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What on earth is going on with Sinn Féin in Cork East?

One councillor expelled and another suspended with claims and counter claims. Here’s what we know so far…

SINN FÉIN’S DECISION to expel one councillor and suspend another following an internal review has prompted renewed focus on the party’s secretive nature.

It is famously on-message with infighting or dissent from the long-serving leader Gerry Adams unheard of. But all is not well in the constituency of Cork East.

Yesterday, the party confirmed that it had expelled Cobh-based county councillor Kieran McCarthy and suspended Mallow-based Melissa Mullane for one year following a review of the Sinn Féin organisation in the constituency.

sf-cllrs-2 Kieran McCarthy and Melissa Mullane Sinn Féin and Facebook Sinn Féin and Facebook

No reasons were given for the decision.

McCarthy has said he felt “stabbed in the back” – having been expelled from a party he was a member of for 34 years. Mullane has made no public comment.

This evening TheJournal.ie has uncovered new information which sheds some light on just what is going on in Cork East… 

Background

Last month, the Sunday Times reported on tensions which had emerged between members in Cork East Sinn Féin after McCarthy and Mullane both declared their interest in running for the Dáil.

These declarations came as a result of a general unhappiness with sitting TD Sandra McLellan’s performance since she was elected to the Dáil in 2011. With two councillors putting their name forward it raised the very real prospect of McLellan being deselected, meaning she would be unable to run for re-election.

Nationally, McLellan, a former Siptu shop steward, has kept a very low-profile despite being one of only three female members (the others are Mary Lou McDonald and Senator Kathryn Reilly) of Sinn Féin’s 17-strong Oireachtas group.

One of the only times she made headlines was in June 2012 when she questioned the party’s policy of paying its elected representatives the average industrial wage. In May she was made the party’s children and youth affairs spokesperson in addition to her role as arts and culture spokesperson. She also serves on the Oireachtas Health Committee.

unnamed McLellan with fellow Sinn Féin TD Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin Sinn Féin Sinn Féin

Veteran TD Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin, who worked with McLellan on that committee, has previously described her as “a very able and hardworking” TD who has “an attention to detail”.

But speaking on Newstalk today, the expelled McCarthy said that having canvassed hard for McLellan in Cobh at the last general election, he now felt she had paid little attention to the town since being elected.

McLellan has declined to comment and we’ve been told she does not wish to speak to journalists at this time.

The internal review 

These ongoing tensions resulted in the party deciding to stand down the entire local officer board in Cork East and carry out an internal review. This was chaired by Jonathan O’Brien, the TD for Cork North-Central, and began in February.

O’Brien, along with three Sinn Féin councillors in Munster, carried out a review involving meetings and interviews with over 60 party members in Cork East, including all elected representatives and party officers.

Sinn Féin said this review was “structured, comprehensive and followed a clear process”. McCarthy has described it as a “Spanish inquisition”.

The blog

As this review was being undertaken, an anonymous blog, ‘An Rebel Og’, was published. It strongly criticised McLellan’s performance as a TD and the party hierarchy more generally. A number of posts on the blog were subsequently deleted although one summarising the situation in Cork East was reposted yesterday.

The blog entry was posted in the comments of TheJournal.ie‘s story by a commenter who appeared to be McCarthy’s wife, Angela, yesterday.

Screen Shot 2015-06-23 at 18.45.38

We understand that the Sinn Féin internal review examined this blog but was unable to definitely determine who was behind it.

Two party sources have accused McCarthy, or someone close to him, of having authored it. But McCarthy has strongly denied that either he, his wife, or anyone close to him is behind the blog.

“It definitely wasn’t me,” he said this evening.

The credit union loan 

McCarthy claims the internal review looked at previous allegations made against him in relation to a loan he took in the name of Sinn Féin.

McCarthy said that this loan had been repaid and that he felt the matter had been resolved. However, he went onto claim that the O’Brien investigation looked at this matter again. He told Newstalk:

I was told… the review [it] took on board another investigation that had been, in our opinion, resolved satisfactorily and we were told it wasn’t and there was stuff uncovered.

