Why are Sinn Féin so corrupt? They must be, because the media are attacking them at every angle over Michael McMonagle, their two former PR people, and at this moment over Brian Stanley TD’s resignation and bitter words against the party to which he once belonged.
In my podcast with Pat McArt yesterday I raised the question of how come Sinn Féin has scandals lepping out of every orifice, yet Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and the smaller parties don’t seem to have any leakage points?
Well, there’s a letter in The Irish Times today which gives an explanation that sounds convincing to me. Admittedly, it comes at the bottom of a few letters saying effectively that Sinn Féin are the spawn of Satan. This letter is so rare for the IT I think it’s worth presenting in full.
‘Sir, – It now appears that every time an election looms, the media whips up a red herring to distract from the key issues facing the Irish people. These issues are house prices, childcare, healthcare, the increased cost of living and the potential impact of climate change to name a few.
Before the local elections, there was a media frenzy about immigrants along the canals in Dublin. Something we have heard little about since. Why? This was clearly a tricky issue for Sinn Féin politically, but not one of the key issues facing most people.
Now, as another election looms, once again we are given a media circus around Sinn Féin and issues which frankly do not matter in people’s lives. People resign from political parties all the time. Political parties expel and censure members all the time, even senior members. Political figures from all parties have been known to write character references in dubious circumstances. Just looking back over the years, there is ample evidence in this regard.
I fear that we are losing one of the pillars of a healthy democracy, an unbiased media. There appears to be an attempt to put the focus on the internal machinations of one party.
What is happening in Sinn Féin has happened before, in almost all parties.
It is noteworthy, however, the level of coverage is completely over the top and means little to people in their everyday lives. The media, in advance of elections, seems to be throwing in red herrings and distracting from the key issues and sadly it does seem to be to the detriment of one party in particular. – Yours, etc,
FABIAN McGRATH,
Dublin 8.’
I also had a correspondence today talking about how internal discipline works within Sinn Féin. Again, let me quote it so there’s no question I might be tinkering at the edges.
‘Say you are a member who has a complaint against another member: there is an official form that the complainant submits to Declan Kearney’s office. He will in turn engage with Kieran Doherty (barrister) to asses if there is a case to answer. If there is Kieran will appoint three of the team to investigate. To ensure fairness every one of them can refuse to get involved on various grounds – for example knowledge of either party personally is a big one. Generally the rule is applied to achieve Provincial distance, for example Munster v Ulster. Once they get active there is a timeframe agreed & both parties are furnished with all of the contents of the complaint and requested to supply a case to be heard. It is moved along as quickly as is practicable and every stage of the process is cloaked in top secrecy. Nobody else in the party (even Mary Lou) is aware of it until the final recommendations are submitted to the Ard Comhairle to decide if the verdict is warranted. I tend to think that Stanley when informed realised that the game was up so jumped ship to the lifeboat.’
Do you think that my messenger or the letter-writer from the IT is likely to be talked to in the next Prime Time assault on the one party that could conceivably break the century-old FF-FG death-grip on Irish politics? Does Pope Francis come from Argentina?
As a free state resident who has voted SF in every election since 1992 if the option was available they don’t always help themselves with stuff like this hitting the headlines so close to a potential ballot .
They need to stop trying to be all things to everyone and keep hammering away at Health, Education, Housing, Partition and the stuff that affects people’s daily lives
Can you imagine if a SF government was responsible for the over runs in the NCH in Dublin- most expensive and potentially inaccessible hospital that’s been built on earth!
The media is determined that the FFG status quo will never change save the tinkering around the edges by dropping the greens here and adding social democrats etc there – perception of change but SFA in reality
I wonder what is the point of voting at all – which is exactly what FFG wants lower turnout equals status quo higher turnout things have better chance of changing as other parties get a look in.
However I will persist in giving my No1 to SF and not transferring even a sniff of a vote to the FFG cabal.
The leader of FF is hell bent on dragging us all into NATO he must have redmondite blood in his genes!
Well put, Donnacha…
Jude, many of us have suffered child abuse when Sinn Féin were outlawed, and Republicans imprisoned.
What did the other parties do to help us? Nothing. They said ‘God will be the judge.’
Surprise surprise, more “whataboutery” from Jude.