Sinn Féin hit by more claims of bullying

ANOTHER former Sinn Féin councillor has come forward and claimed they were bullied by members within the party.

During an interview for the party with Cork 96FM the now Independent Cork councillor June Murphy criticised Sinn Féin for bullying, sexism and the ‘power- and money-mad’ culture she says exists in the party.

She also criticised the republican party of ‘grooming’ young candidates, a lack of transparency and spoke of being threatened after her September 2015 resignation. Ms Murphy is the latest in a string of former party member to accuse the party of bullying. ‘I didn’t realise I was walking into the middle of a civil war in east Cork in 2014,’ said Fermoybased Ms Murphy.

‘Absolutely they [party chiefs] know what is going on. Sandra [McLellan, former Cork TD] was emailing them and had plenty of private meetings with Mary Lou McDonald and Gerry Adams... it went right to the top but not one phone call did I receive. It’s really aggressive and nobody is stopping them. They promote by bully. It’s a culture of men.

‘It gives you the illusion that they support women but [actually] they tell the women what to do. Oh yeah, that goes to the top.

‘I’ve had prominent republicans say if they ever got power they’d leave the country and rob it blind. Their long-term members know what they’re like: power- and money-mad.’

Ms Murphy is the latest former party member to accuse the party of bullying, following the expulsion of Cobh-based councillor Kieran McCarthy, the resignation of Lisa Marie Sheehy from Kilfinane, Co. Limerick, and the similar criticisms of the party by former Cork TD Sandra McLellan and Cavanbased outgoing councillor Eugene Greenan. Calls and emails to Sinn Féin had not received a response by time of going to print.