He said he had asked what this “other stuff” was but was refused the information. O’Brien told RTÉ’s News at One that he could not comment on these allegations.

mccarthy Kieran McCarthy Sinn Féin Sinn Féin

McCarthy said the loan was taken out from the credit union last year for the local elections. TheJournal.ie understands the loan involved thousands of euro. 

Sinn Féin investigated the loan, believing it was not taken for party activities. The money was eventually repaid but McCarthy was found not to have sought permission to take the loan. McCarthy disputed this, insisting permission had been sought and given.

There was a loan taken out for the election 2014, from the credit union. I didn’t take out a loan, the party took out a loan. It was suggested that we didn’t get permission to take out the loan… it’s not true that we didn’t get permission.

When he appealed this particular finding it was rolled into the O’Brien Review.  When it looked into this matter, the O’Brien Review recommended McCarthy’s suspension from the party.

Again, Sinn Féin is declining to say what it uncovered.

Canvassing  

McCarthy has also told us that prior to the last year’s local elections he was prevented from canvassing in Carrigtwohill:

“There have been dirty tricks all along the way… I was forbidden from holding clinics and canvassing in Carrigtwohill. The TD didn’t want me in her area.”

A well-placed local Sinn Féin source confirmed this saying: “Kieran was totally forbidden from canvassing from Carrigtwohill back when this power struggle started.”

They added:

The strategy was to eliminate anyone who was to oppose the TD from the party.

Again, we haven’t had the opportunity to put this to McLellan as she is declining interview requests.

Well-placed Sinn Féin sources have dismissed this, insisting the constituency had been divided between McCarthy and the other candidates in the area and pointed out that he topped the poll.

mclellan-343x500 Sandra McLellan

Minutes

We’ve also learned that the O’Brien Review examined allegations that minutes of a Cork East constituency meeting were altered after the original version included complaints about McLellan’s performance as a TD.

Sinn Féin is not commenting on this particular claim.

So, why were councillors expelled and suspended? 

The findings of the O’Brien Review have not and will not ever be made public as Sinn Féin believes it is an internal party matter.

But we’ve learned that Mullane – who has made no public comment – was told she was being suspended for “uncomradely behaviour”. We also understand the review said that Mullane had been found to have intentionally undermined and marginalised McLellan.

Well-placed Sinn Féin sources have sought to make a clear distinction between McCarthy’s expulsion and Mullane’s suspension, saying they are two separate issues and that Mullane has had no involvement in the loans issue.

Sinn Féin has repeatedly declined to state the reasons why it decided to expel one councillor and suspend another. But the party insisted this evening that both were given reasons for the decisions at a meeting in the Kingsley Hotel in Cork yesterday:

They were given the reasons for the decisions at those meetings. They were also informed that they had 21 days to appeal the decision.  And they were asked to resign their council seats in line with their pledge to the party.

Despite this, McCarthy said earlier he had been left in the dark about the reasons for his expulsion:

All I was told was that stuff was uncovered. I asked what it meant, I was told that they didn’t have to answer to me.

What happens to the two councillors? 

Both councillors have been told that they have to resign their seats in line with a party pledge they signed before going for election. However, there is nothing legally requiring them to do this and they could remain as independent Cork county councillors.

Both have 21 days (from yesterday) to appeal the decision to the party chairman Declan Kearney. The appeal will then be put to the party’s Ard Comhairle (executive council) – the same body that sanctioned yesterday’s expulsion and suspension.

Mullane’s suspension will be lifted pending a review next year, but she will remain suspended indefinitely if she fails to resign her seat. McCarthy is theoretically free to apply to rejoin Sinn Féin. The party would not look kindly on such an application.

Did this have anything to do with protecting Sandra McLellan? 

O’Brien has insisted that his review, and its outcome, had nothing to do with the selection convention in Cork East. Sinn Féin restated this categorically in a statement this evening, saying:

Since the contention has been repeatedly made in the public arena, the party wishes to state that the decisions regarding both councillors were NOT taken in relation to any expressed or implied intention to contest election conventions.

