SF slammed for GAA game boycott call

The Fine Gael leader accused Sinn Féin of “juvenile behaviour” today after it opposed a Gaelic football match between Dáil politicians and police from Northern Ireland.

Enda Kenny rebuked Sinn Féin's Martin Ferris who claimed next Tuesday’s game in Dublin should be called off.

Martin Ferris cited alleged collusion between the Royal Ulster Constabulary and loyalist paramilitaries as a reason to cancel the game.

He also claimed members of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, which replaced the RUC, and the British army were still harassing members and supporters of the GAA.

“Indeed the most glaring example of this continues to be the illegal and totally unwarranted occupation by the British army of part of the Crossmaglen pitch in South Armagh.”

During a visit to Co Donegal today, Mr Kenny hit back insisting Sinn Féin needed to take its responsibilities to the peace process seriously.

“Sinn Féin have acquired an impressive array of rights over the past five years but with rights come responsibilities,” the Fine Gael leader said.

“It is high time that Sinn Féin lived up to their responsibilities and played their part in creating an inclusive policing service in Northern Ireland.

“The party is out of step with all other political parties in refusing to join the Policing Board.

“They are out of step with the main churches. They are even out of step with the GAA which has proactively removed its former ban on the participation of members of the Northern security services.”

He added: “The coming weeks will be critically important for the peace process. With the marching season under way and continuing unrest within the unionist community, Sinn Féin would do better to sign up for the policing arrangements than engaging in unwarranted attacks on a sporting event designed to help foster north-south relations.”

In November 2001, the GAA ended its controversial ban on members of the security forces playing Gaelic football and hurling.

A PSNI Gaelic football team played its first game last October against the gardaí.

Next week’s Gaelic football match has been organised by Jimmy Deenihan, a Fine Gael politician who captained the All-Ireland Championship winning Kerry team in 1981.