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Peadar Tóibín (right) Wanderley Massafelli/Photocall Ireland

Sinn Féin's 'prodigal son' won't return to the party until next year

Peadar Tóibín has been suspended from the party since he voted against the abortion bill in the summer.

SINN FÉIN TD Peadar Tóibín will not return to the party until early next year, Gerry Adams said today.

Tóibín voted against the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill, which Sinn Féin supported, in July and was subsequently suspended from the party for six months.

The Meath West TD’s decision to vote against the party on the abortion bill was described as a “serious breach of party rules” at the time.

Unlike others who voted against their party on the abortion bill and other measures in recent years, Tóibín will be welcomed back into the Sinn Féin party in early January, Adams said today.

“We always welcome folks back. You know if you listen to the gospel on Sunday, it was about the prodigal son,”Adams joked while speaking to the media at Leinster House today.

Adams said he has not seen Tóibín in recent months as he has been “busy” but said he would be back in the party “sometime after Christmas” indicating that January of next year is the likely return date.

‘Good relationship’

At the height of the abortion debate in the summer Toíbín indicated his intention to vote against his party and said he wanted to “apologise” to the “members, comrades and colleagues”.

He said his “first objective is that the mother’s life is safe on every single occasion” and criticised the legislation, insisting it was not based on medical evidence.

He has previously called for a free vote among the Sinn Féin parliamentary party and described the Supreme Court X case as “historic and archaic”.

Tóibín was not among the group of 12 TDs who were told they could have speaking rights in the Dáil chamber by the Ceann Comhairle last night.

He said today that he is “focussing 100 per cent” on his work as a TD.

“I think that the relationship between myself and the party is very good,” he told TheJournal.ie today. “It’s a very different situation to Fine Gael, they’ve literally expelled their members for good.”

He said he hopes to return to the party fold on 15 January.

Previously: Peadar Toibín suspended from Sinn Féin for six months

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9 Comments
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    Mute Atticus the Accuser
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    Apr 19th 2015, 3:59 PM

    Bit ridiculous it’s not a reflection on a person’s character what their ancestors did. I’m sure if you go back far enough in most people’s family tree, you’d get all kinds of “characters”.

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    Mute YFG Account
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    Apr 19th 2015, 4:01 PM

    Sometimes as recently as the 70s

    43
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    Mute Jimmy Jim-Jim
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    Apr 19th 2015, 4:20 PM

    There is a trend in America of calling for reparations from descendants of slave owners. Given his wealth he may be a target for claims, and given his political activism I can’t see how he could refuse without loosing face.

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    Mute J. Dunn
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    Apr 19th 2015, 4:24 PM

    When someone tries to measure you against the actions of your long gone ancestors just tell them, ‘Well, if not for the murderers and rapists in your family tree you probably wouldn’t be here today.’.

    90
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    Mute Jack Dunne
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    Apr 19th 2015, 4:28 PM

    Weren’t all white people potential slave owners back then

    37
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    Mute John Ryan
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    Apr 19th 2015, 4:31 PM

    What ever you do don’t mention black slave owners or the debt owed to the hundreds of thousands of white soilders who died to bring an end to slavery.

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    Mute Deco James Connolly
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    Apr 19th 2015, 4:33 PM

    Blacks owned slaves first .

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    Mute Jimmy Jim-Jim
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    Apr 19th 2015, 4:53 PM

    The Aran slave trade makes for some interesting reading. 10-18 million slaves taken, about 1 million of them from Europe. Male slaves were castrated, which is why there aren’t large groups of descendants of these slaves around the middle and near East.

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    Mute Jimmy Jim-Jim
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    Apr 19th 2015, 6:42 PM

    *Arab

    26
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    Mute Agrippa
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    Apr 20th 2015, 12:03 AM

    Yeah didn’t they grab over 100 people from baltimore and enslave them in Algeria

    11
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    Mute John Ryan
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    Apr 19th 2015, 4:08 PM

    When will these people ever learn that the more you try to hide this stuff the bigger it comes back to bite you in the ass.There is nothing to be ashamed about here. Ben Affleck didn’t own slaves.Its part of history and should be used to learn lessons from that god-awful period.

    I mean if he wants something to be ashamed of might I suggest Daredevil.