But McCarthy said again this evening that this was “spin” and said he had been expelled to keep him out of the selection process in Cork East:

They are using this as a distraction away from the central issue namely to keep us out of the race.

What happens now in Cork East? 

j-ob-pic-4-390x516 Jonathan O'Brien TheJournal.ie TheJournal.ie

One of the recommendations of the O’Brien Review was that an open selection process take place in Cork East. This means that a previous Sinn Féin rule preventing a sitting female TD being challenged by a male candidate will be set aside. It will be an open convention where members will select one candidate.

With the two leading contenders for it now out of the party there has been a suggestion that members may put another alternative forward at the Cork East convention. It is one of only five conventions that Sinn Féin hasn’t held so far and there is no date as yet for it.

There is anger among some members locally at how the whole situation was handled. One long-serving member in Cork East told us earlier:

At the moment there is fierce disbelief and fierce anger. You could be looking at 90 members resigning publicly in the next few days.

Several constituency branches are holding emergency meetings in the coming days.

But McCarthy expressed scepticism as to whether there would be a mass resignation of members as he was asked about his own political ambitions and whether he will run as an independent at the next election.

I will be very surprised if this time next week a lot of members of Sinn Féin will no longer be party members over all this issue.

Other local party sources do not believe there will be a signifiant dent in membership as a result of this controversy. 

However, it has certainly laid bare the sort of tensions in Sinn Féin that have hitherto gone unreported.

Read: There could be a mass resignation of Sinn Féin members in Cork East

Read: Expelled Sinn Féin councillor claims party ‘stabbed me in the back’

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66 Comments
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    Mute David Healion
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    Jun 23rd 2015, 9:39 PM

    A loan from the Credit Union in Sinn Feins name? that would be highly unlikely because of SIPO regulations. Political parties can’t avail of the services of a credit union. This whole case is mad. Sinn Fein need to be more transparent if the electorate are to take them seriously at the next General election.

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    Mute Shinnér Ó Bót
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    Jun 23rd 2015, 9:46 PM

    Nothing to see here. Please move on.

    186
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    Mute Charles Rex
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    Jun 23rd 2015, 9:48 PM

    shinner I worry about threats to the peace too. please ensure all remains calm…

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    Mute The Todd
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    Jun 23rd 2015, 9:54 PM

    Classic mountain out of molehill stuff. And of course Hugh is completely non biased and objective in what he reports, as always.

    117
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    Mute David Healion
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    Jun 23rd 2015, 9:58 PM

    Sinn Fein should be held to the same standards as every other political party. There is a precedent for silencing desent. and it appears to be the case here. What’s wrong with being transparent unless they have something to hide?

    221
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    Mute Barry Flanagan
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    Jun 23rd 2015, 10:00 PM

    there would be no need for mountains or molehills, Todd, if SF would just issue a statement as to why they are expelling publicly elected officials from their party.

    172
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    Mute The Todd
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    Jun 23rd 2015, 10:01 PM

    Ye I do agree, so should all other parties air their minor disputes? And there’s been 3/4 articles on this today, so it’s been by no means silenced. One was even on newstalk.

    43
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    Mute David Healion
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    Jun 23rd 2015, 10:04 PM

    Todd the first thing that any of the other parties would do is issue a statement first thing. The last thing any party needs is the electorate second guessing the party. Make a clear, early statement and it kills a controversy dead. Maybe Sinn Fein are doing it on purpose to keep the media’s gaze away from the North where they will be rolling over for the Tories.

    118
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    Mute The Todd
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    Jun 23rd 2015, 10:08 PM

    Smoke and mirrors is that what you’re saying? They were accused of bringing the assembly into disrepute by not agreeing to all these savage cuts, and now when they’ve come to some sort of compromise with the DUP they’re “rolling over”? It’s almost as if you’re dammed if you do and dammed if you don’t with the SF haters

    40
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    Mute Barry Flanagan
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    Jun 23rd 2015, 10:19 PM

    Labelling anyone who questions SF an SF hater is as unfair as labelling all SF supporters as unquestioning cultists who tolerate no dissent. Gets no one anywhere. You have to see they’re on a loser here Todd.

