Irish Republican News, February 20, 2005
OPEN SEASON
Attacks on Sinn Fein increased dramatically this week following the
discovery of quantities of cash in County Cork and Dublin.
A find estimated at over two million pounds in Euro and Sterling currency
was linked by Garda police to a bank raid in Belfast before Christmas.
Details of the raids remain unclear, although excited media coverage in
the mainstream media has linked the find to the Provisional IRA.
The only charges brought in connection with the case has been that of a
Corkman accused of membership of the breakaway 'Real IRA'. SIx others who
were arrested on Wednesday and Thursday have been released without charge.
Among those mentioned in sensationalised media coverage of the raids were
a diverse group of financiers, solicitors, a prominent advisor to Irish
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, and even Camilla Parker-Bowles, fiance of Prince
Charles.
Garda police claimed they had smashed a money-laundering operation ring
operated by "the IRA". They insisted that unnamed tests on the cash would
link it to the Northern Bank raid in Belfast on December 20th.
Meanwhile, virtually ignored in the hype was the revelation that cash
stolen from the Northern Bank was uncovered at a PSNI/RUC police club in
south Belfast.
But news that a former Sinn Fein councillor was questioned in regard to
the cash find in Cork prompted the party's opponents to mounted their
strongest attack on republicans in recent years. Tom Hanlon from Passage
West was subsequently released without charge.
However, Green Party leader Trevor Sargent said the arrest was worrying.
"This reported arrest highlights the need for Sinn Fein to come clean on
their involvement with criminal activity.
This highlights the liability which the IRA are to the peace process," he
declared.
Sinn Fein's credibility was "in tatters", announced Labour party leader
Pat Rabbitte.
"The reality is that whatever little credibility the Sinn Fein leadership
had is now in tatters and the goodwill that had been extended by other
parties to Sinn Fein, in the hope that it would boost the peace process,
has been shamelessly abused by them," he said.
Fianna Fail leader Bertie Ahern said the raids justified his decision to
lay the blame for the Northern Bank robbery at the door of Sinn Fein.
Mr Ahern said: "I wouldn't have said [it] if I hadn't been given the
advice.
"When the Commissioner of the Garda Siochana, who I have enormous respect
for, and the Garda Siochana tell me their professional opinion, not alone
have I a responsibility to do !
that but I have a duty to do so."
It was not clear if he would back heightened unionist demands for the
exclusion of Sinn Fein from the political process.
"We had 30 years of exclusion in Northern Ireland. All we ended up with
were thousands of people killed, thousands of people maimed, a few
generations of young people from Northern Ireland and many from the Border
region living in the United States, Canada and Australia to get away from
it," he said.
But he said there would be a "price" if Sinn Fein wanted to remain in
talks: "The price is democratic means, respecting the security forces
North and South: the reformed security forces of the North, the Police
Service of Northern Ireland and working for a democratic future."
These comments are the culmination of a wave of attacks by the
establishment political parties which has been linked by republicans to
Sinn Fein's efforts to make crucial elections gains in May.
Sinn Fein stands to dominate a large number of local government councils
across the Six Counties, as well as increasing its hold
in the Westminster parliament. The election could see the
party become the largest in the North.
Speaking on his return from Spain, Mr Adams said there was "a consensus
among conservative elements that Sinn Fein presents a threat to their
vested interests, that Sinn Fein's growth through democratic and peaceful
means and support for this party, the only all-Ireland party on this
island, is what is concerning them," he said.
"If there is a matter to be conducted by the gardai, whoever it affects,
that should be allowed its full course," he added.
"If you want to get to the nub of the current controversy and crisis, it
isn't a crisis within republicanism, it's a crisis of confidence among the
conservative parties and it's a crisis more importantly of the peace
process."
Mr Adams said a "disgraceful" smear campaign was underway to discredit the
party.
Speaking in Strabane this afternoon, Mr Adams said the focus should be on
the peace process and not not smashing Sinn Fein.
"In order to distract attention from all other matters they are trying
once again to smear republicans with the criminalisation slur," Mr Adams
said.
He said there had been "trial by media" in recent days. And he denounced
efforts to associate republicanism with criminality.
"No republican worthy of the name can be involved in criminality of any
kind. If any are they should be expelled from our ranks.
We are not involved in criminality and we will not tolerate such
behaviour," he added.
