Gaza relief activist expected back in Clara

One of the Irish citizens who took part in the flotilla to Gaza is expected in Clara in the coming days to spend time recuperating in the company of his mother. Donegal man Fiachra " Luain is currently in a Turkish hospital after his ordeal on the convoy of ships attacked by Israeli commandoes earlier this week. His mother Eleanor Lamb has been living close to Clara for the past 14 months, with her parents, and is expecting her brave son home in the coming days. "I'm very proud of him," she told the Offaly Independent this week. Fiachra is undergoing medical tests in Istanbul after receiving injuries during his detention and departure from Israel. "I spoke to him on the phone this morning (Thursday). He was basically attacked by the Israeli army at the airport in Tel Aviv because he asked for legal representation," she explained. However, his injuries are not believed to be serious. Fiachra may attend the funerals of some of the murdered Turkish peace activists before returning to Ireland. Although there were no fatalities on the Challenger 11 boat, on which Fiachra was a passenger, a number of people were killed on a nearby boat. "They could clearly see and hear what was going on," Ms Lamb explained. She added that Fiachra was also subjected to a terrifying ordeal when a Taser gun was held to his head, after he voiced protests at the rough treatment afforded to some women on the ship. A number of the female passengers sat on the deck in order to block the commandoes and allow the ship's crew time to bring the vessel clear and to make radio communication. "One had her nose broken and another woman was thrown through a plate glass window," she said. Ms Lamb confirmed she had also spoken by phone with Taoiseach Brian Cowen following the attack on the flotilla. "He said the first thing was to get him (Fiachra) home safely," she said. However, Ms Lamb also urged the Taoiseach to ensure political pressure is applied to the Israelis, on a European-wide basis, to ensure no repeat of the killings. "Otherwise their deaths will be in vain and Israel will continue to persecute the Palestinian people," she said.