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Michael D Higgins launches surprise attack on Martin McGuinness

Labor hopeful highly critical of fellow candidate’s IRA past

CATHAL DERVAN,

IrishCentral.com Staff Writer

Published Sunday, October 16, 2011, 8:46 AM

Updated Sunday, October 16, 2011, 8:46 AM

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Michael D Higgins

Presidential election candidate Michael D Higgins has launched a surprise and very personalized attack on Sinn Fein’s Martin McGuinness and his IRA past.

Responding to a set of questions posed by the Sunday Independent newspaper, Higgins has claimed that McGuinness is using the election to "rationalize and endorse" the Provisional IRA’s historic use of violence.

Now second in the opinion polls to the Independent candidate Sean Gallagher, the Higgins rant looks certain to damage his prospects of winning all important transfers from the Sinn Fein vote.

The Labor Party veteran has gone so far as to suggest that Sinn Fein should not be allowed to claim ownership of the peace process during this Presidential election.

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He also claimed there is a "clear conflict" between McGuinness’s own account of his time in the IRA and evidence made available to previous Irish governments.

“Irish people want a President who will be honest and open. I believe it would be helpful if the conflict over different accounts was faced up to and answers given,” Higgins told the Sunday Independent.

Higgins added: “Personally I am absolutely and unequivocally opposed to the campaign of violence carried out by the IRA. I have always highlighted my political opposition and personal revulsion to that violence.

“I would be particularly concerned if this presidential election campaign was to be used to seek some sort of rationalization of or endorsement for that campaign.

“I expect the electorate would want to consider not just the recent record of Martin McGuinness but also his record overall.”

Admitting that McGuinness meets all the constitutional requirements for nomination, Higgins accepted his right to stand for election.

The Galway academic also pointed to his own role in "acknowledging the need for courageous steps to end the conflict in the North."

He maintained: “In this regard as minister with responsibility for broadcasting, I took the decision to end the ministerial directive under Section 31 of the Broadcasting Act, which banned appearances on the airwaves by members of Sinn Fein and a number of other organizations.

“My decision, which was based on my confidence in the judgement of the public, was strongly criticized by some people at the time, but I believe that it contributed significantly to creating a climate where peace was possible.

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cuddlybuddly | Oct 22, 2011, 12:44 PM EDT

I think anyone who has their roots in Irish History, will have their roots in the IRA...we've all grown up and taken responsibility for stopping further violence by coming to the Political Table and using the proper channells for debate and change..but make no mistake anyone who calls themselves Irish have no choice but to look at their own inner IRA

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DanOLoingsigh | Oct 19, 2011, 11:12 AM EDT

The problem for Martin's supporters is that he was part of an organisation that carried out executions of Irish citizens until fairly recently...some people think that was justified in the circumstances, others don't. That's a legitimate debating point, not mudslinging imo.

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ballindaggin | Oct 19, 2011, 07:12 AM EDT

James Connelly,a real Labour man,was executed in 1916 along with other great men who were willing to give their lives for Irish Freedom. Does Michael D Higgins think that Connelly was a terrosist also.Without the IRA and Sinn Fein there would be no Peace in Ireland and without people like Martin McGuinness the IRA would still exist. Michael D claims to be a Labour man yet he has rolled over to the Fine Gael side of the bed just to be in the cosy cartel of grey suited boring politicians who only want to line their own pockets and to hell with the people who really care. Higgins has become another mudslinger for the establishment

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seanomelbourne | Oct 18, 2011, 07:15 PM EDT

Any submarine will do after all the modern submarine was invented by an Irishman.

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DanOLoingsigh | Oct 18, 2011, 03:49 PM EDT

pilib04 - I thought the war-time IRA were chums with the fascists, or was the 'submarine story' just another West Brit fantasy?

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gobdawpaddy | Oct 18, 2011, 04:45 AM EDT

I find it amazing that terms such as 'blue shirt' , 'free stater' etc. are being used in an election in 2011. It just demonstrates how backward some people in Ireland still are. Anyone who dares to have a contrarian point of view to the supporters of RA/SF, is a 'west brit'.

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pilib04 | Oct 17, 2011, 06:45 PM EDT

Higgins got his marching orders from the Tanaiste. Join the RTE, Blue Shirt, west Brit attacks on Martin McGuinness. Of course, what do you want from the party of the Cruiser, a neo-fascist if ever there was one. And then there is the "frontrunner" Gallagher. A Fianna Fail tool who made out like a bandit with the great Sellout. Memories last from the Civil War, but don't last from last February. Geez.

