Sinn Féin to Oppose Royal Visit

Sinn Féin Councillor Jonathan O’Brien has described as “totally unacceptable” the Taoiseach Brian Cowen’s welcome for a visit to Ireland by the Queen of England, Commander-in-Chief of the British Army, and said the party will oppose any royal visit. The Taoiseach’s welcome came on the day he refused in the Dáil to give a commitment to raise the issue of collusion with the British Prime Minister.

Cllr O’Brien stated: “It is totally unacceptable that the Taoiseach is, on the one hand, welcoming and preparing for a visit to Ireland by the Queen of England, Commander-in-Chief of the British Army, while on the other hand he refuses to pursue the British Prime Minister and the British government on the issue of collusion.”

“While the Saville Report was a welcome development in vindicating the dead of Bloody Sunday it was only the tip of the iceberg of British state killings in Ireland.”

“For example Sinn Féin has repeatedly called on the British government to give to an international judicial figure all files in its possession relating to the Dublin and Monaghan bombings of May 1974, in which 33 people died, and other acts of collusion in the 26 Counties during the conflict. The Taoiseach has admitted that he had failed to raise this with Gordon Browne during his premiership.”

“Sinn Féin opposes the proposed state visit of the Queen of England, Commander-in-Chief of the British armed forces. Until there is complete withdrawal of the British military and the British administration from Ireland, and until there is justice and truth for victims of collusion, no official welcome should be accorded to any officer of the British armed forces of any rank.”

For further information contact Cllr Jonathan O’Brien @ 085-2133907