Today we come here to remember the 12 hunger strikers that died during this present phase of Irish liberation and recall with pride all the other volunteers that have given their lives in the struggle for freedom during this past 26 years.

As we count the cost and reflect on their sacrifices, let's ask ourselves are we any nearer to the goals they died to achieve - the answer is a clear no!

Instead we stand at Irish patriots' gravesides and view a people more divided than ever before and wonder if these lives have been lost in vain.

In these past few weeks we have heard people using the hunger strikers' names to further their own political beliefs. There are those who peddle half-measures to the Irish people, promising that compromises and faith in the British government will bring our freedom. They tell us that we must now work within the British system and that we must accept that freedom can come about only after a series of transitional steps. In particular, at the recent Bobby Sands lecture, people were told that Bobby would have supported the 'yes' vote in next Friday's referendum. Yet we know that Bobby's sister Bernadette has declared that the Good Friday agreement is a sell out against her brother's memory.

The hunger strikers did not accept the system or play by the rules as we are told to do now. They did not accept compromises. And today, we should not have to make concessions to the British in exchange for justice and human rights. As relatives of the hunger strikers, we here today will not join in the opportunistic fighting for any moral high ground, but will state one fact loud and clear. The hunger strikers died in a fight against the attempts of the British to criminalise our struggle and its freedom fighters. Let us never forget that the hunger strikers died as patriots to gain freedom for Ireland. That freedom has not been achieved.

We must always remember the reasons why our comrades died and strive to always uphold their principles. They can be our mentors in this difficult time, to show us the way forward, not be held up as the excuse to end the struggle. Therefore, let no-one presume to speak on their behalf until that freedom is in sight, and then let only those who bring about Ireland's liberation claim to speak on behalf of our comrades who sacrificed so much so that our land might be free.

Today let us not be despondent or in despair, but let us take strength and example from these men, our friends and loved ones. Let us go from here with a renewed strength in spirit.