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 @ 12:44 PM
Not Philip McGuigan?
Posted by on Sep 24, 2006 @ 09:01 AMJust heard that a Derry councillor is on the brink of walking over the expected policing move.
Posted by on Sep 24, 2006 @ 09:24 AMGaribaldy,
Almost all the entire midlle level leadership within the 6 counties has been changed within the last year, Cumann, Comhairle Ceanntair chairs and Belfast have all been effectivley been replaced by people who were seen to be safe!, the public leadership remains unchanged, but in reality the real leadership is now firmly in the hands of a small group of people who have made the party totally undemocratic and stale. People are leaving in their droves.Posted by on Sep 24, 2006 @ 10:35 AMGodsdog,
Thanks for that. But aren’t these replacements just the appointees of the people at the top, i.e. Adams, McGuiness and their acolytes like Gibney?
Posted by on Sep 24, 2006 @ 11:13 AMGaribaldi,
I am sure that you remain just as keen to talk about that other branch of the IRA-The Officials who have carried out 2 savage shootings in the last few weeks-No coverage in the Sunday World or Observer today-surprise, surprise.Now, great democrat that you are, I’ll let you get back to your salivating over possible dissent amongst the branch of the IRA that is’nt actually carrying out any shootings.
No hypocriscy there then eh?
Posted by on Sep 24, 2006 @ 11:40 AMAustin,
I’m not salivating over anything. I asked Godsdog for an explanation of something he said. The thrust of my contributions on these threads has been that I don’t think there is any great change within PSF. Personally, I’d say there is a sense of disillusionment among some PSF activists but that ultimately this won’t make much difference if any to PSF’s electoral growth. So the defection of the odd councillor here or there doesn’t actually matter. PSF will keep these seats, and their electoral advance will continue.
As for those newspapers and the issue of confusing people’s alignments, I’m not sure there’s a great deal more to add. I note as far as I can see that no other papers talk about the Weldon story this week, nor is there even a thread on Slugger about the week lad shot in Ardoyne yesterday. Perhaps that is a conspiracy too. Or maybe these things aren’t that newsworthy any more.
Posted by on Sep 24, 2006 @ 12:29 PMAustin,
you might be interested in this quote from another thread
“Grasseynoel,
If you are really interested in who shot the leg off a young lad.. go see the very senior member of the Provos in the Ballymurphy area related through marrige to a former communist and has the same initials as a type of sexual preference , he had a major row with the victim and told him in no uncertain terms that he would be dealt with..
The top Provo then arranged for someone who flits between CIRA and the SUPER-STICKS [ORM] to blast his leg off.
*** IS THAT ENOUGH INFO FOR YOU NOEL ***”
Posted by on Sep 24, 2006 @ 12:37 PMFrankly, who would trust that there had been a sea change in mainstream republican thinking if there were no defections?
As long as the voters Sinn Fein have gained, remain happy to vote for the party, that’s what really counts.
Posted by on Sep 24, 2006 @ 12:45 PMBut will they Taff? A lot of people vote for the person, not just the party. When Eddie McGrady didn’t stand for the sdlp it went to SF afaik. Personalities can sway a vote just as much as party politics.
Posted by on Sep 24, 2006 @ 02:57 PMGaribaldi, I again reiterate that time will show that the OIRA carried out both recent shootings
Posted by on Sep 24, 2006 @ 05:14 PMSo I’m a dim-witted fool. Fantastic...I was too busy at adult basic literacy classes today to respond to the post sooner.....
The republican movement has gone through many splits and offshoots just as it is now. There will always be people who believe in the Brits Out and any measures to get them out route. It’s just a matter of how strong they can get and will they, in time, eclipse Sinn Fein as the most prominent standard bearer of republicanism.
Posted by on Sep 24, 2006 @ 09:43 PMI hear there may be resignations in fermanagh of two hardcore councillors.
Posted by on Sep 24, 2006 @ 11:51 PMRSF warhorse Ruairí Ó Brádaigh said a good while back that another generation of Irishmen would decry the compromisers in SF and ‘continue the fight for Irish freedom’ - a debatable concept in my book.
At the time I dismissed him, mostly because the grievances are being slowly addressed, and partly because I hate the campaigns and the counter-campaigns and the sheer human suffering they produce.
Starting to get a bit worried though.
Posted by on Sep 25, 2006 @ 12:08 AMI just heard that Martin McGuinness has just joined the PUP.
Actually I haven’t heard anything of the sort, it’s just everyone makes ludicrous things up here and dresses it up with “I just heard” and I was feeling a little left out.
OK I’ll only comment on stuff I have at least half a clue about, will everyone else do the same?
Posted by on Sep 25, 2006 @ 09:05 AM
