Casement’s 'Black Diaries' are authenticated

Results of forensic tests on the Black Diariesthat allegedly detail Roger Casement's homosexual activities have apparently confirmed their authenticity.

There is an equally powerful argument that these repeated attempts to discredit the diaries are really a sign of deeply ingrained Irish homophobia Mr Paul Tilzey, producer of RTÉ’s Secrets of the Black Diariesprogramme

In the first independent, scientific examination of the journals, scientists - led by Prof Bill McCormack of Goldsmiths College, University of London - have determined the authenticity of the diaries and apparently settled any dispute.

RTÉ are to show the final part of a documentary on Casement's life called Secrets of the Black Diarieson Thursday evening in which details of the study will be revealed.

"Many people, particularly in Ireland, would like to believe the diaries are forgeries. The case has been consistently made that they were produced by British Intelligence specifically to destroy the one Irish patriot of truly international stature," the programme’s producer, Mr Paul Tilzey, said.

"On the other hand, there is an equally powerful argument that these repeated attempts to discredit the diaries are really a sign of deeply ingrained Irish homophobia".

Mr Casement was born in Co Dublin to an Ulster Protestant family, worked as a British consul in Africa and South America and was knighted for his work in exposing the exploitation and slaughter of Africans and native South Americans.

On returning to Ireland in 1912 he became involved in the struggle for independence and travelled to Germany in an attempt to obtain aid for the Rising. He was arrested on the eve of the Easter Rising as he landed in Ireland on a U-boat.

After being sentenced to death, a campaign for clemency was launched by high profile figures including Joseph Conrad, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and George Bernard Shaw.

Documents released at the Public Record Office make it clear that Whitehall and the security services circulated the diaries among British officials to foil their efforts.

Several historians now argue that the diaries were in fact written by British intelligence, during a period when forgery was widely used as part of the propaganda war.

Additional reporting PA