by Alan Jacques
GERRY Adams has condemned the Taoiseach’s refusal to withdraw claims about the conduct of Sinn Féin supporters at a protest in Limerick this week.
The Sinn Féin leader hit out at Enda Kenny’s refusal to withdraw “untrue allegations” against his party and his repetition of those claims in the Dáil this week.
Speaking in the Dáil this Tuesday, in reference to the anti-water protest outside the Greenhills, Kenny commented, ”A number of your people in Limerick last night, at least those associated with the party that you (Adams) lead, were most insulting to ordinary people who attended a party meeting.”
In response, Adams said, “This was entirely untrue. Sinn Féin was not involved in the anti-water charges protest in Limerick. Our Limerick Council Group Leader Maurice Quinlivan has made that clear.”
He continued: “The Taoiseach, when challenged by me, refused to withdraw his allegation, and repeated this untruth. This is a clear effort to demonise the anti-water charges campaign. The reality is that hundreds of thousands of reasonable people have protested peacefully and will continue to do so until the charges are abolished.”
“People are not going to fold up their placards and go home as this government wishes. The campaign against the unjust water tax will continue until it is abolished. Sinn Fein has always been very, very clear about anti-water charge demonstrations. They should be peaceful, family friendly and respectful,” Adams insisted.
He has also called for the Taoiseach to immediately withdraw his “false and inaccurate allegations against Sinn Féin”.
Limerick Council group leader Maurice Quinlivan also rejected comments made by the Taoiseach Enda Kenny in the Dáil regarding Sinn Féin’s role in a water charges protest that took place in Limerick on Monday night.
“I reject these accusations levelled at Sinn Féin by the Taoiseach. Sinn Féin was not involved in the organisation or attendance of this protest. There is a lot of righteous anger surrounding water charges. However protests should be peaceful at all times,” said Cllr Quinlivan.
“Sinn Féin only supports protests that are carried out in a manner that is family friendly and respectful,” he concluded.
