Huge Belfast rally for MEP Martina Anderson and freed Gerry Adams

STRAIGHT AFTER being released from four days of questioning by the PSNI in Antrim, Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams called on activists at a packed European election launch in west Belfast for Martina Anderson MEP on Monday 5 May to “do everything you can” to get the best result for the party in the May all-Ireland elections.

Also at the rally was Sinn Féin’s Dublin contender to become an MEP, Lynn Boylan, who is polling well in opinion surveys.

Organisers of the event put the number of republicans rallying to support Sinn Féin at up to 2,000. Belfast Sinn Féin Chair Bobby Storey quipped to loud cheers and applause: “As you can see, the Special Branch knocked the heart of us.”

Gerry Adams noted sombrely that, while in police custody, he reflected on previous prison experiences and that people were coming together on May 5, the 33^rd anniversary of death on hunger strike in the H-Blocks of Long Kesh of Bobby Sands.

The huge crowd were on their feet applauding when Gerry Adams praised the many women prisoners who spent time on protest in the battle against criminalisation.