Dissidents to back anti police candidate - Is McCann the man?
DISSIDENT REPUBLICANS are to hold a meeting in Derry next week to discuss their support for an anti-policing candidate in the Assembly elections.
And, in a surprise move, the IRSP has suggested one option on the table will be a move to support veteran socialist Eamonn McCann "because of his anti-policing and Good Friday Agreement stance."
A 12-strong focus group of "concerned republicans" - made up of the political representatives of the INLA, the Real IRA and independent republicans - has confirmed that a public meeting will take place in the city next Wednesday January 17 to discuss Sinn Fein's support for the PSNI.
Speaking on behalf of the group, Willie Gallagher, spokesman for the Irish Republican Socialist Party (the political wing of the INLA), told the 'Journal' that the "policing debate" would be dominated by plans to run an anti-policing candidate should elections be called for March.
Behind McCann
Mr. Gallagher suggested that dissident republicans in the city might throw their weight behind Eamonn McCann of the Socialist Environmental Alliance.
"We haven't decided about a candidate in Derry yet but we're giving serious consideration to supporting Eamonn McCann because of his anti-policing and Good Friday Agreement stance. He is also very much opposed to the water tax and his socialist policies would are very much in line with those of the IRSP."
He said the move would have to be agreed by the IRSP Ard Comhairle.
Spokesman for the 32CSM Gary Donnolly - who polled almost 500 first preference votes as an independent republican in the 2005 Derry City Council elections - said that although the movement had not ruled out supporting the SEA candidate, it would be more inclined to back someone "who would not take a seat in Stormont" in the event of electoral success.
According to the Mr. Gallagher, there is "a strong demand" in the city for an alternative to the pro-policing, pro-agreement candidates.
Independent republicans
"We've been talking to a lot of people in Derry who are asking for independent republicans to stand in the election so they can register their opposition to Sinn Fein's stance on policing and the agreement. A vote for Sinn Fein is a vote for partition and for the endorsement of the PSNI," he said last night.
"It's understood that there are 4,000 people not registered to vote in Derry and we believe that the large bulk of them are dissaffected republicans opposed to the Good Friday Agreement and policing. We are calling on all republicans to register before Thursday, the closing date for registering.
Continued on page 6
"There are going to be a number of independent republicans standing in the elections throughout the North. As yet we don't know how many in total but it could be in most if not all constituencies."
It's already been announced that the brother of murdered INLA leader Dominic McGlinchey is to stand as an independent in Mid-Ulster should elections be called for March. Former Sinn Fein member Paul McGlinchey, who walked out of the party last month, has confirmed that he will go head-to-head with Sinn Fein's Chief Negotiator Martin McGuinness and other former colleagues. He said that opposition to Sinn Fein's policy on policing prompted his decision.
Ex-IRA man Gerry McGeough - who spent three years in a US prison - is considering mounting a challange against Sinn Fein's Michelle Gildernew in Fermanagh/South Tyrone.
Invitations to next week's meeting in Derry - the venue for which is yet to be confirmed - have been extended to Sinn Fein, Republican Sinn Fein, independent republicans, the Socialist Environmental Alliance, the 32 County Sovereignty Movement and the IRSP.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Derry
Sunday 12 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 5 C to 8 C
Wind Speed: 6 mph
Wind direction: West
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 6 C to 9 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: North west
