Following Sinn Fein’s announcement of the appointment of “Colin activist” Órlaithí Flynn as MLA to replace Jennifer McCann in the Colin area of West Belfast, author Jayne Olorunda has spoken of the “insensitivity” of its timing.
Jayne, 38, from Belfast was just two years old when her father, Nigerian born, Max Olorunda was killed by an IRA incendiary bomb which detonated prematurely in Dunmurry (which also falls into the Colin ward) aboard a train from Ballymena to Belfast in January 1980.
In 2013 Jayne released her book Legacy which tells the story of how her family lived with and continue to live with the aftermath of her father’s tragic death.
Earlier this year following a racist attack in South Belfast Jayne and her family made the difficult decision to leave Northern Ireland. As yet they have been unable to find a home in England. This most recent announcement has “cemented” the family’s decision to leave.
Jayne said: “Racism has always been an issue, after all we are a mixed race family and don’t always blend in. Growing up we became used to stares and taunts, but that was all we had. Naively I thought that NI seemed to be changing, more and more people of colour were coming in and we no longer stood out as much.
“I didn’t realise that some people would react to the change in what they viewed as familiar with with more than words and taunts. Don’t get me wrong, words and taunts hurt but I was accustomed to them and determined to fight. I even entered (however briefly and unsuccessfully) politics in the hope of raising the difficulties faced here by people of colour and those new to our shores trying to integrate.
Author Jayne Olorunda
“Last year I learnt just how much of an issue people like me are to some. I unwittingly walked into a group of right wing thugs, who surrounded me, blocked me in with an SS banner and proceeded to terrify me. I was ‘lucky’ in that one of them recognised me and called the others off. I dread to think what the outcome would have been otherwise.
“Encountering their hatred changed my life, I will never be the same. I literally became a hermit, a once social person my world revolved around my home. I was ashamed to walk down the street, I went nowhere alone. No matter what I knew to be true, my reaction was to tarnish everyone with the same brush.
“I knew I couldn’t provide Mum with the care she deserved and that my new self questioning state meant that she was deteriorating. It was then that my sister, niece and I took the decision that we should leave Northern Ireland. Since March of last year we have been actively seeking a new home in London, Birmingham, Nottingham or Manchester. In fact we were all packed up and ready to go as of November 25th and then our move fell through. So it was back to the drawing board.
“It was so strange because only two weeks ago we were discussing our failed move and saying if we didn’t secure something else by the end of the year we would stay. We weren’t happy but we needed to have some direction.
One of the only pictures Jayne has of herself and her father Max Olorunda along with her mother Gabrielle
“On finding out about Sinn Fein’s decision the rug was pulled from under my feet. I had to break the news to my mother and my sister. I knew they would be hurt. The daughter of the man who killed my Dad would now be the MLA for West Belfast. Normally this news would be difficult at the best of times, but as a family who have tried to be forgiving we would have gotten over it. Or at least adapted to it but unfortunately this blow came before Christmas.
“Christmas has never been a good time for my family, it’s so close to my father’s anniversary but I was hoping, just hoping that this year we could make something of it. The fact that Sinn Fein decided announce it’s decision when it did, was to me disgusting. They know that this particular candidate had a profile associated with her father, and also that her father’s victims were still alive and, apart from Mum, well.
“As a party that contests to caring about ‘victims’, it’s clear that they care little, never have, never will. Frankly they were insensitive and that hurts.
“Am I angry at Ms Flynn? no not all. She is 28 and can in no way be blamed for another person’s actions. I have reiterated time and time again that I wish her well. I guess my anger stems from the fact that her father killed mine.I can’t help thinking this and to be fair in my shoes who wouldn’t? It’s not her fault, I know… but one would have to admit it is difficult to imagine that she won’t be on TV/ radio/papers… I couldn’t cope with that.
“I suppose if she had taken a less republican route it would be less difficult, but for someone to follow a republican path albeit politically rather than the path of old, leads me to believe that her father’s actions all those years ago are not considered with any type of remorse. I don’t have a father, I never did through no fault of my own. But from those that do it seems that fathers can be influential in one’s career path. If one had been brought up with someone truly apologetic, wracked with guilt then I believe they wouldn’t follow the political party that is so closely associated with their father’s actions.
Jayne’s book Legacy tells the story of how her family lived with and continue to live with the aftermath of her father’s tragic death
“Ms Flynn’s choice of party is hers, her choice to stand is hers as is her party’s choice to announce her new role as MLA. I just wish that her party who were certainly around at the time of Dad’s death could have considered innocent victims for once and perhaps timed their announcement with a little more compassion.
“Again good luck to Ms Flynn, I hope she has a long and successful career but my family and I don’t want to watch it. This last year has been difficult however Sinn Fein’s decision has not made us decide to leave but it has reinforced the fact that we can’t stay.
“All my family want is peace, racism and our status as victims has sadly meant we won’t get it here. It is not easy for anyone to feel they have to get up and leave their home and all they are used to, but circumstances have dictated that we can’t stay.
“I wish Ms Flynn the best and she is not to blame, I wish Northern Ireland the best too but it just hasn’t been kind to us and we are not prepared to stay and see what it delivers next.”
Jayne will be reading from her book Legacy at the Excalibur Press Author Showcase on Tuesday December 20 [6-8pm] at the Thinking Cup Cafe, Lisburn Road, Belfast.
Legacy by Jayne Olorunda
LEGACY is the intriguing story of one woman’s account of her unique experiences of the Northern Ireland Troubles.
An unlikely victim – Jayne Olorunda, from Belfast was just two years old when her father, Nigerian born, Max Olorunda was killed by an IRA incendiary bomb which detonated prematurely in Dunmurry aboard a train from Ballymena to Belfast in January 1980.
This is Jayne’s heartbreaking account of how her family lived with and continue to live with the aftermath of her father’s death.
It is a story about racism, poverty and grief and one family’s struggle to overcome the devastating effects of the loss of an innocent loved one against the backdrop of the Northern Ireland Troubles.
Jayne, 38, from Belfast was just two years old when her father, Nigerian born, Max Olorunda was killed by an IRA incendiary bomb which detonated prematurely in Dunmurry (which also falls into the Colin ward) aboard a train from Ballymena to Belfast in January 1980.
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