Sunday Mirror (Northern Ireland)
MARY LOU APPEAL FOR DISSIDENTS TO DISBAND
Sinn Fein leader says her party won’t be intimidated
VIOLENT dissident republicans should disband, the Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald has said.
Anti-peace process renegades threatened the party’s vice president Michelle O’Neill and policing spokesman Gerry Kelly after they supported a recruitment campaign for new Catholic officers.
Speaking in Belfast yesterday, Ms McDonald said they would not be intimidated by the gunmen. She added: “These people have no politics, no strategy and nothing to offer.
“They are at war with their community and are now threatening political representatives who serve the people.”
Last week’s event was intended to encourage more Catholics to join the PSNI.
Senior commanders have become concerned in recent years over a slide in the proportion of Catholic officers amid the severe threat posed by dissident republicans who try to kill members of the security forces.
Ms McDonald said: “Sinn Fein will not be deterred or intimidated. These groups have nothing to offer. It’s time they packed up and disbanded.” Ms O’Neill and Mr Kelly’s attendance at the event was hailed by Chief Constable Simon Byrne as “seismic and historic”.
This week, police branded as “cruel and disgusting” anti-PSNI recruitment posters depicting an officer who was severely injured in a bomb attack.
The posters used a picture of Peadar Heffron along with a warning that anyone thinking of joining the police could suffer similar injuries.
He lost a leg when a dissident bomb detonated under his car near Randalstown in 2010 as he travelled to work. He now uses a wheelchair.
Meanwhile, Ms McDonald commended her Executive and Assembly teams – led by Ms O’Neill – for “working hard for citizens”. She listed recent successes following the restoration of power-sharing.
The party leader said: “Already in the Executive we have seen measures taken to tackle poverty, including moving quickly to end the nurses dispute of equal pay – extending welfare mitigations, a new house building programme has been announced.”
These groups have nothing to offer. It’s time they packed up
MARY LOU McDONALD BELFAST YESTERDAY