Sinn Féin’s hidden crisis? *updated*
In the comments on Pete’s entry covering Padraig McShane’s resignation from Sinn Féin I noted the following list (now substantially updated) of Councillors that have resigned recently (this list is confined to those that have left during the current council terms north and south – those that left in previous terms are excluded):
Dessie Ward
Padraig McShane
Briege Meehan
Domhnall O’Cobhthaigh
Gerry McHugh
Bernice Swift
Barry Monteith
Gerard Foley
Michael Tallon
Poilin Ui Cathain
Killian Ford
Christy Burke
John Dwyer
Louise Minihan
Thomas Pringle
Ian Dooley
Martin Connolly
Oliver Hughes
Patsy Groogan
As medillen commented there is no shared reason for these resignations. It remains fact around 7% of their councillors have left across Ireland in a very short period and it is closer to 10% taking the north alone 10% of their Councillors have left across Ireland. In any other party this would be flagged as a serious problem with their middle tier and a possible indicator of more widespread internal problems.
However, as our predictions contest shows not even those with no fondness for SF expect this to impact on their vote come Thursday.
*Note – the list has grown thanks to reader comments, please feel free to send me any names I have missed*
Update Keith is attempting to detail the reasons for each resignation from the party or council. His incomplete list is here and copied below – if you can fill in the blanks (preferably with link) let him know.
Dessie Ward – no longer defend the party’s left-wing political position.
Padraig McShane
Briege Meehan – child abuse allegations
Domhnall O’Cobhthaigh – “contradiction between the nationalist and socialist agendas within Sinn Fein”
Gerry McHugh – Disaffection with Assembly power balance
Bernice Swift – resigned from the Council over Sinn Féin’s changed attitude to policing
Barry Monteith – does not believe the party’s political strategy will lead to a united Ireland
Gerard Foley
Michael Tallon
Poilin Ui Cathain – Sinn Fein’s support of PSNI
Killian Ford -Jumps ship to Labour after poor election
Christy Burke – differences?
John Dwyer – Irish election fallout
Louise Minihan – Irish election fallout
Thomas Pringle – could no longer participate in the party structure
Ian Dooley
Martin Connolly
Oliver Hughes
Patsy Groogan
Further update The figures show the trend is essentailly the same north and south:
All Ireland – 10.5% of Cllrs left party or Council during current mandate (19 from 180)
North of Ireland – 10% (13 from 126)
South of Ireland – 11% (6 from 54)
Pete Baker
George Brown claims he saved the UK economy Is what SF say so different to what all politicians say.
Mature minds also know when they are going too far. I was not being sarcastic to Ms Elliott I was agreeing with her and suggesting the cause of that agreement was our ‘maturity.
This is, I think, the third time you have commented to me and each time you have attempted to be sarcastic. Give it a rest. I am not intimidated, impressed or abashed.
Michael, I’ve never claimed to have power over others so I don’t know that put that frankly crazed idea into your poor wee dunderhead but I suspect that it may have something to do with your toy chemistry set and DIY shroom recipes that you found on the internet when not searching google for midget porn or hopping all over the threads on Slugger leaving posts at every turn like little balls of rabbit shit. Either that or you are confusing me with your psychiatric nurse and the 9000 volt cattle prod that she uses to usher you back into your cushioned room…
Still, I shouldn’t mock the afflicted – it has probably taken you three years of intensive electroshock therapy just to get this far.
Aint no love in the heart of the city
drop the sex ALIAS, where is your political argument, on second thoughs lets talk about female nurses.
A Muse from a Female Nurses Fan.
“The Shinners/Provos operated a policy of discarding members who were prone to independent thinking after MI5 moved their boys into its leadership…” …. Alias says: 30 April 2010 at 11:51 pm
Ah, now there’s a mistake, for MI5 could certainly do with independent thinkers.
And considering the level of Intelligence displayed in the country, which would be reflected in the state of the economy and the society, they’ve been seriously lacking in Intelligence and Independent Thinkers for some considerable time which does have one then asking the very pertinent and impertinent question ….. Who, or is you want to get real spooky, what supplies them with their Intelligence, which presumably they would Share with Authorities ergo Stormont Ministers would be their Active Agents in the Field.
“no girls in the leadership ALIAS, are you sexist has well has thinking MI5 controls the world, watching to many clips of SPOOKS are you.” …. Michaelhenry says: 1 May 2010 at 12:37 am
Do you think anyone is able and/or trying to control the world, Michaelhenry? And if so, whom? Strangely enough, if one admits to the possibility of it, is it then more likely to be very probably a certainty and most definitely something MI5 would be more than a tad interested in, and if not, then they would be needing a new head honcho or better still if M is effective, a new department with a new head honcho into Global Command and Control Systems.
A new Slugger site, but there’s still the same amount of oul’ bollocks talked, all the same.
MI5 intersted in control of the world amanfromMars, these DUMB bonds can not even control IRAq or IRELAND.
