THE sham liberalism

that now dominates public debate here has been exposed again by the Sinn Féin decision to boot Deputy Peadar Tóibín out of the party for six months. Tóibín, left, has blotted his copybook once again by his stubborn refusal to come to heel on abortion. The world and his wife knows that Tóibín believes abortion is wrong and should not be provided for in law unless the life of the mother is threatened. He previously defied the control freaks in his party in 2013 when opposing the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill. Then, after a short period in the wilderness, he was allowed back into the fold. This time, however, it could be more serious – for Sinn Féin rather than for Peadar.

Leader Mary Lou McDonald can hardly be feeling on top of the world after being unceremoniously slapped down by the electorate in the presidential election when her handpicked candidate Liadh Ní Riada fell flat on her face with just 6.4% support.

Tóibín is one of the more cerebral Sinn Féin deputies but if a general election is called within six months, he won’t be on the party ticket. In that event, it’s the party that’ll be the bigger loser.

One thing, though, about Peader is bothering – why, in the light of his clear concern about innocent life, is he a member of the Sinn Féin party in the first place, especially considering its long-standing support for a campaign of murder in the North that resulted in so many innocent victims ending up in early graves?