SF campaign seizes on Sellafield

Sinn Fein today seized on the Sellafield nuclear waste complex issue as they stepped up their first general election campaign since senior members of their party took executive positions in Northern Ireland.

The party is set to boost their single-seat representation in the Dail after nominating a record number of candidates for the May 17 poll.

Opinion surveys have indicated prospects of increasing their strength, though Sinn Fein efforts could be harmed by the continuing controversy over alleged IRA activity with rebel groups in Colombia.

Today both Sinn Fein chairman Mitchel McLaughlin and Northern Ireland health minister Bairbre de Brun were on the campaign trail in the neighbouring Leinster divisions of Wicklow and Wexford.

Mr McLaughlin went on the attack over Sellafield - and urged a joint British-Irish bid to force the closure of the Cumbrian facility.

Yesterday the issue prompted a mass postcard protest in London, spearheaded by Ali Hewson, wife of rock group U2 lead singer Bono.

The 1.3 million cards, sent to British Prime Minister Tony Blair, pressed for the closure of Sellafield in line with long-standing demands by successive Governments.

Today Mr McLaughlin condemned what he called a ‘‘grossly offensive dismissal’’ of the postcard move by British minister Brian Wilson.

The Sinn Fein man said: ‘‘This was a powerful expression of the concerns of the Irish people regarding Sellafield, and it is highly arrogant of Brian Wilson to summarily dismiss our concerns.

‘‘Sellafield is the most serious and immediate danger to all the people of Ireland and Britain - a potential Chernobyl in our midst.

‘‘It has an appalling safety record and British Nuclear Fuels Limited has repeatedly lied and deceived about the safety of the plant.

‘‘I take this opportunity to call for a united effort by people on both sides of the Irish Sea to have Sellafield shut down. The plant endangers the lives of people in Britain as much as in Ireland.

‘‘We must deploy people power to get rid of Sellafield.’’