MP murder eclipses Kenny’s UK visit

Taoiseach Enda Kenny and leaders from Britain held a minute’s silence in tribute to the murdered Labour MP Jo Cox, at a meeting of the British-Irish Council in Glasgow.

The meeting was overshadowed by Mrs Cox’s murder — but the Council did discuss the forthcoming referendum on Britain’s membership of the EU.

Mr Kenny did not speak to the media in Manchester or Glasgow other than the main press conference, despite other leaders engaging with journalists on the fringes of the council meeting.

Mr Kenny said “I feel it important to speak to the Irish community who are entitled to vote in the referendum and to say, unashamedly, we feel very strongly they should vote to stay in the European Union”.

Mr Kenny was said to be “quite political” in the meeting as to why Britain should remain in Europe, highlighting that Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland would have no voice in Europe if they left.

Taoiseach ends Brexit campaign after killing, via @Elaine_Loughlin https://t.co/28d8UR5pAL pic.twitter.com/s2JhknB3xn

— Irish Examiner (@irishexaminer) June 17, 2016

Alongside Mr Kenny, among those in attendance at the Council, was Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon MSP, who hosted the event.

The UK government delegation was led by David Mundell MP, the Secretary of State for Scotland, while the Northern Ireland Executive delegation was led by first minister Arlene Foster and deputy first minister, Martin McGuinness.

Speaking at the Irish World Heritage Centre in Manchester yesterday, Mr Kenny again expressed condolences to the family of murdered British Labour MP Jo Cox: “It’s appropriate to pay tribute to the life and times of Jo Cox who was murdered on the street in West Yorkshire, a mother of two young children going about her business as any councillor or MP or public representative would do and to be shot down and taken away from her family is an appalling crime.”

He said he would not be campaigning on Brexit as a mark of respect.

However, he told members of the Irish community in Manchester that the Government is now looking at giving a vote in the presidential elections to Irish emigrants: “One of the priorities that I have asked the minister to look at and hopefully to be able to implement is the situation as far as emigrant voting is concerned in presidential elections.”

Enda Kenny encourages Irish Community in Liverpool to vote to remain #brexit #iestaff pic.twitter.com/Hjkldwl3kK via @Elaine_Loughlin

— Irish Examiner (@irishexaminer) June 16, 2016

At home, Ceann Comhairle Seán Ó Fearghail opened a book of condolences in Leinster House for Jo Cox MP.

“As Ceann Comhairle of the Dáil, I wish to convey my sincere and heartfelt sympathies to Jo’s husband Brendan, their two young children, her extended family and friends and her colleagues on all sides of the political divide in the House of Commons,” he said.