Sinn Féin Councillor’s ‘No’ protest “juvenile” – Adams
Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams has chosen solidarity with his northern counterpart, the out-going SDLP leader Mark Durkan, over party loyalty in the “partitionist nonsense” row – when a southern SF councillor-led group disrupted a joint-press conference with the Irish Labour Party. From today’s Irish News [subs req]
The West Belfast MP was openly critical of councillor Tomas Sharkey and other party members who have been accused of disrupting a pro-Lisbon Treaty press conference hosted by the SDLP and the Irish Labour Party in Dundalk on Tuesday. Mr Adams, whose party is leading the no campaign, yesterday compared the Sinn Féin group’s actions to those of rowdy teenagers. “If you’re 16 or 17 you may do these things but if I had been asked I would have said let them [SDLP/Labour] be. You’re just causing a distraction,” he said. Mr Adams, who is in Dublin this week ahead of tomorrow’s referendum said he could not condone the actions of the Sinn Féin members who taunted Labour leader Eamon Gilmore and SDLP leader Mark Durkan during the Dundalk event. “When people are excited they get over the top. There is a lot of anger out there but certainly it isn’t something I would have done,” he said.
“If you’re 16 or 17 you may do these things but if I had been asked I would have said let them [SDLP/Labour] be. You’re just causing a distraction,” he said.
These were big intimidating adults, Gerry, not boys. Again you fail to understand the difference between a moral position and a media stance. Grow up, Gerry. You’re a bit old to still think like a boy.
Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams has chosen solidarity with his northern counterpart, the out-going SDLP leader Mark Durkan, over party loyalty in the “partitionist nonsense” row – when a southern SF councillor-led group disrupted a joint-press conference with the Irish Labour Party.
Work of absolute beauty this piece, since I can almost write the equally jaundiced one if he had have choose some from of defense. Fact is, it doesn’t actually matter what he does.
This one will no doubt produce another ill tempered thread. John’s already here. This place has been somewhat unpleasant recently.
posted by Kathy Colling
-“When people are excited they get over the top. There is a lot of anger out there but certainly it isn’t something I would have done,” he said.
BUT GERRY—your party did do this. sorta the new pilot washing his hands of responsibility. He got what he wanted…disruption of meeting and no accountability placed on him. Sorta like how he handled his association with PIRA….
posted by Kathy C
just saw this…
The European Commission has given the green light to the Polish government to grant €54.5m in aid for a factory to which giant US company Dell is moving production from Limerick with the loss of 1900 jobs.
those workers can thank gerry adams and his party. Ireland has taken the money from the EU…and with all the anti-EU rhetoric coming from sinn fein…it’s a warning to the Irish. What the EU giveth…the EU can taketh away….
Give Adams his due on this, he did the right thing and castigated his councillor publicly; that’s not easy for any party leader.
Sinn fein’s brown shirts were also busy last night in Dundalk pulling down/vandalising Pro-lisbon posters.
The locals led by Sharkey had cleared their stunt before hand. The problem is that it backfired with the media turning on them.
This wont help Sharkeys profile locally given that he has been under pressure recently with accusations of him and his family being ceasefire soldiers. Sharkeys father turned his back on local republicans at the height of the provos campaign while living in the famous Muirhevanamor estate. He only returned to do party work during the safe years of the late 90s after son Thomas became involved in SF while attending college in Belfast.
Sean, is there any truth in the rumour that Arthur Morgan may not run in the next election and that Sharkey is maneuvering for the seat? Arthur may be intent on returning to the family business.