14 February 2002 Edition
"Has Spring lost the plot?" - Ferris
Sinn Féin's Martin Ferris has described comments made by Dick Spring at the weekend as "an hysterical rant" and he questioned whether the former leader of the Labour Party had "lost the plot".
Spring had by turn accused Sin Féin of involvement in the drugs trade and of beating up drug dealers. "They're up to their necks in peddling drugs in other parts of the island and on the other hand they're pretending they're going to save the country from drugs," Spring claimed.
Responding to those comments, Martin Ferris said:
"Dick Spring's comments over the weekend about Sinn Féin were nothing more than a hysterical rant from an absentee TD who is under pressure to hold onto his seat. Coupled with Mary Harney's attacks on Sinn Féin at her party's annual conference, it shows that we must be doing something right. They are frightened by the growing strength of Sinn Féin. They are frightened by the fact that people are no longer willing to passively accept decisions that are made in the interests of the tiny elite who control this country.
"We are confident that the blantant lies and falsehoods being peddled by the opposition parties in a desperate attempt to scare people off from voting for Sinn Féin will fail. People on the ground can see through this bluster. They can see that Sinn Féin is working hard on the ground for our communities. They can see that we are not into politics for personal gain and patronage.
"To admit as he does that he is fighting this election campaign to keep Sinn Féin out instead of promoting the interests of his constituents, speaks volumes. His comments must be viewed in this context.
"Given the nature of his attack on Sinn Féin and the fact that he had to engage in a campaign of lying, I wonder whether Dick Spring has lost the plot altogether and if he is fit to represent the people of Kerry North."
Spring had by turn accused Sin Féin of involvement in the drugs trade and of beating up drug dealers. "They're up to their necks in peddling drugs in other parts of the island and on the other hand they're pretending they're going to save the country from drugs," Spring claimed.
Responding to those comments, Martin Ferris said:
"Dick Spring's comments over the weekend about Sinn Féin were nothing more than a hysterical rant from an absentee TD who is under pressure to hold onto his seat. Coupled with Mary Harney's attacks on Sinn Féin at her party's annual conference, it shows that we must be doing something right. They are frightened by the growing strength of Sinn Féin. They are frightened by the fact that people are no longer willing to passively accept decisions that are made in the interests of the tiny elite who control this country.
"We are confident that the blantant lies and falsehoods being peddled by the opposition parties in a desperate attempt to scare people off from voting for Sinn Féin will fail. People on the ground can see through this bluster. They can see that Sinn Féin is working hard on the ground for our communities. They can see that we are not into politics for personal gain and patronage.
"To admit as he does that he is fighting this election campaign to keep Sinn Féin out instead of promoting the interests of his constituents, speaks volumes. His comments must be viewed in this context.
"Given the nature of his attack on Sinn Féin and the fact that he had to engage in a campaign of lying, I wonder whether Dick Spring has lost the plot altogether and if he is fit to represent the people of Kerry North."