DO NOT ANSWER THE PRESS
And don’t mention... the bully claims: Day 1 of Mary Lou’s reign
MINUTES into Mary Lou McDonald’s reign as president of Sinn Féin, heavy-handed bodyguards and a PR officer physically blocked the Irish Mail on Sunday from asking any questions about the issue of bullying in the party.
At the special Ard Fheis in the RDS yesterday, Ms McDonald greeted the MoS pleasantly as she was led from the building in an intense scrum of media and supporters, after her ratification as leader.
But just when she appeared about to answer questions, party PR officer Shaun Treacy rushed forward and repeatedly shouted: ‘Do not answer the Press.’
Warned over airing grievances in public
‘No media questions’. Mr Treacy and an army of Sinn Féin supporters, moving as if as one, quickly formed a blockade around their new leader, protecting her from any media queries.
The first shout by Mr Treacy appeared to be directed at the new party president, Ms McDonald, and the second at this reporter.
Earlier this week, the party informed the Leinster House press lobby that, unusually, the new leader of Sinn Féin would not be answering any questions upon her election. No media interviews were given as the world’s Press descended to document the, supposedly, historic changing of the guard, despite numerous requests to do so.
While it is understood Ms McDonald is to give an interview to RTÉ this morning, yesterday’s media blackout was in the context of a reemergence of the issue of bullying within Sinn Féin.
Last week, Dublin North-West councillor Noeleen Reilly resigned in an alleged bullying row, and subsequently claimed she had been assaulted by someone associated with the party, and that these claims were ignored or brushed under the carpet.
Party members have now been warned that they will face disciplinary action if they do not stop airing their grievances in public. But instead of addressing this issue head on, Gerry Adams’s successor spoke to the 2,000 plus delegates in her inaugural address in a carefully-crafted speech.
But the party’s oft-repeated ‘A cháirde’ greeting and rhetoric only went so far. A number of damaging issues continue to hang over the growing party, including the exodus of at least 15 members due to allegations of bullying and intimidation, not to mention the stalled Stormont talks.
The unseemly drama unfolded yesterday as the MoS stood beside the stage for most of the three-hour ratification and celebration that greeted the election of Ms McDonald. After her speech, we attempted to speak to her and approached her, along with her supporters, on the stage. But our attempts were thwarted as her PR officer followed the MoS onstage, and then went over to whisper in the ear of her bodyguard, warning him of the media’s presence.
She was then steered away from this reporter. Seats near the stage were frantically knocked over and kicked aside in a desperate bid to ensure her quick exit from the hall via a side-door.
Earlier, Ms McDonald and Michelle O’Neill the party’s Northern Ireland leader, who was ratified as the party’s new deputy leader, celebrated as Sisters Are Doin’ It For Themselves’ belted out over the sound system. Separately, Cara McGuinness, grand-daughter of the late deputy first minister Martin McGuinness, was specially chosen by Ms McDonald to sing A Song For Ireland to open the Ard Fheis.
Singer Ryan Sheridan also played four songs. But that was not the last of the singing, as Óró Sé Do Bheatha ‘Bhaile preceded Amhrán na bhFiann as an official close to the clár.
But despite seemingly everybody being in fine voice, Mary Lou remained tight-lipped – either by choice, or on official orders.
Carefully-crafted speech ignored bully claims