[Photograph  from Irish Central] Protesters symbolically depicting how difficult it has become to speak and converse in Irish in Ireland due to the policies of successive Free State governments.

Preas Ráitheas/Press Release

In a statement issued on the 22 of February 2016, Sinn Féin Poblachtach National PRO, Seán Ó Dubhláin commented on the harassment RSF members had to face as they left a republican ballad night in Dublin;

“Republican Sinn Féin wish to bring to attention the harassment of our members after their successful ballad night held on Saturday 20, 2016 in Dublin.

Whilst leaving the premises of the function four members of RSF were subject to the usual special branch harassment, names and addresses were taken by two heavily armed members of An Garda Síochana who had nothing better to be doing with tax payers money than to sit outside a bar all night trying to intimidate people for their political believes.

All members gave names and addresses in Irish, one member refused to speak any English as is his right, the Gardaí who could barely speak any Irish became quite aggressive and threatened arrest before the scenario was eventually defused.  This hostility towards the Irish language from the Gardaí and Political Police of the Special Branch is typical of the rotten neo-colonial imperialist state we live in.  These Special Branch officers later quickly drove off when supporters and members of RSF came on the scene and challenged them as to why they were harassing peaceful republicans.

Back in April 2015, a member of Republican Sinn Féin in the midlands gave his name and address in Irish, it was demanded in English, when this was refused the Garda became aggressive and our member was arrested, he was later released once the Free State police confirmed his identity.

Republican Sinn Féin will not be intimidated by this harassment, we will continue to promote the traditional republican message in defiance of imperialism, one hundred years since the Rising of ’16 it is a disgrace that such bigotry exists in a so-called Irish state against the Irish language, the very core and soul of our nation.”

Críoch/ENDS

Seán Ó Dubhláin
Press/Public Relations Officer
Phone: +353 89 481 9514
Email: pro@rsf.ie

Republican Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin Poblachtach

Web: http://www.rsf.ie
E-Mail: saoirse@iol.ie

Sinn Féin Poblachtach
Teach Dáithí Ó Conaill,
223 Sráid Pharnell, BÁC 1, Éire

For confirmation contact;
Des Dalton, President: 086-3291809
Seán Ó Dubhláin, Press/Public Relations Officer: +353 89 481 9514
Ard-Oifig: 01-872 9747

Ranganna:[RSF News] Statements