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Gerry Adams no sure thing for Irish Parliament seat, say experts

Opponents aim hostile fire at Sinn Fein leader as election nears

JAMES O'SHEA,

IrishCentral.com Staff Writer

Published Monday, February 21, 2011, 8:06 AM

Updated Monday, February 21, 2011, 8:06 AM

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Gerry Adams

A race that once looked like a shoo-in for Gerry Adams to win a seat in the Irish parliament now looks like a struggle after recent developments in the Co. Louth constituency where Adams is running.

A campaign by anti-Adams figures, demanding he come clean as to whether he was in the IRA or not, an accusation he has always denied, has won headlines as the election battle heats up.

Much of the Dublin-based media has remained hostile towards Adams and continuously demands to know why he is running in the Irish Republic and whether he was ever a member of the IRA.

Last week, Adams came under attack from family members of Jean McConville, a mother of 10 who was killed by the IRA. Her body was buried in an unmarked grave in Louth.

Adams was considered a favorite in the four-seat Louth constituency, much of which is on the border with Northern Ireland.

Adams typically secures over 70 percent of the first preferences in Stormont elections in his West Belfast homeland, but campaigning in the Irish Republic, where he recently relocated, is a completely different experience.

Many voters there do not wish to be confronted with memories of the Northern Ireland conflcit, despite the fact that Adams played a huge role in ending the strife.

Under Ireland’s complicated electoral system Adams will need second preference votes from other parties in order to win the seat, which is where his difficulty may lie.

Strong campaigns by the Labor Party and the second Fine Gael candidate, Peter Fitzpatrick, could have Adams battling for the last seat.

Nster.com

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FallsRNat | Feb 26, 2011, 08:48 PM EST

good news for NI that the Baron has been elected in oireland, there is hope for peace.

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FallsRNat | Feb 26, 2011, 08:03 AM EST

sirpeter that's why there will never be a UI as nobody will be considered a true 'irishman' unless they meet PSF's strict criteria - 'ourselves alone' will be a fitting epitaph to your UI

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sirpeter | Feb 23, 2011, 09:12 PM EST

FallsRNat..Shut your hole..Nobody gives a sh*t what a person who is a traitor to his family thinks.

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jacersagain | Feb 23, 2011, 04:09 PM EST

I agree w/ DanO’... May I suggest a way out for Libya in their troubles? Let Ireland offer Ghaddafi & Son political asylum and then, acknowledging that Ghaddi kept Libya stable for 40 yrs with his cool head, maybe we could offer him or his son Titular Presidency of the whole of Ireland... that might stabilise us for the next 40 yrs.

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FallsRNat | Feb 23, 2011, 08:43 AM EST

At the end of the day, i hope he does a better job of representing his electorate then he did here in belfast.

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barneyjo | Feb 22, 2011, 08:06 PM EST

The "Body Politic" that sit in Stormont, be they Unionist, Nationalist,Loyalist, or Republican have absolutely nothing to commend them to voters. Sinn Fein are an integral part of the disfunctional entitiy that is supposed to govern "Norn Iron" and they are no better or worse than any other party at making a complete Ba##s of things. Sinn Fein wont bring any new dimension to the Dail. The Northern Politicos are just as well rehearsed in "Parish Pump Politics" as their southern counterparts!!

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DanOLoingsigh | Feb 22, 2011, 07:18 PM EST

The country is like a ship caught in a ferocious storm…who will be navigating on the bridge - looking out for rocks ahead? Who will be in the engine room getting the maximum efficiency from the engine? Who will be in the purser’s office, making sure all the remittances are accurate? Who will ensure the cargo is stowed safely? The voyage ahead needs cool heads and our ship of state needs confident handling. I just hope the crew are up to the job…or a mutiny will break out.

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FallsRNat | Feb 22, 2011, 03:48 PM EST

The more worrying thing for the Irish is that on his election he will campaign for 2 things; 1) removal of EU/IMF loans from the irish state which will lead to immediate bankrupcy of the state 2) lead a campaign for a UI, the real fear factor for the irish must be if the UK bring forward its planned referendum in Ulster to coincide with GA's wishes. There are 2 upsides for the brits 1) NI voters for the status quo 2) NI voters vote for a UI in which case the UK will have to reintegrate over 1.2m people into the UK, so reparations would be payable to the UK for all of the housing stock, farmland etc, this is payable by international law & default would not be an option. I am starting to think that the Baron really is the UK's man of ireland as he will sink the 26 counties in a cesspool of debt if he & his cronies are elected, thereby allowing international speculators to scavenge the bare bones of what is left of the irish state. There are many NI 'republicans' who are happy to take the queen's dole money whist espousing the calls for a UI, when/if a referendum is successful for a UI, you will find out that there will be hardly any of them left in the north come handover day as they would all of fled to the UK to continue to take the queen's shilling against not receiving anything curtesy of the Baron's exchequer who wouldn't have any money at all. Finally i note that Baron has not said that he doesn't want to return the brits money so once again he reaches for the queen's shilling in times of need

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FallsRNat | Feb 22, 2011, 03:45 PM EST

which republican party are we talking about Fine Fail Fine Gael PSF

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Towngate | Feb 22, 2011, 11:01 AM EST

Niall, a chara,I hope your brothers party has paid properly for the advertisment your site is carrying! Combined with a post disrespecting an opposing candidate for his seat and 'failing to declare your interest', could be seen as an example of exactly the kind of Cancer we are trying to clear out of Irish politics. Look; Support him, give him a lift, by all means, but just be honest about it!

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warrenpoint00 | Feb 22, 2011, 12:35 AM EST

There has been an ongoing vicious smear campaign in Ireland for months now against the republican party of Ireland by the irish indo newspaper which,what who? is the only remaining voice of a failed enterprise in a beleagured broken down corrupt little enclave in the island of IRELAND. Now what are they scared of. Sinn Fein are only trying to increase their vote.WHO would want to inherit this mess created by fianna fail and fin gael.

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Dublinjas | Feb 21, 2011, 11:33 PM EST

James you are full of the stuff that makes the grass grow green in Texas. Gerry Adams has no problem getting elected in Louth, But the Bigoted anything but a Northerner Free Stater press gurus have their own agenda, Not only had Adams to fight the Brit occupiers on this island, for liberty and dignity of our Irish people imprisoned by partition, but he now has to fight for the right to be elected to his own Parliament on this island of Ireland, yes fight the "what's he doing down here brigade". It is some shame and disgrace that the Nationalist population of Northern Ireland who were sold off via partition and through no fault of there own were reconstituted brits, and are now treated worse than poles and nigerians on our own island.

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cillowen | Feb 21, 2011, 08:34 PM EST

The southies generally fear northeast irelanders because of their chutzpah to confront evil and get things done. That's a reason for such electorate tending towards voting for the criminally motivated southern politicians.

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CanadianPat | Feb 21, 2011, 07:38 PM EST

FallsRNat, Odd that you talk of GA being dishonest when You are talking a load of **** yourself!Being kind I will quess your Uncle is being miss quoted !

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FallsRNat | Feb 21, 2011, 06:23 PM EST

GA has consistently critised other politicians in the election campaign as being dishonest with the voters, it would be very honest with us if he told the truth on his IRA membership in which 'every dog on the streets' knows is true. My own family have historic ties with the RA up until the late 60s, my uncle says that you couldn't be in PSF without dual membership of PIRA. This was based on the Official IRA & SF split in the 60s when the political wing strove to follow a non violent political past without the OIRA.

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