Sorry, showing my age again! I meant of course Gordon Brown… George lost the battle with Wilson and retired to his bottle..
true dat
oul’ bollocks indeed!
Dixie Wrote
McGuinness and Adams ensured I would never again justify wasting young lives so that others would at a later date become all that they died to remove.
If you had stayed with the struggle you may have changed things from the inside. As you didn’t and left others to continue the war, then you should have no reason to complain.
It is handler-supplied propaganda for the Shinners to claim that it just the violent means to an end that has changed rather than the end itself.
The end was the extension of the right to national self-determination to the Irish nation in NI who were denied it by partition. The new end is the removal of the right to national self-determination from the Irish nation in Ireland and the extension of the Unionist/British veto to that nation; and the dismantlement of the Irish nation state and its replacement by a replica of Northern Ireland. To that end, the British state used its puppet parties to endorse the legitimacy of British sovereignty, endorse the legitimacy of their status as a non-sovereign nation, and to present that abnormalities are progressive ideals that form part of its normalisation policy.
The Shinners are just a defeated murder gang left proffering the terms of their own surrender as the blueprint for Nirvana. They are now selling reformed British rule as the best thing ever since the alternative is to not selling it as such is to tell their supporters the truth. Most of their supporters are loyal/brainwashed enough to thing that reformed British rule is the best thing ever since the Shinners wouldn’t be selling it as such if it wasn’t.
Oliver Hughes and Patsy Groogan are another two councillors who resigned.
Surely there must be some common reason for so many to leave?
If they are disillusioned, then over what?
Are they becoming independents, joining other partys, or withdrawing from politics?
Lastly, why should we care?
The Repubican Movement has brought its membership through a period of monumental change and massive historic decisions, the last time decisions of such scale had to be taken there was a civil war. I think the loss of some and the gaining of many many more has shown remarkable leadership.
“MI5 intersted in control of the world amanfromMars, these DUMB bonds can not even control IRAq or IRELAND.” …. Michaelhenry says:
1 May 2010 at 10:54 am
An interest in a Service which can and does with IT and Media is One of their NEUKlearer Arms with CyberIntelAIgents Security Systems Software and Virtual Machinery Tempest Command and Control Driving HyperRadioProActive IT for Advanced Neuro-Linguistic Program of LOVE Assets with LOVE ……in Live Operational Virtual Environments/Digitised Binary Worlds HidDefinition. … and a dDutch Initiative for Astute NEUKlearer Power and Control Generations/Evolutions of Life and Advanced Virtual Consciousnesses …. Immaculately Graceful Being and Almed to the Teeth against Arms and their Remote Operator Beings.
One would surely have imagined that to be one of their Bletchley Specials …… an Unknown Unknown now Known …..["unknown unknowns — the ones we don’t know we don’t know.” .... http://nbfs.wordpress.com/2006/11/10/rumsfeldisms/ ]
crown rule is brit rule Alias, there is no crown rule at the assembly, its taking YOU a while to catch on.
Actually, Medillen the last time Sinn Fein took such “monumental decisions” was when De Valera led most of the IRA and Sinn Fein into a makeover, formed Fianna Fail and led them into Leinster House.
Thats was in 1927. In the 30′s Dev’s party was the biggest in Ireland and Sinn Fein was reduced to Ard Fheis’s of less than 50 attendees.
Those in Sinn Fein in the 30s would’ve been smaller and less popular than the so called dissidents of today.
Republican history however looks favourably on those who kept the faith and didn’t follow Dev into FF despite being demonised and interned.
Republican history rips Dev and his Broy Harriers apart.
Likewise the Republicans of the future will see Adams and his project of collusion with the British Establishment as we now view Dev.
But by all means feel free to compare the decisions of your party with those who signed the treaty of partition.
Well guess what, another anti-SF article from Mark ‘scorned’ Mc Gregor. Do you ever get fed up Mark?
Anyone mentioning Dolores price today in relation to her court apperance? did’nt think so.
Well guess what, another anti-SF article from Mark ‘scorned’ Mc Gregor. Do you ever get fed up Mark?
Anyone mentioning Dolores Price today? did’nt think so.
She only made a tiny paragraph in the Irish News today after all.
didn’t even
DEV swore allegiance to the crown old school, thats why he is buried just outside the REPUBLICAN plot in dublin.
Is Dolores Price a member of any political party Redhugh?
She’s an individual who gave most of her life serving that runt Adams, and paid a heavy price.
Is there any relevance why she should be mentioned in this thread.
Ah, so it is. I guess nobody told ‘lil old me that the Queen is no longer head of the British state. That’s what the Shinners signed up to when they accepted the legitimacy of the constitutional status of Northern Ireland. That, and leading their gullible supporters to formally accept in international and constitutional law that they had no right to self-determination as members of the Irish nation, merely as aspiration to such that is entirely at the discretion of another nation which defines itself by not being the Irish nation.
Opinion poll in Sunday Business Post showing a drop in Sinn Fein support in the South.
Down from 10% to 6%.
Despite all the negative publicity based around Fianna Fail, they are losing ground rather than gaining.
