Sir, – A main theme of Sinn Féin’s ardfheis was their response to the military actions of Israel which has resulted in thousands of innocent Palestinian civilians being killed.
In their debates and subsequent interviews on this issue, leading Sinn Féin figures have cynically and hypocritically exploited their suffering and loss to score political points at the expense of the Government parties.
I totally support the unambivalent public stances of both the Taoiseach and Tánaiste in condemning the huge loss of innocent life that has occurred. They are not only reflecting what I believe to be the views of Irish citizens but they also have the moral authority to do so given both their consistent stances on issues such as this.
In marked contrast, Sinn Féin have no such moral authority.
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They supported the three-decade long campaign of the IRA and they still continue to glorify and justify the IRA campaign of terror which was responsible for the murder of the majority of all the victims of the Troubles, many of whom were innocent civilians. – Yours, etc,
JOHN CUSHNAHAN,
(Former Leader,
Alliance Party and former
Fine Gael MEP),
Lisnagry,
Co Limerick.
A chara, – Sinn Féin’s preparing for government, and the changes the party are willing to embrace to attract something called “ordinary voters” have been well documented. They do understand, don’t they, that “diplomacy” means talking people you totally disagree with, the Israelis being the current case in point? – Is mise,
PETER DECLAN O’HALLORAN,
Belturbet,
Co Cavan.
Sir, – The Palestinian ambassador’s rapturous reception at their ardfheis this weekend clearly demonstrated how duplicitous, hypocritical and opportunistic is the Sinn Féin approach to foreign affairs, especially in relation to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
It will take both parties to the conflict to accept and implement a ceasefire yet Sinn Féin is only willing to pressure one side to do so.
Yet Hamas continues to fight behind their own Gaza population.
Yet Hamas continues to hold over 200 hundred hostages, many of them innocent children and women and old people, under brutal conditions.
Yet Hamas continues to wage an intifada against the Jewish population of Israel/Palestine and to plan for another campaign as soon as a ceasefire is called in this one.
The savagery of Hamas, their total disrespect for humanity, their cowardly use of human shields, are ignored by the Palestinian ambassador to Ireland; she expresses no regret or remorse for the events of October 7th. Neither does Sinn Féin, who see this conflict as a further cynical opportunity to ingratiate themselves into the good books of the Irish electorate.
It is easy to do so in opposition; it will be another thing altogether in government. – Yours, etc,
DONAL DENHAM,
Blackrock,
Co Dublin.
Sir, – In her speech to the Sinn Féin ardfheis, Mary Lou McDonald made a couple of noteworthy references with a strong historical resonance.
The first reference was to the possibility of the first government in over a hundred years to not include Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael. I’m sure many in Fine Gael would be quite happy with this backhanded acknowledgement that the first three pro-Treaty governments led by WT Cosgrave were in effect Fine Gael governments.
The second reference was her use of the phrase “Not in our name” and demanding a “ceasefire” in respect of ongoing Israeli military actions in Gaza. In making this call, she must be clearly hoping that the Israeli forces don’t follow the example of the movement she now leads when they, over many decades, repeatedly ignored calls for them to cease fire and that their actions were not in the name of the Irish people.
Evidently, for some in the Irish republican movement, it will always be a case of do as we say, not as we did. – Yours, etc,
DANIEL K SULLIVAN,
Marino,
Dublin 3.