Allister derides Sinn Fein's schoolboy error
12 January 2006
In a statement DUP MEP Jim Allister has mocked the ineptitude of Sinn Fein in first welcoming and then excoriating legislation which it demanded but then clearly struggled to understand. It makes one wonder, he says, how Sinn Fein succeeded in outwitting David Trimble and the UUP in the Good Friday negotiations.
Mr Allister said:-
“Now that the hideous OTR legislation has been dropped, it is timely to reflect on just how ineptly Sinn Fein conducted itself over this issue, which is so central to their agenda.
Often over-credited with ability, Sinn Fein leaders stand exposed as bungling and incompetent in their negotiating and capacity to understand what had been put in black and white before them. It wasn’t just when the Bill was published that Sinn Fein was on notice that it was capable of including others than their terrorist cronies. Back as far as April 2003 the Government published a document entitled “Proposals in relation to on the runs (OTRs)”. Paragraph 4 of that document made it clear that a “qualifying offence” would be “any scheduled or equivalent offence committed before
If the meaning of the 2003 document passed over the heads of Sinn Fein, then the cold print of the Bill underscored the full scope of the Bill. Yet, Sinn Fein embraced and welcomed it, only months later to denounce it once the penny had finally dropped.
When not looking over their shoulders for further spies, perhaps Martin and Gerry should consider some night classes in basic English.
This episode also, of course, exposes the raw sectarianism and belief in inequality which lies at the heart of Sinn Fein. They demand special amnesty for the killers of the IRA but insist on full British justice for police and soldiers! This is the Party which aspires to administer policing and justice! Little wonder unionist opinion is so resolute against any return to executive power for Sinn Fein/IRA.”
