SF is not the only party with its roots in violence

HUGH SHEEHY (Irish Examiner letters, December 29) claimed to speak for most Irish people when he stated I and other republicans had no right to speak out about human rights abuses.

Throughout his letter, he used such partial terms as “prolonged periods of nausea”, “high levels of cynicism” and “new bedfellows”.

One could see such terms coming straight out of the old Michael McDowell textbook of Irish political fiction.

Mr Sheehy thinks people view the Government parties with cynicism, but reserve a more extreme strain of it for Sinn Féin because of its past support for political violence during a political armed conflict. He says this is why most decent people would view Sinn Féin as he does.

Presumably, in Mr Sheehy’s eyes, everyone who doesn’t share his narrow view of the world is not a decent person. Perhaps they are the untrustworthy people who cast their votes for Sinn Féin at election time.

Maybe someone should inform Mr Sheehy that every political party in the Dáil, with the exception of the Greens, can trace its roots back to political violence.

PD leader Michael McDowell can trace his lineage back to the Redmondites, Republicans and Blueshirts, but today he flies the republican flag of convenience. His wider party base stems directly from Fianna Fáil, which itself was born out of political violence.

Fine Gael stems directly from our Civil War victors and from the teachings of Michael Collins who, if he were around today operating in his prime, would most likely be referred to as ‘Mad Dog Collins’ by some sections of the media and political establishment.

The Labour Party was founded by James Connolly. Need I say more? It is probably safe to assume the Socialist Party also would be unapologetic in its support of Connolly’s teachings.

I hardly need to explain SF’s position on our age-old conflict or its causes, except to say I’m sure they would differ greatly from Mr Sheehy’s version.

It’s odd also that he should express such anti-Sinn Féin views at a time when the old conflict is about to be replaced by a new beginning in our history. There must be an election in the air.

Will he return from Barcelona later this year to cast his vote. If so, which kind “bedfellow” will he support? I think we can be sure he won’t be voting for a party that seeks justice for the Shell to Sea campaigners who were the real source of my concern in my original letter (Irish Examiner, December 3).

Cllr Kieran McCarthy

89 Russell Heights

Cobh

Co Cork