Republican Sinn Féin blast restored Stormont government as 'ruling by fooling'

The Easter Sunday commemoration by Republican Sinn Féin heard criticism of the restored Stormont government.

In February, the power-sharing institution returned following a two-year hiatus, following a two-year boycott by the DUP over trade arrangements post-Brexit with Michelle O'Neill of Sinn Féin installed as the First Minister.

The restoration of the Assembly was heavily criticised, as was O'Neill standing for God Save The King at a football match in Windsor Park in February - by Republican Sinn Féin at a small commemoration on Sunday in Stranorlar.

“We are fearful of the cajoling of nationalist politicians, who have revised the year of freedom 2016 to the year of freedom 2036,” read a statement 'on behalf of the leadership of the Republican movement', delivered by RSF Vice President Martin Kelly.

“Irish Republicans see this as just another act of kicking the can down the road by politician reformists who have lost their way and who will stand at the graves or commemorate our patriot dead while at the same time we have to watch a so-called First Minister for all standing for the English national anthem in Belfast recently.

“It seems that the so-called peace process and getting hands on the apparatus of power are more important.

“They will be out next telling the Irish people that a strong election in the Free State will put us a step closer to the Irish Republic when, in fact, it will be no more than an extension of the Stormont show; ruling by fooling”

Around 30 people attended the ceremony, which heard the Chairperson of the Drumboe Martyrs Commemoration Committee, Mary Ward of Burtonport, who acted as MC, say that RSF want to 'build a new party'.

Ms Ward, the widow of widow of Pat Ward, who took part in the hunger and thirst strikes in the 1970s and died in 1988 due to their effects, said in reference to the RSF policy 'Eire Nua': “We want to build a new party and we want to build it from the ground up with power to the local and urban councils. There is an alternative. There is a way for the people to make their own way.”

Thomas McClafferty read the Proclamation, Ester McElhinney read the Roll of Honour while wreaths were laid by former Prisoner of War James Sweeney, Katie Kelly and James McConalogue.

Ciaran Dolan, from Westmeath and a member of the Ard Comhairle, was the main speaker.

“We are told compromise and electoral politics will bring about our long-awaited goal of a free and independent Ireland,” he said.

“Over 100 years of stepping stones. Over 100 years of this politics of freedom and still we stand here denied our independence.

“Stormont in the past and the present maintains British rule over the Six Counties, irrespective of who is First Minister, Unionist or other. Mary Lou McDonald would have you believe the resurrection of Stormont is another stepping stone to freedom - Yet again, sold to a complying base.

“I hope that never again will arms be destroyed at the behest of the enemy. It was all sold as a means to an end, politics of freedom again. Every compromise, every sell-out, every Royal handshake, every change of policy all to get to the goal and that goal is power.

“There is only one way to challenge foreign occupation and that is not in the parliaments of the occupier. It is in the streets and the fields.”