Government lambasted by Adams
During a commemoration ceremony in Derry of the 1916 Easter Rising, Mr Adams launched a scathing attack on the Irish Government, claiming it had put political self-interest before the peace process.
But he also signalled republicans would face hard choices as they pursued peace and a united Ireland. The West Belfast MP said: "the process is in serious difficulty. Much of this is being driven by an Irish Government, fearful of the growth of Sinn Féin and our determination to challenge the mess the establishment parties in Dublin are making of the economy, of health, of education and of the peace process.
"Partitionism, self-interest and incompetence are the factors underlying the Irish Government's current approach to the process.
"Since December the British and Irish governments have sought to reduce all of the issues to one that is the issue of the IRA even though they know that the IRA is not the only issue."
In another hard-hitting condemnation of the killers of Mr McCartney, Mr Adams said the killers had sullied the republican cause and ignored pleas to face up to what they had done.
Meanwhile Junior Environment Minister Batt O'Keeffe yesterday said the Easter lily has been hijacked by the republican movement and now represents something far more sinister than the ideal of the 1916 Rising.
The leader of the Rising, Pádraig Pearse was committed to the democratic process and his vision of Ireland did not include intimidatory tactics, he said.
Speaking at the annual Fianna Fáil Easter Rising commemoration ceremony in Fermoy, Co Cork, Mr O'Keeffe said Pearse surrendered on humanitarian grounds to prevent further slaughter.
"Where is the humanity in an armed gang riddling a car in Adare, Co Limerick, with two detectives inside," he asked.
"Like many other symbols, the lily has been hijacked by the Provisional movement and now represents something far more sinister than the ideals of 1916," he said.
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