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SINN FEIN AND THE KLAN national |
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news report
 Wednesday June 04, 2003 19:04 by Frank
 Sinn Fein councillors and right wing bigots in Sligo are campaigning to close down a new hostel for the homeless and for ex-offenders. Sinn Fein councillors and right wing bigots in Sligo are campaigning to close down a new hostel for the homeless and for ex-offenders. Attempting to whip up hysteria and terrify local residents, flyers have been circulated in Sligo claiming that “paedophiles, murderers, drug offenders and violent behaviour criminals from all parts of the country will be housed in the hostel.” “We are told that ex-offenders will not be supervised outside the hostel and will have free access to all parts of the town” one flyer says Protests have been organised outside the hostel and threats have been made that people using the hostel “would be identified and the public alerted”. Sinn Fein Councillor Arthur Gibbons is one of those heading the campaign to have the hostel for the homeless closed. Big business and Fianna Fail developers can do as they wish without a peep from Sinn Fein. However it is clear that homeless people and ex-offenders are an easy target. Over the years it was usually the local gombeen men and blueshirts who led the mob against projects for the homeless, travellers, refugees, lone parents or ex-offenders. It is obvious that Sinn Fein is now becoming more right- wing that the right-wing itself Of course you won’t read about this in An Phoblacht
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Comments (23 of 23)
Jump To Comment: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23Are the Sligo SF branch a breakaway faction? the 'Provisional' Provisional Sinn Fein?
I've got a draft of a leaflet I'd like to circulate among people in the north - It will say, among other things:
'Soon "murderers, drug offenders and violent behaviour criminals from all parts of the country will be housed" in the policing board.'
Is there a chapter of the Klan in Sligo?? the article wasnt very clear on their part in this dispute...or was it just very emotive langauge to describe somone or group who doesnt fit in with thePC views?
Somebody better tell SF that there are bombs that need to be blown up in Belfast...the bombs aren't gonna explode themselves. What the fuck every happened to good ol' fashioned Brit bashing. SF should focus more on their military strategy than petty right-wing troubles. Blair would look nice with a bullet in his face! IRA
Have just got back from Sligo as I was there over the weekend. As far as I can gather, it’s a Jim Sullivan, originally from Dublin who is leading the campaign. The site of the ex offenders hostel is in the North Ward of the town which is overwhelming working class and which in the past has been the site for halting sites, refuges etc etc.
I guess the ordinary people in this part of Sligo don’t want to be ghettoized and want these kind of facilities to be spread out among all areas to better help social inclusion. Arthur Gibbons is the PSF Councillor for the area and I would expect him to reflect the views of the people these.
This is a campaign by ordinary people fighting PC bureaucracy from Dublin who think they know best and can impose their will against the democratic wishes of the people.
We should not hawever forget that when "the democratic wishes of the people" do not coincide with the will of the politically correct bureaucrats, the appropriate term of disdain to be used to be used is "populism" ... (optionally prefaced by "right-wing" or someother qualifier)......
Strangely enough:
populus (Latin) = demos (Greek)
Work it out if you can ....
It's all Greek to me ......
NavanMan claims he was in Sligo for the weekend and says “this is a campaign by ordinary people fighting bureaucracy from Dublin who think they know best and can impose their will against the democratic wises of the people”
NavanMan is obviously a Provo who is attempting to justify Sinn Feins decision to oppose the hostel for the homeless.
If he spent more than a weekend in Sligo he would know that the decision to develop the hostel was made by local people who have given time and energy over the years in assisting Sligo’s homeless.
Why cant the Provos deal with the real issue rather then attempting to shift the blame on to the “bureaucracy from Dublin”. For years it was the Brits that were blamed, now it’s the bureaucracy from Dublin.
I expect that it was the “bureaucracy from Dublin” who also forced the Sinn Feiners to vote for the bin charges in Sligo !
Considering Navanman described Gibbons as a PSF member I doubt he's a shinner. They don't describe themselves as Provisional Sinn Fein anymore than the 'RA describes itself as the Provisional IRA.
