| Martin Ferris |
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Martin Ferris was born in County Kerry and educated locally. He has been involved in Irish Republicanism since 1970 . Ferris served ten years ( 1984 - 1994 ) in prison for his involvement in the attempted importation of arms from the United States . In September 1984, the fishing vessel ''Valhalla'', sailed from Boston , while the trawler Marita Ann, sailed from Fenit , County Kerry . Mid Atlantic , seven tons of Explosives , Arms and Ammunition were transferred from the Valhalla to the Marita Ann. Sometime afterwards, the Irish Navy vessels LE Emer and LE Aisling along with members of the Garda Síochána detained the Marita Ann and arrested its crew. Ferris was convicted for the possession of explosive substances for unlawful purpose and for possession of firearms and ammunition with intent to endanger life. He ran for election to the Dáil in 1997 but failed in his attempt. In 1999 Ferris first became a professional politician when he was elected to Kerry County Council and a local town authority in Tralee . On the same day he failed to be elected to the European Parliament , however, he did receive almost 30,000 votes. Ferris was first elected to Dáil Éireann in 2002 for the Kerry North constituency, unseating former Tanaiste Dick Spring . In the Dáil he is currently the Sinn Féin spokesperson on Agriculture & Rural Development , as well as The Marine & Natural Resources . His daughter, Toireasa Ferris , is currently the mayor of Kerry county council. In February 2005 Irish Minister For Justice Michael McDowell , named Ferris, as well as Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness , as members of the IRA Army Council , an allegation that has been flatly denied by Ferris and the Sinn Féin leadership. In July of the same year, the Irish Independent reported that Ferris, along with Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness had stepped down from the Army Council in the lead-up to an IRA statement on its future. A Sinn Féin spokesman refused to comment on this report {Link without Title} . EXTERNAL LINKS |
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