My embarrassment, at that very time, was so very profound because, present at the Convention was a man who had been in hospital on our funds and who was a very close friend of mine, had been a prominent officer in the IRA and his entire family had given great service to Ireland. Consequently, to have this complaint aired in public and in his presence must have been sheer mortification for him since he was a very proud man and only driven by circumstances to accept our "charity”. To compound matters, this member from Massachusetts, who made the initial complaint, was unnecessarily severe; questioning the medical treatments, the ability of doctors and nursing staff, even the diagnosis some of the physicians had given. As a matter of fact, he got so obnoxious in this "question and answer" session that I insisted on asking the Treasurer to let the delegates know what this man's Club had subscribed in the past twelve months. The Treasurer after carefully searching his record then stated that the Club had subscribed the princely sum of $15.50 to the Clan na Gael organisation (which was the minimum) and not a single cent to the fund for "Disabled IRA members". It was indeed, galling having to listen to a member complaining - all the more so since his Club had paid him more than $60.00 in expense money financing his attendance at the Convention - but not contribute enough to the Clan na Gael to even keep the Secretary's Office going! [152] The Executive's Council's recommendation at that 1932 Clan Convention was "To get the sick members back to Ireland in 1932 - that is, those who wanted to go - and to try and secure Disability Pensions for all of them." The motion was seconded and passed. "Therefore", I concluded my speech, "you cannot without a two-thirds majority repeal it NOW!" So, and at this 1936 Convention, the original motion was changed to include only Service Pensions. It was noted, too, that only a disgraceful personal animosity, aimed at a man with a brilliant IRA and national record, had caused the introduction of this whole matter and motion on Disability Pensions. Ironically, the Clan member who had proposed the motion soon quit the organisation and, then, promptly applied for a pension himself. When the motion for this pension came up I suggested that the older members who were not in Ireland at the time of the troubles, as well as those who did not have an IRA record, be asked NOT TO VOTE on such a matter. The old members agreed but it was also very noticeable that the Clan had begun its rapid deterioration because there were men present who were hardly entitled to be delegated and who really only showed up to nurse mostly personal animosities and grievances. In addition, some of their totally unrealistic and even destructive ideas could simply not be allowed in any sane organisation. Again I suggested, as I looked at these men (whom I knew did not have any IRA records or any records entitling them to a service pension) "that ANY person not entitled to a service pension should abstain from voting". All present realised the significance and implications of my motion. I also pleaded "not to make this a point of principle as that is precisely what the De Valera Party want", still, I was defeated on the motion. Consequently, a different motion was passed, namely "that any member accepting a service pension could not be allowed membership in the Clan.” [153] The Convention proceedings left much to be desired and many of the older members were rather displeased. Sean Hayes, Co. Clare, a very capable man asked me to propose him for Secretary, which I did. I told Joe McGarrity later that the Clan was on its way out unless some steps were taken to handle the whole situation in a realistic way. Joe knew that while I was in Ireland that year, I had met with General Tom Barry, Sean McBride and most members of the Army Council IRA, as I had also regularly visited my very good friend Tom Daly who was always a reliable source for information. Moss Twomey was then still serving his three years in Prison imposed on him by the De Valera Government. One certainly did not get the impression "that all was well" with the new Government even down the country people were restless and confused. I noticed it myself and my feeling was confirmed by Johnny O'Connor of Kerry and many of my other old friends. 1937 In the meantime, some differences had arisen between certain members of the Army Council and early in 1937 the Quarter Master General was tried on some charges and then suspended. Joe told me about the unfair lines on which this case was based and I deeply regretted that it was really a "clash of personalities" which caused the whole unpleasant affair
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