Sinn Fein admits ‘banker video’ error

Sinn Féin have been caught out in an election video in which they claimed a “concerned citizen” was the brother of a former Fine Gael TD.

Tue, 23 Feb, 2016 - 00:00

Elaine Loughlin

Former Cavan/Monaghan politician Seymour Crawford has accused the party of attempting to defame him and Fine Gael by claiming a man who challenged Mary Lou McDonald on a street in Dublin was his brother.

In the video, entitled Mary Lou versus the banker. Which side are you on?, Sinn Fein claimed the “concerned citizen” who hit out at the party’s pensions policy was a sibling of Mr Crawford. Last night in a statement Sinn Fein admitted “we incorrectly took the information from media reports. We immediately removed it and apologise for any offence”.

The video identified the man as Fergus Crawford, CEO of the Irish branch of Sarasin & Partners, which is an asset management company.

Yesterday, Seymour Crawford said he had two brothers, John and Reverend Joe, both of whom are dead and that Fergus Crawford was not related to him. He said he took “serious exception” to the fact that he had been linked to the incident.

It's all to play for as Election 2016 campaigns enter their final days https://t.co/qJKrzBNKHd (DOD) #GE16 pic.twitter.com/7lsAXaI5Wh
— Irish Examiner (@irishexaminer) February 22, 2016

“On Facebook and other media, accusations were made that the man who questioned Mary Lou McDonald was a brother of mine and that this incident was organised by Fine Gael. The fact that these statements were made to defame my name and that of my Fine Gael Party, which I was so proud to serve over 20 years, is simply outrageous and typical of Sinn Féin’s efforts to gain power.”

The situation emerged as Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams faced criticism over revelations he is aware of two party members allegedly involved in the 1983 murder of Portlaoise prison officer Brian Stack, but has failed to take action. On RTÉ radio’s Morning Ireland, the Louth TD insisted it is up to the gardaí to examine the case. On Sunday, he said it is not his job to ask someone “did you do that?”.