Ahern meeting with loyalists condemned

national | miscellaneous | press release Tuesday June 24, 2003 21:29 by Ailín

A meeting between Bertie Ahern and the leaders of gangs of Loyalist Paramilitaries who have killed Nationalist people North and South of the Border was condemned at a meeting of the Munster Executive of Republican Sinn Fein in Limerick.

RSF Munster Executive spokesman Joe Lynch from Ballinacurra Weston in Limerick said the meeting called on Mr.Ahern to explain why he met with the Loyalists.

"At a time when the inquests into the deaths of people in Dublin and Monaghan killed by Loyalist bombs is being re-opened, it was insensitive for the meeting to take place," he said.

"The Limerick RSF meeting condemned Mr.Ahern's action and also noted that Loyalist death threats have been made against a Limerick solicitor and members of Republican Sinn Féin.

"To threaten a solicitor is nothing new for Loyalists and the murder of Pat Finucane provides ample evidence of security force collusion with Loyalists in his death.

"While Mr.Ahern allows his police force to bring trumped up charges against Republicans and tries to demonise Republican Sinn Féin, he is meeting with Loyalists who have killed Nationalists and Catholics both North and South of the border. Instead of meeting with them he should insist that the full force of the law in the Six Counties is brought to bear on their murderous activities."