    110
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    Mute The Todd
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    Jun 23rd 2015, 10:23 PM

    Sorry maybe SF haters wasn’t the appropriate terminology but the party can never seem to do any right according to a certain cohort of commentators here. I know I’ll be accused of admitting to no wrong, but I really don’t see how an internal matter of such small scale has picked up such wild media discourse, unless of course agendas and reporters biases are involved

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    Mute Supernova
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    Jun 23rd 2015, 10:26 PM

    We make get used to it Todd, wait until you see the media closer to general election. Rte haven’t even got going yet haha

    40
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    Mute Barry Flanagan
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    Jun 23rd 2015, 10:50 PM

    Agreed Todd – there will be people who will criticise them no matter what. Same with the Gov/FF though. A lot are just here to push agendas.

    47
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    Mute njh
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    Jun 23rd 2015, 11:02 PM

    Our local politics is embarrasing. Does anyone capable get involved? Country is influenced by teachers and ex members of IRA. How can you take it seriously?

    57
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    Mute Maire Ui Riain
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    Jun 23rd 2015, 11:43 PM

    And they want to run the country….go awn ya bhoyo

    30
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    Mute Charles Rex
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    Jun 23rd 2015, 9:35 PM

    we learned that sinn fein calling for transparency etc only applies to other parties. the omerta continues.

    202
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    Mute Kevin Higgins
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    Jun 23rd 2015, 9:34 PM

    So Basically there was a careerist style power struggle where the bad performing person in power got rid of the harder working less powerful members?

    158
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    Mute Maire Ui Riain
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    Jun 23rd 2015, 11:45 PM

    Hey that’s politics for Ye

    18
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    Mute John Moylan
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    Jun 24th 2015, 12:12 PM

    @Kevin….just like FG/FF/Labour/whatever, then…………..same old same-oh.
    There was less palaver over Lowry, Burke etc etc……….

    1
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    Mute Diarmuid
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    Jun 23rd 2015, 9:37 PM

    SF has always been good at hiding things from the Irish public.

    157
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    Mute Ian O'Mara
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    Jun 23rd 2015, 9:41 PM

    Classic SF. No transparency and ignore criticism. The idea that the Ard Comhairle could hear an appeal of a decision it had previous sanctioned is a classic breach of fair procedures. I wouldn’t be surprised if one of the Cllrs sought an injunction from the High Court over this sham disciplinary process.

    136
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    Mute David Wool
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    Jun 23rd 2015, 9:44 PM

    The Sinn Fein Politburo will not like this, Chairman Adams will not tolerate any dissension in the ranks. Some people may have to disappear

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    Mute Pat Frost
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    Jun 24th 2015, 6:50 AM

    excellent

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    Mute Al Ca
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    Jun 23rd 2015, 9:34 PM

    Sigh….the only thing I got out of that is Sandra McLellan is not happy getting the average industrial wage…maybe she’d be better taking Mary Lou’s old spot in FF.

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    Mute Thomas Maher
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    Jun 23rd 2015, 9:38 PM

    From what I gather, someone was riding someone on the side while one someone was employing the other someone’s wife, wife finds out, someone’s in trouble

    91
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    Mute Rosaleen Kerins
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    Jun 23rd 2015, 9:52 PM

    Oooh tell us more!

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    Mute Al Ca
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    Jun 23rd 2015, 10:20 PM

    Ah Jaysus!…..are you readin’ that durty book….”Forty Shades of Green”

    67
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    Mute alwaysrightokay
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    Jun 23rd 2015, 10:01 PM

    why worry about a loan from the credit union? what about all the armed robberies of brinks vans n banks they committed over the years? Will they pay that back?

    87
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    Mute Thomas Aquinas
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    Jun 23rd 2015, 10:20 PM

    interesting that the usual shinbot dogs are leashed and muzzled on this story..

