Dissident email shock
THE Confederation of Community Groups is to take disciplinary action against one of its volunteers after a press release from a dissident republican group was sent from one of its computers.
And the man behind the Republican Sinn Fein release, Eddie McKeown, has admitted to the Democrat that he acted without permission and describes the incident as a “grave mistake on my part”.
The release was emailed to the Democrat on Thursday evening at a time when staff at the Confederation’s Ballybot House headquarters had gone home.
In it, the Joe Conway Cuman Republican Sinn Fein derides other republican groupings, including Provisional Sinn Fein, for their speeches during the recent Easter Sunday commemorations in Newry.
Newry man Mr McKeown told the Democrat that he used a Confederation of Community Group’s computer because it was the only one to which he had access.
“It was not done with the knowledge or the consent of the Confederation of Community Groups or the usual user of that computer,” he said. “I now realise that it’s against the Confederation’s rules and I won’t be doing anything like this again.
“It was a grave mistake on my part and I’m extremely sorry for any embarrassment I’ve caused the Confederation or the person whose computer I used. ”
Mr McKeown confirmed that he is a member of Republican Sinn Fein and that the press release was one which had been authorised by the party.
Republican Sinn Fein has now taken steps to ensure that the situation doesn’t arise again, Mr McKeown added.
The chief executive of the Confederation of Community Groups, Raymond Jackson, confirmed that the e-mailing of the press release was a breach of the organisation’s electronic communications policy.
“We are a non-political and nonsectarian voluntary and community group and are in no way linked to, or responsible for, this press release,” Mr Jackson said. “ I can categorically state that the Confederation gave neither access to, nor authorisation for, the use of a computer in relation to this press release.
“I can advise that the email was sent late in the evening when Confederation staff had gone home for the day and that following an internal investigation, we have identified that the press release was sent by a volunteer and was not sent by a member of Confederation staff. This matter will now be dealt with under our policy and procedures.”
Newry councillor Charlie Casey, a member of the Confederation’s management committee, told the Democrat that he will be raising the matter at the body’s next meeting. The Sinn Fein representative described Mr McKeown’s actions as “imprudent”.