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cillowen | Oct 17, 2011, 04:00 PM EDT

the elf is at it too SF councillor makes 'hate campaign' claim A Sinn Féin councillor in Waterford has said there is a hate campaign going on against Martin McGuinness "ike there was against African-Americans in Alabama in the 1960s. Pat Fitzgerald said that after reading yesterday's Sunday Independent, he believes Martin McGuinness, Sinn Féin members and supporters should be proud of themselves. "We have forced the Indo into producing blatant black propaganda slating Martin McGuinness; not since the paper called for the execution/murder of James Connolly has been been such a hate campaign against an Irish republican leader. "And RTÉ are just as bad with scurrilous attacks on the superb Presidential candidate," said Cllr Fitzgerald. "With the rise of democracy, you can almost smell the dirty underwear between the lines," he added.

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cusack2 | Oct 17, 2011, 11:08 AM EDT

Michael D. needs to grow up. He may have reached the dignified age of 70, but it is childish to continually dismiss the war in the north as mindless violence. Perhaps, had he lived there like so many of the rest of us, he'd see the full picture. As an old American Indian adage so succinctly says, don't condemn until you've walked my road in my moccasins.

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Gearoid4 | Oct 17, 2011, 10:12 AM EDT

@Kilsally, Ireland is an ancient nation which had it's own language,customs and religion for 1,500 years or more. The fact that it consisted of many kingdoms and sub-kingdoms does not invalidate that in any way. As for your assertion that an English king was given legal sanction by a pope to take over so-called "celtic churchs" in Ireland is a source of some controversy. The "Laudabiliter document in question is believed by some historians to be a forgery and others to have been distorted by King Henry 11 to give the impression that he was given more powers than he was actually given. Also your description of the Church in Ireland as being somehow completely separate from Rome by giving it the tag "Celtic" is also regarded as a myth by experts in the period. The Irish Church was part of a very diversified Latin Church which recognized the Pope as the head. There were instances of unjustifiable attacks on protestants and Jews in the post-partition area in the Republic of Ireland but nothing on the scale to what the Catholics had to face up north. For over 80 years they had to bear the brunt of insidious discrimination in all sectors of public life. The dam eventually burst and culminated in the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960's. The response was violent assaults on peaceful demonstrators by the so called forces of law and order and anti-Catholic pogroms such as the razing of Bombay street in 1969.

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Kilsally | Oct 17, 2011, 06:34 AM EDT

You have to laugh at all the shinners calling just about everybody else (representing the vast majority of electorate) `West Brits` - yet we have the likes of the 32 county Sovereignty Movement callng McGuinness a British minister who supports the occupying forces..google it.

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gobdawpaddy | Oct 17, 2011, 05:38 AM EDT

Higgins is correct in asking for answers on McG's past. If McG. was to be elected, it would be too late on October 28th to find out that McG. has terrible skeletons in his closet. He was a commander in a terrorist organization just like Bin Laden and has answers to give. RA/SF have attempted to re-write history, hijacking the peace process. Those vermin were responsible for some very sick actions not so long ago and should not be allowed to easily forget. Miriam O'Callaghan, Michael D. and others are right not to allow them to brush their past under the carpet.

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cillowen | Oct 16, 2011, 11:03 PM EDT

the elf with the weed as prez - midget looks like mickey rooney. Being that Brit spy that he was - he had to do whatever was necessary to keep his fakery secure. His offering condolence at Hitler's demise was part of the con game. Dev's service to the Saxon Motherland needs a better explanation than that written by this Jock scotty fellow and voiced by some of his NI ilk. Surely Dev, one highly regarded by tribe members was proudly brought to my attention - far removed from ol erin - that he was one of them - this Converso Cuban and Co Clare momma fellow would go to bat for those of his own stripe. The painting of him, a Hitler lover takes the cake. I believe Dev was England's Greatest Spy and the account given here is but rubbish. The Irish neutrality that served Britain so, was a brilliant hatched move between the troika of DeValera, Churchill and FDR. I also believe Dev set up Michael Collins for the kill and helped trigger the Civil War that had brother fighting brother. Dev's overall primary concern was in securing a homeland for his tribe. He being a lover of Hitler is complete bullcrap - a real bottom of the barrel reach. During WWII footstuff of all kind was flowing to the Saxon occupier land as were manpower from every county in ol Erin being ferried back and forth across the Irish sea to help the Mother. Nigh every family had members criss crossing to serve the war effort. The natives later would honor near blind Dev with the presidency - the same as they intend doing with Dev's party newcomer Gallagher. Have a great time trying to explain why such benefits accrued to the benevolent Saxons crowd in their time of need. The beat goes on even today -the love and appreciation of knightings bestowed makes em go gaga. Explore and write truthfully about the realities that pertained over times past. Than you. WAG not allowed (wild ass guessing).

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seanomelbourne | Oct 16, 2011, 10:39 PM EDT

Keithd a lonley narrowminded twat

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Rebelforce | Oct 16, 2011, 07:25 PM EDT

Michael Higgins would undoubtedly make a fine, sweet Irish granny, but isn't it time Ireland had a Man representing the country for a change? Martin McGuiness for President of Ireland.

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