Attacks on Sinn Fein ‘lack popular support’
A leading Belfast republican has criticised those responsible for throwing black paint over his car, which he claimed was “the latest in a series of attacks on Sinn Fein members”.
Bobby Storey, chairman of Belfast Sinn Fein, said those who attacked the silver Volkswagen in Andersonstown and had taken part in other acts of vandalism against the party had “no popular support”.
The Maze Prison escapee, said the offices of Sinn Fein and republican memorials had been targeted in recent weeks.
“Our Connolly House, Falls Road and Turf Lodge advice centres have been paint bombed in recent weeks and our Falls Road office was targeted in a hoax bomb attack,” he said.
“The home of my party colleague Mitchel McLaughlin and his family was targeted with petrol bombs in an attempted murder and leading members of Sinn Fein have had their lives threatened by these groups.
“A Roll of Honour plaque was smashed to pieces, a sign with the face of Countess Markievicz was destroyed, paint was smeared all over the ground and the flagpole in the Turf Lodge republican memorial garden, and a mural in memory of the Gibraltar and Milltown Martyrs at the top of Monagh Road had the initials RIRA sprayed on it.”
The Andersonstown man said such attacks would not deter republicans from their work.
He said those responsible had “no popular support, no strategies and no programmes which can in any way advance the republican goal of a United Ireland.
“Their actions are attacks on the people of west Belfast,” Mr Storey said.
“The only objectives these people share are a desire to destroy the peace process and undermine the Sinn Fein strategy to achieve a United Ireland.
“Republicans will not allow this to happen.”
