Sinn Féin: Opposition to ‘Special Criminal Court’ withdrawn
Since Ireland was partitioned in 1922 the unionists in the Six Counties and those in power in the Twenty Six Counties have introduced repressive laws in their campaign against Irish Republicans.
The Free Staters were so impressed with unionist legislation that they in turn brought in the ‘Offences Against the State Act’. It gave the gardaí unlimited powers which led to many women and men being imprisoned. A number of Republicans were executed also.
Pádraic MacCoitir, spokesperson for Lasair Dhearg, said, “So oppressive were those laws many people were afraid to raise their voices against the state. Most of those who did were imprisoned and many refused to recognise their courts. Censorship also came under this legislation which enabled the state to get away with human rights abuses.”
“During the most recent campaign many Republicans were imprisoned on the word of a senior garda in a Special Court where three judges sat and handed out sentences at will. People took to the streets in opposition to these laws and Sinn Féin was to the fore in these protests. They had called for the ending of ‘Special Courts’ and indeed the ‘Offences against The State Act’; and rightly so.”
He continued, “Yesterday in Leinster House an extension of that very act and the renewal of Special Courts was approved. As expected Sinn Féin abstained from the vote in a significant move that saw them withdraw their opposition to it. Only 3 other TDs opposed it.”
“This, in line with Sinn Féin recognising the Free State not too many years ago, is another considerable step away from the demands made by Republicans for generations.”
ENDS
