Sinn Fein suspends senator over tweet about dead prison boss
Family of ira gun attack victim say three-month exclusion not enough
A SINN Fein senator has been suspended after retweeting an offensive tweet about the killing of prison officer Brian Stack.
Mr Stack, a chief prison officer in Portlaoise, was shot in the neck by the IRA in March 1983 and died 18 months later.
Senator Maire Devine apologised over the posting and said it was never her intention to cause distress or hurt.
Mr Stack’s son Austin tweeted: “It really is incredible that a political representative is revictimising the son of an IRA victim.
“I had to watch my father die after he was shot by Provos. Don’t lecture me on compassion after your cruel retweet.
“It’s a resigning matter – just as bad as Barry Mc Elduff.”
Mr Mcelduff stepped aside as West Tyrone MP over a social media posting about the Kingsmill shootings. Sinn Fein Brian Stack was killed in 1983 national chairman Declan Kearney said: “This is unacceptable behaviour from a Sinn Fein elected representative.
“The Ard Chomhairle has suspended, with immediate effect, Senator Devine from party membership and all party activities for three months.
“The whip has been removed, she will be outside of the Leinster House team for that period. Sinn Fein strongly disapproves of what has happened. There can be no excuse for the hurt and offence which has been caused to the Stack family.”
It was not until 2013 that the IRA admitted responsibility for Mr Stack’s murder, the only prison
YESTERDAY TWITTER
Senator Maire Devine officer killed in the Republic during the Troubles.
He was left paralysed and braindamaged by the shooting which happened near the National Stadium in Dublin.
He suffered for 18 months before dying from his injuries at the age of 47.
Senator Devine said: “It was never my intention to cause any distress or hurt, particularly to victims of the conflict.
“I want to offer my most sincere apologies to the family of the late Brian Stack.
“I accept the decision by the party national chairperson to suspend my membership for three months.
“I deeply regret what has happened, and want to profusely apologise for all the offence and hurt caused by my Twitter activity.”
Senator Devine is a mental health nurse and trade unionist and has been a South Dublin County councillor.
I watched my father die after he was shot. It’s a resigning matter
AUSTIN STACK