23 February 2006 Edition

Resize: A A A Print

In Brief

Fine Gael publicity stunt backfires

Sinn Féin Mayor of Kerry, Toiréasa Ferris, who accepted the overall award in the public sector for Kerry Local Authority at the O2 Ability Awards last week, has emerged triumphant from a vote of no confidence at Kerry County Council.

The Fine Gael sponsored motion arose from Ferris's recent appearance on RTÉ's the Late Late Show and response to questions about the killing of Garda Jerry McCabe In a major defeat for Fine Gael the motion was by 12 votes to eight with five abstentions.

Fianna Fáil whip on the council Paul O'Donoghue accused Fine Gael of hypocrisy saying the party had been about to do a deal with Sinn Féin for the mayoralty, after the last local elections.

Ferris slammed Fine Gael Councillor Johnny 'Porridge' O'Connor, who led calls for the no confidence motion, as being engaging in a publicity stunt. She said Fine Gael were going about it the wrong way if they wanted to remove her. Their motion had effectively achieved nothing.

On the issue of Garda McCabe's death in Adare, County Limerick ten years ago she said: "I believe the killing was wrong as were other killings over 30 years of the conflict."

Councillors from all sides acknowledged that Ferris carried out her duties as Mayor efficiently and fairly.

Watching the Fine Gael defeat from the public gallery was Toiréasa's father Sinn Féin TD Martin Ferris and other members of her family.

Hogan and Martin honoured

A large crowd gathered in Dunloy on Sunday 19 February for the 22nd anniversary of the deaths of Óglaigh na hÉireann Volunteers Henry Hogan and Declan Martin.

The Volunteers were killed after they engaged a covert SAS unit in the North Antrim village on 21 February 1984. One member of the enemy unit was killed in the engagement while a second was injured.

Veteran republican Brian Keenan paid tribute to the courage of the two Volunteers.

He acknowledged that because of the sacrifices of people like Henry, Declan and others that nationalists were, "off their knees and that republicanism was now stronger than at any time since the 1920s".

He urged people to become involved or re-involved in the struggle so that we could finish the task for which Hogan and Martin had given their lives.

MacManus selected for Sligo/Leitrim

Sligo County Councillor Seán MacManus has been selected as the Sinn Féin candidate for the new constituency of Sligo/North Leitrim in the forthcoming 26-County General Election. Over 400 assembled in the City Hotel, Sligo to select the Sinn Féin Dáil candidate for Sligo/North Leitrim. The delegates rejected a motion calling for one candidate per county and went on to select Seán MacManus unopposed

Sinn Féin's oldest voter dies

Mary Ellen 'Ellie' Clewly, Sinn Féin's oldest voter, has died at her home in Glenravel, North Antrim, aged 105.

Ellie, a sprightly 105-year-old welcomed Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams into her Cargan home last April while on the hustings during the run up to the May elections.

Describing Ellie as, "an inspiration", Sinn Féin Ballymena Councillor Monica Digney told An Phoblacht that Ellie was committed to seeing a united Ireland.

"She was born in March 1900 when Ireland was ruled as a single entity and had only suffered as a result of British imposed partition. Her brothers were IRA Volunteers in the 1920s and her family was well aware of the occupation of our country. She believed that the sooner Ireland was united the better for every body," said Digney.


An Phoblacht
44 Parnell Sq.
Dublin 1
Ireland