The Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has come under fire for marching with a “divisive” banner at the St Patrick’s Day parade in New York.
Mary Lou McDonald was pictured holding a large banner reading “England get out of Ireland” at the parade on the US.
The image was shared by Sinn Féin with the caption “No explanation needed.”
The Tánaiste Simon Coveney was among the politicians to condemn the move, tweeting: “This is not leadership - it’s offensive, divisive and an embarrassment.”
“Grow up, this is no Ireland in 2019,” he wrote. “We are better than this.”
@MaryLouMcDonald this is NOT leadership - it’s offensive, divisive and an embarrassment - grow up, this is NOT #ireland in 2019! we are better than this! 🇮🇪 https://t.co/LUbfbvOe6l
— Simon Coveney (@simoncoveney) March 17, 2019
DUP MP Gregory Campbell said the banner sums up Sinn Féin’s attitude to “explanations, truth and respect.”
The East Derry representative said: “When slogans such as ‘Brits out’ or ‘England out of Ireland’ are used the unionist community are well within their rights to see themselves as the intended focus.”
“The ‘British presence in Ireland’ is the unionist population in Northern Ireland.”
He said it is “clear that republicans don’t do explanations. Neither do they do apologies” noting that the IRA has never apologised for the terror campaign it carried out during the Troubles.
“Like truth and respect, explanations are demanded, but never offered by Sinn Fein,” he said.
Sinn Fein aren't capable of convincing unionists of anything. The rest of us will have a lot of heavy lifting to do. https://t.co/rGDMnrBExn
— Colum Eastwood 🇺🇦 (@columeastwood) March 17, 2019
SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said the sign highlighted the fact that “Sinn Féin aren't capable of convincing unionists of anything.”
“The rest of us will have a lot of heavy lifting to do,” he said.
Alliance Party councillor Andrew Muir said the move “yet again exposes Sinn Féin’s faux support for a shared future.”
He noted that the Good Friday Agreement commits all side to “partnership, equality and mutual respect as the basis of relationships within Northern Ireland, between North and South, and between these islands.”
