February 17, 2011
By Staff Reporter
Paisley said last week that republicans had forfeited the right to power sharing. “Let it be said in the plainest possible language that there can be no power sharing with IRA/Sinn Fein either before or after an election,” he said.
Sinn Fein are also gearing up for the election battle with a leaflet campaign in republican areas to ensure voters are listed, have the correct accreditation to get their ballot or apply in time for a proxy vote.
The party is also continuing to respond to claims from the family of murdered Belfast man Robert McCartney that republicans are intimidating witnesses. The McCartneys postponed a vigil in Belfast this week but are planning one closer to the election date.
In another development on the McCartney saga, Sinn Fein’s Alex Maskey has begun a libel action against the SDLP deputy leader, Alasdair McDonnell. McDonnell has taken a high-profile stand in support of the McCartney family.
A defiant McDonnell said it was “appalling and beyond belief that Sinn Fein are still covering up the truth about this murder.”
“Now they are cynically trying to use the courts to cover up the truth further,” he said. “This will not wash. The SDLP will defend itself against this action and stand up for the truth.”
Meanwhile, the British government has finalized its move to penalize Sinn Fein for the IRA’s alleged involvement in the Northern Bank robbery of Dec. 20, 2004, leading to a furious response.
The Sinn F