‘Ashamed’ Sinn Féin candidate steps down over anti-Traveller comments

Sinn Féin has confirmed that one of its election candidates in Clare has resigned from the party after he admitted making anti-Traveller remarks on Facebook three years ago.

Cathal O’Reilly is running in the Ennis area for a seat on Clare County Council and is one of three seeking election for Sinn Féin in the county.

Last night however, Sinn Féin in Clare issued a statement on behalf of Mr O’Reilly, who was not contactable.

“In the last two days, anti-Traveller comments have been attributed to me. I did make those comments. It was three years ago and I am deeply ashamed of them now. I should not have made them,” the statement began.

“I’m sure none of us are proud of everything we ever said or did in our lives. Being in Sinn Féin has taught me a lot over the past few years and human rights and respect for all people are some of those things. It is something I should not have had to learn.

“While I no longer hold such views, the fact that I previously held them has been publicised now and this has caused embarrassment to me, my family and to Sinn Féin.

“Because of this, I offered my resignation to the party earlier today and it has been accepted. I now wish to move on with my life as a private citizen.”

Screen grabs from the social networking site Facebook have been appearing in recent days showing comments purportedly made by Mr O’Reilly in 2011.

One comment, dated October 19, 2011 said: “Great to turn on Sky News and see the knackers kicked up and down the dale however will the cops get the smell of nack of their batons.”

The comment is understood to relate to the Dale Farm Traveller evictions in England on that date.

Posters, including one Sinn Féin supporter with a traveller background, were asking Mr O’Reilly on his own Facebook page to comment on the matter.

One poster said: “So have you any response to this disgusting remark that you made? As a Sinn Féin supporter from a Travelling background I think I deserve an answer and not to just have my post deleted!”

There was no reference in the statement about whether Mr O’Reilly still intends to run in the tomorrow’s election. However, by law, Mr O’Reilly still has to go before the electorate.

A spokesman for Clare County Council said last night: “Mr O’Reilly will be Sinn Féin’s nominee in the election and his name will still be on the ballot paper as a result of preconditions that a candidate can only withdraw three days after formal declaration.”

A spokesman for Sinn Féin said: “We don’t know where we stand on this to be honest. His [Mr O’Reilly] name remains on the ballot paper but we don’t know whether he will still run. If he does and he is elected, he will have to be an independent I suppose.”

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