O’Brien criticises SF’s attempts to shut out reporter as ‘disgraceful’

ATTEMPTS by Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald to remove a journalist from a party fundraiser have been branded ‘disgraceful’ by Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien.

Last weekend, Ms McDonald held an event in Cabra, north Dublin, with former party leader Gerry Adams.

The fundraiser was publicised online, with members of the public able to purchase a ticket for €10.

However, The Business Post reported that Ms McDonald tried to get their reporter to leave the meeting, insisting it was not a press event.

A member of staff from Sinn Féin also tried to get the reporter to leave the room.

Yesterday, Mr O’Brien said: ‘I thought it was disgraceful. It doesn’t surprise me though, because they have always had a cloak of secrecy covering that organisation and that party.

‘We as a government and most political parties and independents will have public events, people should be allowed. If journalists turn up, which they do, they are welcome to any of my events as well. This is a free democracy here, where freedom of the press is crucially important.

‘I see the leader of the main opposition party – not just through handlers – but I understand that she herself had sought that the journalist should leave that event, where he had paid €10 for a ticket to go and listen to Gerry Adams.’

Mr O’Brien described it as a ‘worrying departure’ but said it wasn’t the ‘first time’ Sinn Féin had engaged in such behaviour.

He added: ‘It shouldn’t happen. And it wouldn’t happen certainly with any party events of my own party or indeed of Labour of Fine Gael or others, I’m certain that would not be the case.’