So, a former employee of Sinn Féin at Stormont has pleaded guilty to sex offences. Once Sinn Féin became aware of the police investigation they removed him from his post and suspended his membership of the party. This was the absolutely correct way to deal with a situation of this nature. Unfortunately, two other press officers went on to provide this individual with references for a post with the British Heart Foundation charity. This was intolerable, it was not sanctioned by the party, and once Sinn Féin became aware of the situation, action was taken against the two men and they resigned their posts and terminated their party membership.
While these positive actions by Sinn Féin are to be commended, their method of dealing with this situation left a lot to be desired.
The members and supporters of Sinn Féin, and others, should have been made aware of the situation as it was very definitely in the public interest for this to be open and above party political protection. That Sinn Féin remained quiet about the situation was the wrong action to take. When they finally did put a spokesperson forward it was not the president nor the vice-president but economy minister Conor Murphy. His interview on television was a disaster for himself and the party and left more questions than answers.
Now, I am not blaming Sinn Féin for what one of its members did without their knowledge. What I am stating, quite clearly, is that their handling of such a serious situation was not the way in which such an issue should have been dealt with. Sinn Féin, as a party, should have been more open about these events.
Sinn Féin’s failure to put its leaders in front of the press immediately was not just a political mistake, it was also an abject failure to act in a responsible way and has worsened their position overall. There is no doubt, and rightly so, that the party would have a difficult time in the Assembly and be faced with difficult and daunting questions. Michelle O’Neill, as the Sinn Féin leader at Stormont, must be totally forthright in all her responses. Sinn Féin should also hold a public press conference as early as it can be arranged and take questions.
As a life-long republican and a Sinn Féin supporter, I expect nothing less from a party that has always held high principles and high moral standards. I acknowledge that the party has committed no crime, but a number of high-profile members have acted wrongly and been rightly punished for their actions, and one former member has pleaded guilty to the most heinous of crimes in our society. Sinn Féin must hold nothing back, they must be completely open and honest, no matter how much it hurts. They must explain why they responded to this situation in the way they did, and if it means holding up their hands and saying sorry, then this is the course of action they must take.
Republican supporters will accept nothing less than this from the leadership. This party has always been run from the grassroots up, and the leadership would do well to remember this very important fact. Action must be immediate in order to rectify this situation, to learn the appropriate lessons and to move on.
Sean Seeley, Craigavon, Co Armagh
