CELTIC CORNER
Ireland, yesterday’s fight never ends. One Ireland never two, as
simple as that. Anyway that is what Dad always said.
We fought them in 1916, 10 great patriots gave their lives in
1981, you remember Bobby Sands and the Hunger Strikers. We have made great
strides for peace in the North. Now the cowards strike again. They arrest Jerry
Adams, another great patriot. Here is the story.
Adams arrest linked to Sinn Fein electoral strength
Sinn Fein's Six-County Deputy First Minister, Martin McGuinness
has said that the arrest of party leader Gerry Adams by the PSNI last night was
politically motivated.
Mr. Adams spent last night at the PSNI's main interrogation centre
and is continuing to be questioned there.
Mr Adams was first contacted by the PSNI on Tuesday and had
volunteered to help the investigation into the 1972 death of informer Jean McConville,
Sinn Fein said. He presented himself at 8pm last night and within an hour
the PSNI announced that a "65 year old man" had been arrested in the
case.
Reports have indicated he is being questioned under the
Terrorism Act 2000 and can be held by the PSNI for 48 hours without recourse to
the course.
Unionists reveled in the development but demanded the Sinn Fein
leader face charged. Late last night, celebrating loyalists erected a large British
Union Jack outside the police base in Antrim town.
Mr McGuinness said Mr Adams was "the single most important
person" in the peace process. “In that context I view his arrest as a
deliberate attempt to influence the outcome of the elections due to take place
all over this island in three weeks," he said. “That raises very serious
questions about the agenda of those responsible. There are people on the dark
side of policing and this is an attempt to flex their muscles."
A recent poll showed Sinn Fein is on the brink of becoming the
largest party in both parts of Ireland in elections being held separately in both
jurisdictions later this month.
The Sinn Fein deputy leader Mary Lou McDonald blamed "old
guard
elements" within the PSNI and unionism were working against the party. She said it was wrong to suggest that Adams was a suspect in the inquiry, saying that he had volunteered to travel north to help the investigation. Ms. McDonald said there were people who viewed the growing strength of Sinn Fein with "very considerable alarm" and that there are people "who would wish to do things to stop that" ahead of the elections on May 23rd.
elements" within the PSNI and unionism were working against the party. She said it was wrong to suggest that Adams was a suspect in the inquiry, saying that he had volunteered to travel north to help the investigation. Ms. McDonald said there were people who viewed the growing strength of Sinn Fein with "very considerable alarm" and that there are people "who would wish to do things to stop that" ahead of the elections on May 23rd.
Asked if the arrest had damaged the PSNI's credibility and the
peace process, she said that the PSNI have "questions to answer" but
added that the peace process is "fairly robust".
The arrest of Mr Adams is being reported in the mainstream media
in the 26 Counties as a major setback for the party's chances of a historic breakthrough
in the local and European elections there.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny denied charges of political interference,
saying that parties in the 26 Counties had "absolutely no connection with
this at all"
Your Corres
Secretary President
Frank Darcy Ken
Egan
