In a statement on February 15 2025, a spokesperson for Comhairle Uladh (Ulster Executive), Sinn Féin Poblachtach: “Shame on you, shame on your party for singling out individuals as a method for petty point-scoring.

“As far back as 2020, the DUP were supporting a move from then Provisional Communities Minister Deidre Hargey to stop naming and shaming people convicted of benefit fraud.

“Fast word to 2025 and now the DUP are backsliding. Last week Communities Minister Gordon Lyons said he is set to reintroduction the ‘name and shame’ policy for those convicted of benefit fraud in the Occupied Six Counties.

“Moreover, one could easily mistake them for being on a chilling tour of England’s medieval history when shaming was often done by public humiliation punishments, such as being placed in the stocks or pillory, where so called offenders would be exposed to public ridicule and sometimes pelted with rotten food. All intended to deter future crimes by causing social embarrassment and disgrace within the community.

“Dr Ciara Fitzpatrick, a law lecturer who specialises in the social security system and socio-economic rights, said that the move will increase the fear amongst those claiming benefits. She also made clear that it is very easy to make a mistake when you are claiming social security and fraud, and errors are actually grouped together in terms of the statistical analysis.

“Sinn Féin Poblachtach said this is typical of the ruling class. They always go after the low-hanging fruit. It’s a disgusting response and if it’s money these quangos are after then go after corporate tax fraud and other kind of white collar frauds and not those people who are relying on the social security system.

“Organisations such as Barnardos, operating in the Occupied Six Counties, have criticised this policy as misguided and a diversion from the pressing issues such as poverty.

“The Anti-Poverty Strategy Group made their voices heard last week at Stormont Buildings. The group had called for a long awaited Anti-Poverty strategy for the Occupied Six Counties. This plan has lain dormant ever since the pro-British St Andrews Agreement in 2006.

“A spokesperson for the Committee on the Administration of Justice, Daniel Holder, said it was not a policy choice but instead an outstanding legal obligation that hasn’t been implemented.

“Sinn Féin Poblachtach said this is another example of policy inaction and abject failure on behalf of the pro-British Stormont administration. It has been a decade since the British High Court previously held that the administration was in breach of its duty to adopt a programme to deal with poverty.

CRÍOCH/ENDS

Ranganna:[RSF News] Statements