It’s time to stop the Sinn Féin bashing, says O’Donnell

A MAJOR rift emerged in the Progressive Democrats yesterday with former junior minister Liz O’Donnell insisting it was time to stop bashing Sinn Féin.

Her party colleague, Justice Minister Michael McDowell, has been one of the strongest critics of Sinn Féin, insisting that they are linked to the IRA and its criminal activity.

A key report on paramilitarism due to be published today will recommend that Sinn Féin be held responsible for the criminal activities of the IRA.

The Independent Monitoring Commission has documented these activities and is recommending that financial penalties be imposed on Sinn Féin members of the Northern Assembly because of ongoing IRA activity.

Ms O'Donnell said that we have always known that Sinn Féin and the IRA were linked and that there is a very unsavoury connection between the organisations.

But Ms O'Donnell, a key PD negotiator of the Good Friday Agreement, told the British-Irish Inter-Parliamentary Body meeting in west Cork that she was against imposing fines on Sinn Féin members.

"I don't think that would be particularly helpful if there is evidence of criminality, then these people should be prosecuted, this is how other organised gangs are dealt with, along with the criminal assets seizure procedure," Ms O'Donnell said.

Asked if she thought this "Sinn Féin-bashing" was good, Ms O'Donnell said: "No, I don't think it is good, I think it is disrespectful we had a very respectful dialogue with Sinn Féin and I think to turn around and completely change the demeanour and the tone of the relationship between the Government and Sinn Féin is not necessarily productive."

Asked what she thought about Mr McDowell criticisms of Sinn Féin and the IRA, she said: "As Justice Minister he may have information and knowledge that the rest of us do not have I would prefer to side-step the whole issue my mindset is about how to move this forward."

Sinn Féin yesterday welcomed Ms O'Donnell's comments which were described as "rational" and expressing "common sense."

SF deputy Arthur Morgan contrasted them with what he said were selfish and dishonest utterances by senior FF and PD ministers.

The Department of Justice said last night that Mr McDowell would not be responding to his PD colleague's comments. The Tánaiste's spokesman said that Ms O'Donnell had expressed an opinion but added that the party's view was that democratic politics should be conducted through peaceful means.

Ms O'Donnell said the British and Irish Governments should now focus on getting Sinn Féin to join the Northern policing boards.

"In my view, when Sinn Féin is involved in the management and participation of policing then the decommissioning of arms is actually self-evidently over then."

She said decommissioning has been verified by the international body. "I have moved on from decommissioning and people have to move on from decommissioning."