    50
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    Mute jane
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    Jun 23rd 2015, 10:33 PM

    Are they all banned or wha?

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    Mute Charles Rex
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    Jun 23rd 2015, 10:54 PM

    no. I’d say it’s the lack of an official statement that they can work off. nobody is allowed wander off on a solo run. ever.

    41
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    Mute Jurgen Remak
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    Jun 23rd 2015, 10:56 PM

    Were Jammin has disappeared without trace… some say he is reincarnated as ‘For Connolly’, but with less aggression. But give the guy time.

    37
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    Mute jane
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    Jun 23rd 2015, 11:00 PM

    What about caiorrach?

    28
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    Mute Caoimhin O Hailpin
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    Jun 23rd 2015, 11:15 PM

    Mr Rex you do know this internal issue completely debunks your theory of SF never having dissent or internal disaggrements, you are so blinded in your hatred of Sinn Fein that it probably hasnt even occurred to you

    16
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    Mute john clarke
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    Jun 23rd 2015, 10:06 PM

    Saying that this is private Sinn Fein party business and not for public consumption is a bit like saying that what P Flynn or Bertie Aherne did with FF donations is of no concern to the public. If there is corruption by any public representative as appears to be the undercurrent here we should be told if that is or is not the case. Either way the public should be made aware of why the suspension/ expulsion happened if SF are to have any credibility.

    Maybe we should get Mary Lou to stage another Dail sit in until the report is published !!!

    76
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    Mute Pat Snack
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    Jun 23rd 2015, 9:31 PM

    Were they getting jiggy-jiggy, perhaps?

    58
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    Mute Cillan32
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    Jun 23rd 2015, 9:38 PM

    Hugh desperate for some dirt on SF … Lazy journalism … anything to keep the eyes off the Goverment and their buddies .

    53
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    Mute Thomas Aquinas
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    Jun 23rd 2015, 10:22 PM

    there is no dirt on Shin Pain so Huge will not find any comrade cillian

    32
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    Mute Biodiversity Watch On Biology-ie
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    Jun 23rd 2015, 11:07 PM

    Cillian, we are all looking for dirt on SF. Very good Journalism in my view. Hard work trying to get information from people who are a law onto themselves, or as someone else said, one law for themselves and one for all the other parties.

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    Mute Caoimhin O Hailpin
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    Jun 23rd 2015, 11:07 PM

    I wouldnt worry Cillian, if you look at the small number of views on this article, ok we have the usual vested interests incognito accounts attacking Sinn Fein which is there main purpose in life and who talk of transparency from behind acroymns and in cogi=nito accounts
    but sur people see it for what it is a dispute within a political party and talking of transparency a question perhaps they may ask

    how much has MR ” I will sue you ” contributed to FG in his time

    18
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    Mute Caoimhin O Hailpin
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    Jun 23rd 2015, 11:38 PM

    With best wishes to the FG trolls on here, ye know who ye are https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27UL3tZW1bk&feature=youtu.be

    14
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    Mute Ian Phillip Creaner
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    Jun 24th 2015, 8:50 AM

    Ah leave Hugh alone now. Even his writing has improved.

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    Mute David Wool
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    Jun 23rd 2015, 10:21 PM

    All Sinn Fein politicians are created equal, but some are more equal than others

    49
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    Mute Peter Higgins
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    Jun 23rd 2015, 9:37 PM

    As long as the seat is held for Sinn Fein —– Who says what to whom, doesn’t matter.

    42
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    Mute Pat Mustard
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    Jun 23rd 2015, 10:36 PM

    No hope of them keeping the seat if the goings on if the last few days aren’t sorted soon. As a SF supporter who follows politics I feel McLellan has been anonymous since getting elected. I despise the cronyism and crap you see from other parties where useless TD’s are kept in place instead of far abler candidates getting a chance, and from what I can see seems to be exactly what has happened here! SF need to release a statement to prove otherwise.

    79
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    Mute Paul Mc
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    Jun 23rd 2015, 10:43 PM

    I would agree with you on that Pat as far as public perception goes the Lady has been seen in the Dail but I don’t recall her saying too much. Maybe she doesn’t cut the mustard at the top level in politics but surely it should be up to the cork members to decide what the future holds.

