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Updated, 15.05
SINN FÉIN has withdrawn from sale a t-shirt depicting people celebrating at the grave of former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher, after coming under fire from unionist politicians condemning the shirt.
The Irish News (subscription required) reports that the t-shirt, which shows a group of silhouetted figures throwing a party beside Thatcher’s headstone, was taken down from the Sinn Féin Online Store last night.
The t-shirt, pictured, includes a headstone reading ‘Margaret Thatcher: Tyrant and Murderer’, while the group partying are behind a sign which reads: ‘Dancers please form an orderly queue’.
Unionist politicians told the newspaper’s Marie Louise McCrory that the t-shirt was “grossly offensive” and “disgusting”.
Though all references to the t-shirt have been removed from the website, a cached version still available through Google shows that the t-shirt was accompanied by the caption:
It can’t be long now! Get ready for the big day
Thatcher is known to be ill and has withdrawn from many public appearances in recent years. Her daughter has spoken about how her memory has failed due to a series of small strokes.
The ‘Iron Lady’, now 85, is a hate figure among republican circles since her handling of the IRA hunger strikers of 1981, when Thatcher refused to offer political concessions to republican inmates at Long Kesh prison in Belfast.
A Sinn Féin spokesperson told the Irish News that the bookshop was “separate” from the main party, but when TheJournal.ie called the shop this morning for comment it was referred to the party headquarters.
The party this afternoon confirmed it had removed the t-shirt from its online store, and from its physical shop on Parnell Square in Dublin, “following a complaint”.
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I’d buy one of those t-shirts. Not because I like Sinn Fein, but because I hate Thatcher, neo-liberal fascist that she is. Herself and Reagan sowed the seeds of the current downturn with their financial, fiscal and social policies in the 80s.
This is fantastic news! I have ten of these shirts and they will be worth a fortune!
I’ll buy one.
You will be worth a fortune now- the more news about this the better-
I imagine Seamus gleefully counts all his “reds” at the end of the day!! How some people get their jollies!!! :(
Hi !
Do you know where we can find them by any chance????
Thank you
I would like one for Bertie Ahern.
By the time Bertie dies I predict all will be forgiven, he will be given a state funeral, we Irish are so fickle.He will be made into some sort of hero because of N. Ireland and everything else will be forgotten
@hbenrow. I wish that wasn’t true but you know it will happen.
No matter how much you dislike an individual, or what she did, there’s a limit. Sinn Fein were showing very poor taste and a total disregard for the woman’s family at a very stressful time in their lives. At least they have somewhat saved the situation by withdrawing the item, but you would have to wonder at the mentality of the person who put it there in the first place.
Would you feel similar sympathey for Maggie’s friend, Augusto Pinochet? Whereas I think the t-shirt was rather juvenile, I’d concur with the sentiment! Thatcher is evil.
Sick T -shirt, sick Provo minds who could think this would ever be acceptable except among their own degenerate clique.
Me thinks Gerry’s a troll
SF want to be taken seriously as a political party yet they still have shite like this on their on-line store, seriously??
10-15 years ago I would have expected such nonsense from them but now is beyond a joke, I dislike thatcher as much as the next person but there is a line and SF have crossed it with the t-shirt and the very fact that until very recently they still sold such crap.
As a party they clearly have a lot of growing up to do, no wonder people still can’t respect them
Tyranny and Murder… Sounds like Sinn Fein’s manefesto slogan.
Would remind you that Thatcher is reviled by many varied groups. I think much of the culture in Britian now regarding the media and links with politics goes back to her philosophy. Anybody who is anti war would also revile the woman, as would many trade unionists. In fact the whole destruction of Fleet Street and move to Wapping was very much part of her philosophy.
Remember: The evil that men do lives after them; the good is oft interred with their bones
A lot of evil will survive the death of Adams, McGuinness and the rest of those murdering bastards so!
Very appropriate that SF is showing such maturity , even if the woman’s name still makes my stomach churn for her past ill deeds against Ireland – but in fairness she made for a huge success in moving the Republican Movement into a very efficient and modern young dynamic political party in Ireland by her actions!
Are people actually surprised by this? This is a party that for years was the political wing of a terrorist organisation. The IRA tried to kill Margaret Thatcher. Sinn Fein still refuses to condemn most acts of the IRA (including the murders of innocent civilians) Anybody who votes for Sinn Fein, knows exactly what they’re supporting. This T-shirt is in line with Sinn Fein thinking and that of their supporters. As disgusting as many of us may find it, remember that 10% of the electorate gave their first preference to Sinn Fein in the last general election.
I find the number of people that voted for FF and FG over the years far more disgusting. People voting for parties that destroy their own economy over and over is really beyond belief. Only in Ireland.
Spot on Dermot D. Really sickening to listen to these elected terrosits whining on as if they hadn’t spent 30+ years destroying the economies of both the Northern Ireland state and the Republic of Ireland. And this is not to mention the countless murders they are responsible for.
Come on where are all the right wing cheer leaders for Thatcherism? Frankly I’m shocked their silence. I thought at least Leo Varadkar would be condemning this item lol
luv the t.shirt……. will still sing an dance wen that evil woman kicks the bucket !!!!
why????most of ireland ,,,england wales will celebrate the day she dies and it will be a week long festival in scotland .. avoid the rush print more now
Agreed :)
will these t-shirts be replacing the Easter lily next year!!!!!!
We are so ready for a united Ireland :p
Unlike Sinn Fein- thatcher was kicked out of office in disgrace- she left crying- A happy day-
Confirms what I always thought about Sinn Fein / IRA..pretending to be democrats but always something sinister lurking beneath the surface if your willing to look, a despicable party of criminals.
Joan Burton take note.
While I personally find Thatcher to be the most odious of people, I think Sinn Fein have made a mistake here. Its one thing to have say “I still hate Thatcher” t-shirt because it is a sentiment that is still very strong. However to have a tshirt celebrating her death is in bad taste and is not a symbol of a party wanting to move on. For all their progress in the past 15 years or so, when Sinn Fein bring out a t-shirt like that it just reminds people of the horrific nature of the troubles
sorry, about that.should read:
‘Note to Sinn Fein. Could you stick Mark in there as well?’
Noe to Sinn Fein. Could you stick Mark in there while you’re at it?
Damn I wanted to buy one !
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