SF accused of hypocrisy on Bush visit

Sinn Féin was accused of hypocrisy today over its opposition to this weekend’s visit by US President George Bush to Ireland.

As gardaí and Defence Forces chiefs prepared for the biggest security operation in the history of the country, Ulster Unionist Assembly member Esmond Birnie claimed Sinn Féin’s opposition to the visit was rooted in anti-Americanism.

Mr Birnie said this position was deeply hypocritical given the regular trips of Gerry Adams and his colleagues to the White House.

“Gerry Adams and his colleagues also seem quite happy to visit the US and the White House. So why can’t they let Bush visit Ireland?

President Bush is due to meet EU leaders, including Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and outgoing European Commission president Romano Prodi, during his visit.

It is predicted up to 20,000 anti-war protesters will take to the streets in Dublin to protest against the visit.

Dublin Sinn Féin Councillor Daithi Doolan has called for a strong turnout at the march.

More than 2,000 troops, four naval ships, Air Corps planes and hi-tech equipment, including decontamination units and bomb disposal kits to guard against a chemical or biological attack will surround Shannon Airport when Mr Bush arrives on Friday.

A massive police operation is also being mounted outside the walls of the exclusive Dromoland Castle Hotel in Co Clare where the president will spend the night before jetting off to attend a UN summit in Turkey on Saturday.

Police warned demonstrators last night that they will be held back half a mile and would be banned from the main road to Shannon Airport, where they will be kept outside the secure perimeter fence.

Protesters from the Stop Bush Campaign have vowed to assemble as close as possible to the EU/US summit meeting.