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    Mute Dave cullen
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    Jun 23rd 2015, 10:50 PM

    That about sums it up there Mr mustard.Balls in Sinn Fein’s court now to act quickly.Although Sinn Fein and more so,Adams,seem to embrace adversity and grow from it so who knows.

    32
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    Mute jane
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    Jun 23rd 2015, 10:50 PM

    This is the problem with insisting on gender quotas. We’d all like too see lore women in the Dail but I’d rather an able man than a woman who’s there to make up the numbers.

    53
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    Mute Noreen Lunney
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    Jun 23rd 2015, 11:55 PM

    i agree jane gender should not be a factor the best person for the job.

    26
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    Mute Ian Phillip Creaner
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    Jun 24th 2015, 8:48 AM

    I’d love Lore Women in politics. Queen Maedbh for taoiseach!!!! Sorry. Cud’t resist.

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    Mute John Moylan
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    Jun 24th 2015, 12:17 PM

    @Pat Mustard – “No hope of them keeping the seat if the goings on if the last few days aren’t sorted soon”.
    Really ? Lowry is still in business and FG never sorted that. Pat the Cope Gallagher ploughed his own successful furrow for years when FF didn’t sort that out, either. Irish politics is littered with stuff like this ultimately proving………..nothing.
    He, or she, who fixes the potholes, wins. Simples.

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    Mute Thomas Aquinas
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    Jun 23rd 2015, 9:40 PM

    This is purely an internal Sinn Fein matter and is nobody’s business but the membership’s. They have no reason to give anyone any explanations. They are blameless and must be seen as so.

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    Mute Charles Rex
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    Jun 23rd 2015, 9:47 PM

    I doubt you’d be saying this if is was fg ff or lab

    75
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    Mute Kevin Higgins
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    Jun 23rd 2015, 9:52 PM

    I dunno now if I lived in Cork East and voted for the SF Cllr that got expelled or even the one suspended I doubt be at that TDs constituency office the next morning demanding answers

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    Mute The Todd
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    Jun 23rd 2015, 9:52 PM

    I doubt he’s being serious

    12
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    Mute alwaysrightokay
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    Jun 23rd 2015, 10:02 PM

    Thomas are you Margaret Heffernan in disguise?

    29
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    Mute Thomas Aquinas
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    Jun 23rd 2015, 10:23 PM

    no I am a mediaeval philosopher

    18
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    Mute Biodiversity Watch On Biology-ie
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    Jun 23rd 2015, 11:00 PM

    Medieval theologian!

    13
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    Mute Supernova
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    Jun 23rd 2015, 10:18 PM

    Journal civil war over a matter so miniscule haha. Well I suppose the blueshirts are sick of the justified criticism of the current government pussyfooting around, telling Greece there bold boys etc etc… When’s enda buttering scones again? When’s the buy vote budget lads

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    Mute Patrick Mcauliffe
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    Jun 24th 2015, 7:59 AM

    Uncomraderly behaviour! !!!! Ffs sounds like something from the ussr

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    Mute Ger Buckley
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    Jun 23rd 2015, 10:43 PM

    an budàn as it would be called in gaeilge☺

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    Mute mcbab
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    Jun 24th 2015, 9:04 AM

    The other two didn’t meet the SF criteria of being pretty enough for their posters!

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    Mute Declan D'Arcy
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    Jun 23rd 2015, 11:40 PM

    As bad as this is, their are 18,000 views on the article and only 10,000 souls bothered to read this, and few read the whole thing I’d guess. There’s just not the interest.

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    Mute Irish Tory
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    Jun 24th 2015, 3:14 AM

    For Irish supports of the Donald Trump Campaign > http://www.facebook.com/IrelandUK4Trump2016

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    Mute Caoimhin O Hailpin
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    Jun 24th 2015, 6:42 PM

    ” Irish Tory ” there is a good site you will get strong support for your cause http://www.finegael.ie

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