SF: 'Offences Against the State Act must go'

The Offences Against the State Act must be wiped from the Irish statute books before Sinn Féin goes in government in the Republic, the party decided today.

Ard Fheis delegates voted narrowly in favour of a electoral strategy motion insisting that the anti-terrorist legislation be repealed as a pre-condition before any coalition talks.

This decision effectively ties the hands of the party leadership in advance of next year’s general election.

The 1939 Act led to the establishment of the non-jury Special Criminal Court which tries terrorist cases.

Dublin South-West TD Sean Crowe earlier urged the party not to limit its options in advance of the general election.

He said: “I do not know if government is ready for me, but I am ready for government.”

The party’s chief negotiator Martin McGuinness drew laughter from delegtes when he remarked that he had experience of coalition government, and with unionists.

But he warned that voters would make the decision whether the party entered government or not.

He said: “I don’t think we can afford to be presumptuous. The people who will decide the next election with be the electorate.”