FG critics of McGuinness challenged – what did you do during ‘The Troubles’?

Phil Hogan: What did you do during 'The Troubles'?

CRITICS of Martin McGuinness’s past in resisting the institutionalised racism and sectarianism of the Orange state have been challenged by a long-standing civil rights activist – what did you do during ‘The Troubles’?

“Only those who risked their lives and fortunes for non-violent resistance are in a position to lecture republicans on non-violence,” said Fermanagh-born Fr Seán McManus as Fine Gael’s MEP Gay Mitchell, Environment Minister Phil Hogan and Government Chief Whip Paul Kehoe all launched hysterical attacks on their republican rival.

Fr McManus, now head of the US-based Irish National Caucus, is a brother of Frank McManus, former Unity MP for Fermanagh and South Tyrone from 1970 to 1974.

Fr McManus described many of the attacks on Martin McGuinness as “self-righteous” and “hypocritical”. He said:

Most of the attacks are allegedly being made in the name of non-violence. But non-violence is only short for non-violent resistance. How have McGuinness’s critics resisted British injustice and anti-Catholic discrimination and inequality in Northern Ireland?

How many years did they spend in prison for non-violently resisting injustice?

How often were they beaten off the streets in the North?

How long were their lives lived in fear and danger because of their non-violent resistance?

Did they suffer and thirst for justice?

Only those who risked their lives and fortunes for non-violent resistance are in a position to lecture republicans on non-violence.

He added:

The regular people of Ireland will know full well that many of McGuinness’s critics simply do not want a Northern republican in the Aras – just as many of President Obama’s critics do not want a black man in the White House, irrespective of denials to the contrary.

Bloody Sunday 1972: Fourteen civil rights marchers shot dead by the British Army's Parachute Regiment