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    Mute Alan Ball
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    Apr 19th 2015, 4:11 PM

    Sooo true!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

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    Mute John Ryan
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    Apr 19th 2015, 4:34 PM

    I’ll tell ya if he fecks up Batman I’ll be wanting words with him.

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    Mute David G
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    Apr 19th 2015, 4:44 PM

    It’s called the Barbara Streisand effect

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    Mute John Ryan
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    Apr 19th 2015, 4:53 PM

    What ? Fecking up Batman ? ;-)

    Ill grab me jacket.

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    Mute Art Vandelay
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    Apr 19th 2015, 3:59 PM

    I’m sure in a few hundred years time his family will be hiding the fact that they ever knew or were related to an Affleck that was an “actor”..Gigli? Never heard of it…

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    Mute An Observer
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    Apr 19th 2015, 4:31 PM

    ‘Batman v Superman’ is yet to be released…. Gigli might be a distant memory after that…

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    Mute Tap Solny
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    Apr 19th 2015, 4:09 PM

    People should be held accountable for their actions today not for the deeds of their ancestors.

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    Apr 19th 2015, 4:12 PM

    Tap sometimes I think you’re the only person here who talks any sense.

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    Mute Joseph Siddall
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    Apr 19th 2015, 4:29 PM

    Tap, does that apply to countries, also? If so, some commentators on Journal.ie should take note.

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    Mute James Lyons
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    Apr 19th 2015, 4:06 PM

    “It’s history” is a forgiving phrase for a reason.

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    Apr 19th 2015, 3:58 PM

    I think it’s important that we never try to sweep history under the rug. Some actions are always wrong regardless of prevailing beliefs at the time or historical context. Those who murder or treat others poorly should always be held accountable as the criminals they are.

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    Mute Top Cat
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    Apr 19th 2015, 4:05 PM

    It’s a delicious irony that uber leftwing commie like Afleck is descendant from slave owners.

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    Apr 19th 2015, 4:09 PM

    Top Cat I’d say you’re great craic at parties.

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    Mute Neal Ireland Hello
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    Apr 19th 2015, 4:38 PM

    There’s got to be a limit to the number of times you can use the “I’d say you’re great at parties” line.

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    Apr 19th 2015, 4:47 PM

    Off topic but where did your username come from?

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    Mute David Jordan
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    Apr 19th 2015, 8:01 PM

    Don’t be coy YFG, we all know you’re talking about FG and AGS’s role in the planning, carrying out and cover up of the Dublin/Monaghan Bombings.

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    Mute Bill Rooney
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    Apr 19th 2015, 4:42 PM

    Slavery was abolished in 1833 by an Act of Parliament – in Britain, of which we were part.

    Many weathy people in Ireland owned slaves – as part of their ‘balenced’ investment portfolio. Just like now, investments will include (say) – oil, property, gilts and drugs.

    Gladstone’s family (4 time English Prime Minister – with a major involvement in Irish affairs!) – had over 2,500 slaves, working on 9 plantations in the West Indies.

    In 1833, the Gladstones received £83 million (modern equivalent) in compensation. Staggeringly – getting paid for the ‘loss’ of slaves.

    The families of David Cameron (and his wife’s) had about 400 slaves on their books; they got £4 million in compensation.

    But so far, nobody has researched (as far as I know) the involvement of Irish investors. But – it is believed that many of our ancestors had a considerable slice of the pie, mainly in the Pale…..

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    Mute Deco James Connolly
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    Apr 19th 2015, 4:32 PM

    Democrats are and were the real racists , poor old Ben ,his back will be raw with self flagellation .

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    Mute Brendan Julian
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    Apr 19th 2015, 8:18 PM

    Seems he only made things worse by trying to hide the fact. In your face Ben

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    Mute Amity Bodega
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    Apr 19th 2015, 9:47 PM

    His brother Casey Affleck was arrested for rape but that was covered up too. Also noticed there is very little about the actors on Wikipedia which is strange for such well known actors

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    Mute David G
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    Apr 20th 2015, 9:53 AM

    There is a huge amount on Wikipedia about Ben but less about Casey so that comment is inaccurate.

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    Mute Bernard O'Brien
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    Apr 19th 2015, 10:05 PM

    A third of the people in Ireland are supposedly decended from Nial of the nine hostages which explains a lot !

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