True, but the last time partition was an issue it was because the Irish state claimed that it denied Irish people within the partitioned territory their inalianable right to national self-determination, and the British state claimed that they had no such right and that the right to self-determination properly belonged to the seperate nation of Northern Irish. Now that the Irish people within the partitioned territory have declared that they have no such right and have agreed with the British state, there is no longer anything to fight about. Indeed, the Irish state no longer makes a claim to what is not undisputed British sovereign territory.
Sorry to butt in. Not on this thread but I would like to say I hope the lady is well and recovering.
Dev administered Irish rule. The Shinners administer Her Majtesy’s rule.
Not particularly on this thread, but on the site in general.
I was refering to my view that Slugger is not a political commentary site but mostly an anti-SF platform for loyalists,unionists,stoops,dissidents and people with an axe to grind against SF generally.
An example is how dolores is used to attack SF.
When she made her comments recently about the ‘dissappeared’ etc the usual anti sf element in the media (Irish News esp) and on slugger were using her as a stick to beat SF with.
SF accused people of manipulating a vulnerable woman who had health issues which is clearly true if what she has appeared in court for is anything to go by.
and I do too.
yes, the queen is head of the british state Alias and her subjects swear allegiance to this person, has long has they remeber that they are subjects and not equal as human beings, there is no oath at the assembly where everyone is equal.
Whoopy do for you old school, if wait a while there will be another poll along in a minute.
You point out an article from the Irish News for us to read, then accuse the Irish News of having an Anti Sinn Fein agenda.
Aren’t a number of Sinn Fein people writing for the Irish News?
They should be hoovering up disillusioned Fianna Fail voters.
But they’re not, Labour is. Sinn Fein are in retreat esp. in Dublin.
Do you have an explanation?
IRISH rule Alias, you mean 26 county rule, thats not IRISH rule, plus the bold DEV had to swear allegiance to the crown, ill follow SINN FEIN any day compared to the others.
RedHugh: but ‘vulnerable’ or not Price’s version is of interest also because it is consistent with that of Brendan Hughes – a man SF also branded as ‘ill’ (with the drink you know).
old school is following opinion polls in newspapers next.
Perhaps this is the thread to mention disillusioned republicans, since this thread is actually about them. It feels a bit like talking about someone behind their back!
Many ex and older republicans have hard and ugly memories to live with and it has seemed to me they have no help or support. I hope I am wrong and they are not left to state (whichever state) services.
The point I was making was as to how on one hand she is front page ‘news’ as a Republican Icon critical of SF and on the other hand a few lines on page 4 of the same paper appearing in court on shoplifting alcohol charges.
Now if she was a SF supporter I guess that would on be front page ‘news’ in local media and slugger.
Of interest yes but surely her appearence in court on shoplifting charges should also be of interest given the fact SF said she was being manipulated by an anti sf media and was in a poor state of mental health.
Perhaps there are times when we should all respect someones privacy. Ms Price made a mistake. I have actually picked up a booklet of menus (cost 30p) walked around Sainsburys collecting ingredients, got to check out, still reading the booklet, paid for my goods – and walked out of Sainsburys without paying for the booklet!
I was not caught!
Yes they have a couple of opinion piece writers but we all know where the editorial allegiances lie.
A few subtely placed articles by Simon Doyle happen to appear in the run up to the election attacking Ruane, no coincidence imo but sure what would we expect from the Irish News as I say we all know the papers allegiances.
So why are shinners talking about an ill woman appearing in court on this thread?
Ah…..distraction. They certainly won’t be talking about the numbers of councillors leaving their party so any old irrelevant bullshit will do instead.
Hardly irrelevant, but yes it is straying away from the subject. I thought in this case it needed to be said.
Sorry.
Mark perhaps you might get the list accurate for a start. There are names on that list that have left SF for reasons that have nothing to do with SF’s direction or policies but sure that does’nt matter to you.
I mentioned her as I read about her in today’s paper appearing in court on alleged alcohol shoplifting offences.
I think it’s perfectly reasonable to question those who paraded her as some sort of republican icon critical of SF whilst those she was making accusations against were questioning the motives behind those manipulating her don’t you?
walking out of a store with a stolen litre bottle of vodka up her blouse is a bit differend pippakin.
Michael Henry
I did not need to read that, and nor did anyone else. Suffice to say it was the act of an amateur in the art of theft.
sinn fein are in decline because they have been caught out lying on so many occasions people are beginning to see what the republican base first noticed many years ago: they are not exactly the type of people you can trust.
unresolved scandals follow gerry and his lieutenants around quicker than any soap opera plot: the high level penetration and orchestration of a dirty war; the sex scandals; the hunger strike scandal; the “i was never in the ira” charade; the sudden affluence.
and the ones as yet to come……..vote for them if you want, but don’t say you haven’t been warned.
The Moyle councillor has stated is fully behind the SF leadership and its policys.
sure you can not be tempted to vote for SINN FEIN on thursday hodgie, old habits are hard to beat.