Preas Ráiteas

In light of today’s protest in Strokestown, County Roscommon which saw over 1,500 people show up in solidarity with the McGann family Sinn Féin Poblachtach would like to thank their supporters and members who attended.

It must be noted for the record that the protest was first announced by Sinn Féin Poblachtach in reaction to the eviction from his home of one of our members and his family by hired thugs of the KBC bank, we took it upon ourselves to organise that protest. As the days went on and national interest grew it was agreed that the full handling of the protest would be left in the hands of local members from the Strokestown area who given the unique set of circumstances which is well documented felt it was important that every voice be heard on the day. This was thus an event organised by locals from Strokestown, and indeed every voice was heard.

Sinn Féin Poblachtach has long been vocal against the atrocious evictions and vulture funds set up in this country which come at a time of increasing rents and growing homelessness, we have consistently called out the corrupt establishment parties for their crooked part in this. We are not afraid to highlight the hypocrisy of some and indeed if the crowd is anything to go by then Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael whose speakers faced a hostile reaction have a lot of reflecting to do. Hostile words were also directed towards local Strokestown MEP Matt Carty of Provisional Sinn Féin by those aggrieved by recent policies of that party as they sink further into the establishment.

Sinn Féin Poblachtach was represented by Councillor Tómas Ó Curraoin, Galway. Veteran Republican Dan Hoban from Mayo and by the New President of Sinn Féin, Seosamh Ó Mhaoileoin, who was first to speak on the day. All three contributions will be available on our national facebook page and media accounts.

Finally, we commend everyone who attended and showed solidarity with each other and with the victims of that awful scene last week in Roscommon. Sinn Féin Poblachtach will continue to make itself available in assisting against and highlighting the disgusting evictions, propped up and supported by corrupt politicians led by Leo Varadkar. Never will they be accepted, anywhere in Ireland.

Dan Hoban, from Sinn Féin Poblachtach, said he had not “lost faith” in the Irish people.

“I am proud of you all here today in support of the McGann family,” he said.

“When a crowd came in to this town a short time ago and moved in to the McGann home and forcibly removed them on to the road, it was no crime scene then, but a fortnight after when people went in to reinstate the McGann family it was deemed a crime scene.

“The power of the people is going to win in the end.”

Críoch / ENDS

CONTACT SINN FÉIN;

TEACH DÁITHÍ Ó CONAILL, 223 Sráid Pharnell, BÁC 1, Éire, Teil: 01-872 9747, R-Phost: saoirse@iol.ie

TEACH Ó BRÁDAIGH, MCCARRY, O’NEILL, 229 Bóthar na bhFál, Beál Feirste, BT12 6FB, Fón: 9031 9004, R-phost: belfast@rsf.ie

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