Rifts exposed in Sinn Fein as concerns voiced over its direction

SINN Fein has admitted that different views exist in the party on its current strategy after a veteran republican criticised its political direction.

Former Limavady mayor Sean McGlinchey told a meeting attended by senior party figures that a deadline should be set for talks to restore power-sharing and that if it wasn’t met, Sinn Fein should “pull the plug” on Stormont.

Mr McGlinchey currently sits on Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council.

He is also chair of the party’s East Derry comhairle ceantair (area council).

The Belfast Telegraph exclusively reported yesterday that he had voiced serious concerns about his party’s political direction at the west Belfast gathering earlier this month.

When asked for comment yesterday, a Sinn Fein spokesman said: “As in all political parties a wide range of views and opinions are expressed in Sinn Fein meetings.”

Mr McGlinchey told the meeting in Andersonstown that MLAs continuing to take wages while the Stormont Assembly wasn’t functioning was alienating many grassroots republican supporters.

He said he had experienced a “very negative” response to the party on the doorsteps in staunchly republican areas when he was campaigning during the petition of recall in North Antrim.

He told the meeting that many voters in Rasharkin, Dunloy and Ballycastle were disillusioned with what they saw as the lack of “clear direction” from the party leadership on the way forward.

Those present at the meeting of the party’s Cuige Uladh (Ulster executive) included Sinn Fein’s Belfast chairman Bobby Storey and veteran republican Padraic Wilson.

West Belfast MP Paul Maskey, Fermanagh and South Tyrone MP Michelle Gildernew, and the chairpersons of Sinn Fein cumann were also in attendance.