictions barring former prisoners convicted of serious offenses from holding political advisory posts at Stormont. That advocacy successfully led to the passage of legislation known informally as Ann’s Law in 2013.
Expected Private Talks in September
Ann Travers stated that she is delighted
that the President agreed to an audience and expressed hope that the dialogue will yield constructive results. Both parties anticipate that the private meeting will take place next month.
“I hope it has some positive outcomes for myself, my family and other victims and survivors.”
Ann Travers, victim’s sister and advocacy worker, via The Irish Times
