Saturday, September 23, 2006
Sinn Féin lose two councillors?
Very little information on this online, or anywhere else, although I’m told it was mentioned on the UTV news bulletin last night, and the Daily Mirror has a short note today. Two Sinn Féin councillors on Magherafelt District Council, Oliver Hughes and Patsy Groogan, have apparently resigned from the Council and, seemingly, from the party. No statements yet from either parties, or indeed, the party itself. Anyone know more? Update The Sunday Times reports that they have resigned from Sinn Féin, but not the Council… and they won’t say why..
This is the extent of the information so far, from the Daily Mirror
SF Pair Quit Party
Two Sinn Féin councillors last night resigned from the party. It is not yet known why Oliver Hughes and Patsy Groogan quit Magherafelt Council.
As I said it’s a short note.. but the two resigning at the same time would indicate something more than simply personal circumstances.
Update From the Sunday Times
Hughes, a brother of the hunger striker Francis Hughes, said: “My colleague Patsy Groogan and I have resigned. It is purely a domestic issue within the republican movement in south Derry. I won’t be elaborating on it.” Groogan said they had not been expelled, but would not comment further. Both will remain on Magherafelt council as independents.
”I won’t be elaborating on it.”? Two elected councillors resign from their party and they stonewall questions on why?
Pete Baker @ 01:44 PM
This bad news for SF, two good republicans one a long standing Councillor leaving the party, i dont know why but i would imagine it is in reaction to the junta that have taken over the party post july 28th
Posted by on Sep 23, 2006 @ 02:13 PMGods dog,
Was there a leadership change I didn’t notice? Would you elaborate as to who constitutes the junta?
Posted by on Sep 23, 2006 @ 02:18 PMbeginning to look like the deal has been done over policing and some don’t like it
the choreography around gregory’s statement would fit
Posted by on Sep 23, 2006 @ 02:19 PMDoes anyone know whether they are modernisers or traditionalists?
Posted by on Sep 23, 2006 @ 02:21 PMVery much traditionalists. Oliver Hughes is a brother of Francis Hughes, the second hunger striker to die. It’s very interesting because there have been increasing reports of disaffection in the South Derry area.
Posted by on Sep 23, 2006 @ 03:02 PMThank you James.
Its interesting that they have resigned from the Council, rather than just from the party, triggering the need for replacements to be found.
Its also strange that they would resign from the party ahead of the PSNI vote. That makes it more likely the leadership will win.
Posted by on Sep 23, 2006 @ 03:16 PMIs it possible for councillors to resign from their parties but stay on the council?
Posted by on Sep 23, 2006 @ 04:13 PMQuestion - answer is yes. For example Peter Bowles resigned from the UUP recently to join the Tories while retaining his council seat.
Posted by on Sep 23, 2006 @ 04:18 PMAn ominous warning to mainstream Republican leaders, NOT to stray too far away from its roots. If Sinn Féin lose their Irish Republican support base, that is, support of the electorate in ‘republican heartlands’, the possibility of war breaking out again, is high. The Republican Movement simply cannot comply with all that its enemies demand of it. The leadership need to be very cogniscant of this....as should the Brits.
Posted by on Sep 23, 2006 @ 07:35 PMSouth Derry is becoming a cockpit for the traditionalist northern republican faction. Is this linked to those factions or not?
If those factions can get their act toegther (and maybe do a few robberies to get the funds) and start fighting for council seats, they surely must be able to peel some support of Sinm Fein. Even if not enough to get a council seat, enough to deny Sinn Fein in certain areas?
Ciaran Damery, bless you, ya little angry pixie. Coochie coo! I lived here for pretty much all the troubles, it was many things but it wasn’t a war. Go to Iraq, thats a war. And as for the Brits, they are delighted.
Posted by on Sep 23, 2006 @ 08:15 PMCould this be Martin Cunningham take II? Or strictly an issue over policing?
Posted by on Sep 23, 2006 @ 09:13 PMYokel,
If you could get your act together in relation to your spelling, you may not come across as a completely dimwitted fool.Posted by on Sep 23, 2006 @ 09:37 PMThe leadership need to be very cogniscant of this....as should the Brits.
Ciaran,
The leadership should be cogniscant of watchtowers being re-erected. Does the republican community want a war over their bullsh*t position on policing ?
Posted by on Sep 23, 2006 @ 09:46 PMProminent North Antrim SF councillor to follow suit (not in a card sense).
No word yet from ex Orange Order,ex ABOD,ex Seventh Day Adventist preacher,ex RUC,ex SDLP councillor Billy Leonard.
Adams Knew
Posted by on Sep 23, 2006 @ 11:22 PMOliver McMullan?
Posted by on Sep 23, 2006 @ 11:36 PMIt’s really bewildering for you Glen, that, horror of horrors, a protestant can actually be a republican in the same way that-wait for it, wait for it… a catholic can even be a unionist!!
Posted by on Sep 23, 2006 @ 11:37 PMEmpty says, “a catholic can even be a unionist!!” But he/she cannot be a member of the supremacist Orange Klans.
Posted by on Sep 24, 2006 @ 01:08 AMLIES.... LIES… DAMN LIES.... STOP TELLING LIES…
This is all media garbage.... take it down now Slugger
No one left the party… not one person is disenchanted
Everyone is all sweet and on board and in love with the greatest leadership anywhere on this planet....
HOW DO I KNOW.... BECAUSE Martin McG told us all last week the week before and this week that everything was sound, and Martin never lies ever as no doubt you all are aware.
No not Martin McGartland you silly boy, no the other agent instead
Posted by on Sep 24, 2006 @ 01:23 AM“If you could get your act together in relation to your spelling, you may not come across as a completely dimwitted fool.”
Ban Request. Seriously.
Posted by on Sep 24, 2006 @ 02:04 AMkensei,
perhaps you could help this poor completely dim-witted fool and point out the spelling mistakes for me… for future reference.
but just to help your spelling “dimwitted has a hyphen dim-witted”
a hyphen is the little flat line that looks like it fell off a letter T as in Teacher and Tosser
Posted by on Sep 24, 2006 @ 02:34 AMkensei,
sorry thought you were posting about me… lol
well your right i am dim-witted
Posted by on Sep 24, 2006 @ 02:42 AMShouldn’t that be you’re ?
Posted by on Sep 24, 2006 @ 02:49 AMHas to be over the touts in sf - ‘Denis the Menace’ & co. but the ‘co’ can never be admitted to. If martin’s a tout, derry and mid-ulster fall and the whole process is a sham. Can’t admit to that boys, and gals. Too smart for that. Lets keep the sycophants drooling on and onnn ‘til we work out what to do’. Problem, as Ingram pointed, or was it Moloney, was this ‘permanent leadership’. All one had to do was ‘lick ass’ and one’s ejection up the ladder was guaranteed, or should that be ‘erection’. Too easy for ‘Brit Intelligence’ (’scuse the oxymoron oh bearded one)
oh shit# I’m turning into sycophanticsop.
Back to the wine!
Better stop right nowwwwwwwwPosted by on Sep 24, 2006 @ 04:36 AMNo haven’t heard anything about Oliver McMullan the betting is thatit is an even more prominent North Antrim Councillor with South Derry connections.
Posted by on Sep 24, 2006 @ 09:54 AMEmpey Head
For the record, I am Church OF Ireland and have always supported an agreed United Ireland.
Posted by on Sep 24, 2006 @ 09:59 AM
