Family of shooting victim want crime novel by former IRA man withdrawn

THE work colleagues and the family of a man left severely brain damaged by a shooting two years ago yesterday called for the withdrawal from sale of a book by a person recently arrested in relation to the incident.

Robert Delaney, 29, was blasted in the face with a shotgun by a gunman who called at his house in the Tallaght area of Dublin in October 2008.

A father of two girls, aged eight and three, the young postman was shot when he looked out the front door.

The attack was linked to a row in a pub a few weeks earlier.

Robert’s father, Terry, has been campaigning to have those behind the attack brought to justice.

“It’s extremely difficult. We go up and visit Robert every day in hospital,” Mr Delaney said.

“There’s been no improvement in his condition from the time it happened and the doctors have told us that there is no prospect of an improvement. It’s like a nightmare.”

Yesterday, Mr Delaney Snr led a protest of around 100 people outside Eason in Dublin over the selling of a new crime novel, entitled Never Ending Justice, by former Provisional IRA member John Noonan.

Although nine people have been arrested and questioned about Robert’s shooting, nobody has been charged.

Three men, including Mr Noonan, were arrested after raids in south-west Dublin last month but were later released.

Mr Delaney Snr was joined on the protest by his wife Noleen, his daughter Sinead, 32, extended family and Robert’s colleagues from An Post, with whom he worked in Tallaght.

The new book is the second written by Mr Noonan, a highly controversial figure.

A former member of the Provisional republican movement, he ran for election for Sinn Féin in the 1980s, but was sidelined as the peace process developed and the Provisionals’ links with criminality were largely cut.

In recent years Mr Noonan has moved into the lucrative security business.

Despite his previous links to violent paramilitarism, companies associated with him have managed to secure contracts to work for sports clubs and major music promoters.

Independent Dublin city councillor and anti-drug campaigner Cieran Perry has also called upon book retailers to show concern about the possible social impact of titles they stock.

A statement from Eason said: “Eason can confirm it will be stocking a small quantity of the title, Never Ending Justice, by John Noonan. The company will not, however, be undertaking any activity to promote the book, such as hosting a launch event, signings or in-store promotions.”