Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams this week accused Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin of 'an outrageous attack' after Martin claimed Adams party had prolonged suffering of the Irish people, north and south.
Martin chose his party's annual Arbour Hill commemoration ceremony to rule out any possibility of a coalition with Sinn Fein, the second largest party in the North and the fourth largest party in the Republic. Martin then took the opportunity to criticize Sinn Fein for supporting the IRA.
According to the Irish Examiner Adams countered that Martin's attack was motivated by difficulties within Fianna Fail, including Martin's leadership and challenges from within against its pro-European treaty stance.
'I believe that many people across the island, not least supporters and members of Mr Martin's own party, will be disappointed at his remarks,' Adams said. 'The irony of Deputy Martin using an Easter commemoration at Arbour Hill to launch an attack on republicans will be lost on very few.'
Adams then reminded Martin that Sinn Fein had been central to bringing peace to Ireland. Adams added that he believed Martin was playing political point-scoring and said he was using the conflict in the North in a cynical and opportunistic way.
In response Martin said he believed Sinn Fein had been dishonest about its links with the Provisional IRA, adding that there had been a lack of accountability over the Troubles.
'I don't see Sinn Fein as a Republican party. In the first instance, their actions not just in the past but up to the present day are the very antithesis about what Republicanism should mean. Republicanism to me is the capacity to unite Protestant and Catholic at the centre and Sinn Fein don't have that capacity.'
Martin said many people in the Republic found it hard to accept Sinn Fein at face value because of the 'murders and activities' the IRA was engaged in. Martin then reminded voters that Fianna Fail and Sinn Fein have conflicting policies on the economy - Fianna Fail is campaigning for a Yes vote in the referendum on the European fiscal treaty on May 31, and Sinn Fein is implacably opposed.
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.IrelandNorth | May 02, 2012, 08:28 AM EDT
What ever happened to Ireland's east and west? Is the new leader of Fianna Fail[ed]: The [...]publican Party, geographically as well as historically dyslectic? If Sinn Fein are the second largest party in the 6 county (19% kingdom) neo-provincial statelet of Northern Ireland, and the fourth largest in the 26 county (81%) republic, does that mean they are the third largest party on the island Ireland overall? In declining an offer that hasn't yet been made, Deputy Martin is like a characteristic wall flower at a midlands ballroom of romance run by a former FF Taoiseach in the 1950's? Seems hell hath no fury like a [morally bankrupted political party] scorned! The Long Fella's dark shadown haunts the Irish body politic still. No power sharing or peace process in the 26 county (81%) republic if the effin FF-ers have their way. Maybe the Traditional Unionist Party would take him/them?
seanomelb | May 01, 2012, 07:34 PM EDT
The beaten Fianna Fail party leader is remorse stricken and tries to browbeat the party which gave northern nationalists equality under the law. Martin and his cronies turned their collective backs on the plight of nationalists in Norn Areland, the cowards, and left the hard work to republicans.
Bythebay | May 01, 2012, 10:01 AM EDT
Gerry Adams IRA murdered and plundered Ireland, Northern Ireland and England and continued more than 30 years of terrorism which they continue to today. They brought no peace, they lost and surrendered. All they did and do is to promote bigotry and prejudice. They are a disgrace.
Bythebay | May 01, 2012, 09:57 AM EDT
johhnyb, they were responsible for all the deaths because they started the terrorism which was useless and accomplished nothing.
IrelandNorth | May 01, 2012, 09:56 AM EDT
Looks like the Mé Feiner's of Fíanna Fail: The Publican's Party - the Soldiers of Destiny who degenerated into mercenaries of fortune, are now willing to sacrifice Irish unity on the alter of political expediency. The party which sold a delimited Irish sovereignty for a fistful of Euros at bargain [de]basement price. Down with the banksters and their politically apostate collaborators.
johhnyb | May 01, 2012, 09:25 AM EDT
Ridiculous assertion. Of 3331 people murdered in the troubles, the IRA were only responsible for 1696 of them.