I found the article a wee bit dubious so I'd suggest a look at http://archives.tcm.ie/sligoweekender/2003/03/04/story11341.asp
An article in the Sligo Weekender. There's nothing in it about SF, which is interesting enough in and of itself if the party is meant to be spearheading a campaign, but the opposition to the scheme from Labour and from this O'Sullivan fella seems to be motivated by the fact that local people were told it was going to be a hostel for the homeless, and were not told it was going to be for ex-prisoners. Point being, there seems to be more to this story than was initially suggested, and the Klan suggests a race element which is not evident in any of this.
People should email [email protected] to find out what they have to say about it.
This further shows that SF are a party riddled with contradictions and in reality have no coherent policies or ideas. They differ from county to county.
In west Ulster they are catholic right wing nationalist anti gay anti divorce bigot types while in Dublin they like to portray themselves as liberal left leaning suit wearing rational sociology graduate types.
In Tyrone they oppose the HAyes report, which recommended the closure of Omagh hospital and the retention of Fermanagh hospital, while in Fermanagh they supported Hayes!!
In Sligo they support bin tax while in Dublin they nominally oppose it.
This article, without attribution or sourcing or proof, claims that one SF councillor (It doesn't say what the others in the area think) is opposed to the construction of a hostel initally designed for homeless people but now to be used for ex-prisoners. Without further evidence it is a little rich to jump to conclusions without any evidence but that hasn't stopped you on any other thread.
As for your second para, Sinn Fein policy, as it has been for some time, is support for equal rights for Gays. We support the right for gay people to marry and adopt children (First party in Ireland to do so) Sinn Fein campaigned for support for the right to divorce and party policy is that it does not go far enough. Now that is SF policy. If you want to provide actual EVIDENCE of people in Tyrone stating differently, please do so. If you want to make accusations do so, but expect to be called on them and I will expect your response to provide evidence that SF in Tyrone opposes divorce and gay rights. If you don't have any, don't waste my time responding.
Frankly, it doesn't other me if some-one is a Catholic or Protestant and I find your introduction of sectarianism into the argument deeply disappointing.
Hayes and Bin Charges dealt with in the other thread about Water Charges.
The introduction of sectarianism to any debate is regrettable Justin, but what is SF doing to dissipate it on the ground or is SF happy enough to let it exist and then stoke it up when it suits them? I ask this question because in Donegal at the last election the only candidate in the Election to have his posters defaced with 'Hun' and 'H-Block' and 'SF' also happened to be the only candidate who was a protestant.
Since then I have seen or read nothing to suggest SF are a bit bothered about this sort of thing. And just because right wing parties do nothing about it either is no excuse.
To take the Donegal thing first, there is no evidence that this was the work of Sinn Féin members. I know two of thr three candidates we have up there personally and I would be shocked if they were involved in this and organised it.
That said, while I doubt they were SF members it is certainly probable they were SF supporters. People who vote for us are not subject to the same discipline as party members. A lot of the votes cast for the Immigration Control Platform in Dublin South-Central transferred to us, I'd prefer not to have their support much as I would prefer not to have the support of bigots.
As to what SF is doing to counter it, I think the work of Alex Maskey as Mayor of Belfast shows how far we are prepared to go to accomodate the Unionist, Protestant community (See http://www.nuzhound.com/articles/irish_news/arts2003/jun4_boneheaded_in_denial__BFeeney.php).
On another level, simply in our work in the South, we meet and discuss issues with members of the Southern Protestant community as we do anyone else. I would like to think we treat them with the utmost respect and certainly from their dealings with us I think they would agree with that.
The incidents you describe I condemn utterly, and I believe my party is working to counter such sectarianism, and I reject utterly the idea we 'stoke it up'.
"Condemn"
You just used a dirty word.
Good choice of article.
"I think that we should vote for a split"
Janus recommends that people should email Sligo Sinn Fein to find out if the story about them opposing the hostel for the homeless is true.
Why dont Sligo Sinn Fein publish the statement they issued to North West Radio yesterday (Thursday), on Indymedia. As was pointed out already, you wont find this story in An Phoblacht
Whats the story here? Had this SF member come out and said that the house for the homeless and ex offenders should be closed.
Can some one tell me what is the alternative - are the homeless to be left on the streets, offenders come out of prison every day back into the community no matter what their crime – we can’t stop them. They are free to go where they like – they have done their time and many end up homeless and on the streets. That Sullivan man must have seen plenty of them on the street of his home town Dublin. Maybe that’s why he came to Sligo to get away from it seeing as he is so right wing. Now how could he stand ideally by and see it happening in the town he chose to live in – easy get them off the streets and into sheltered accommodation like a house for homeless and ex offenders. Sully man I think you get it around the wrong way, look at the problem not under the ground like a long necked bird.
As for the SF position on this house from the word that I read so far, SF are very proud of their stand on a number issues and none more that their involvement in the GOOD FRIDAY AGREEMENT didn’t lots of guys get out of prison after that and they were in there for WHAT.?
Can I ask the question were they all welcomed home with open arms not feeling the slightest bit strange, nervous, apprehensive, or fearful for the future? I’m sure many needed help and support to get back into society and the community from which they came.
Maybe there is a lesson to be learned here before it goes to far. Its great to have a lot of things but some have nothing and some have only hatred and a wish to pass it on even to the homeless.
what are we coming to this is the year 2003 and this web site is full of stories from the homeless and asking for help for prisoners can it not be extended to help them when then they leave and haven't got a place to go straight away or is that to much like reality?
Just so I understand this, you're posting a complaint that Sligo SF have not posted a press release to Indymedia and calling on them to do so? And you think they will find out about this through linking in with your thoughts or something? This site is not exactly a mass media outlet, not everyone in Ireland reads Indymedia, or even knows about it. If you want them to post their press release, contact them (Their phone, fax and email details are available on Sligo County Council website) obtain said press release and post it.
As for the issue itself, from what I've been able to understand the objection is not to a homeless hostel but to a hostel being used for sex-offenders located about 300 yards from a girls school. Now personally, I think objections to a hostel for ex-prisoners are wrong, but there are types of ex-prisoners, and places they should not be allowed unsupervised. Close to a girl's schools seems one of them.
Justin Moran of Sinn Fein states that Sinn Feins objection to the hostel for the homeless is due to the "hostel being used for sex-offenders" and that it is located about 300 yeards from a girls school.
This is typical of the type of misinformation that has been circulated by those who oppose the hostel. It is blatantly untrue. The hostel will not be used to house sex-offenders and the Management Board of the hostel have made this clear.
I would also point out that the girls school has no problem regarding the hostel.
I am merely reporting what people in the area have told me and since I know their names and who they are and have no idea who you are, what your agenda is or anything else about you, forgive me if I somewhat deprioritise your opinion. Many local people don't believe the word of the Management and whatever about the school itself, it seems many of the parents of the children at the school object to it.
More black ops posting trying to portray sinn fein as enemy of the poor. Why not situate the hostel in the middle of the most exclusive rich residential area of that town, away from working class estates and schools. This is one way rich liberals can register their support for homeless peadophiles.
Janus is correct, am not a Provo since the sell out by Adams & gang.
Other than the approach to the six counties, the councillors in Sligo are correct to object to this sex offenders hostel in an area that has its own fair share of problems. I agree with the previous contribution, let the PC Liberals put this proposed centre out in Rosses Point (exclusive upper middle class area). But don't hold your breath, as the County Manager would not allow that would he ! !
We are fed yet more disinformation by the Provos and their colleagues in an attempt to justify their opposition to the hostel for the homeless.
The hostel in situated in Lyons Terrace, Sligo.
The nearest working class area to the hostel is on the North side of Sligo harbour across the Garavogue River.
I doubt if the County Manager cares whether the hostel is situated in Rosses Point or Katmandu - he has nothing to do with it.
The location of the hostel in question is in the North Ward of Sligo Town, the most working class ward of the three. It is the location for up to 70% of the Town's Halting Sites, Social Housing, Refuges etc etc. Do the planners want this part of Sligo Town to be turned into a ghetto ?
What about social inclusion & integration ? ?
I would take these PC types seriously if they were to propose the location of these facilities in the neighborhoods where they live instead of pushing them all into the North Ward of the town.