Sinn Féin leader must clarify if she backs O’Broin on social media post – Farrell

The Sinn Féin leader needs to say whether she agrees with her colleague Eoin O’Broin or whether she will ask him to apologise to An Garda Síochána, a Fine Gael TD has said.

Deputy Alan Farrell was speaking today after Sinn Fein’s Eoin O’Broin posted an image online which the Fine Gael TD said is extremely disrespectful to Gardaí.

“His post is in no way helpful to the housing issue and only further divides people. There is nothing wrong with admitting it was wrong and apologising. But Deputy O’Broin has refused to do so and dug in.

“Consequently, Mary Lou McDonald must clarify whether this lack of respect for our Gardai is Sinn Féin party policy,” Deputy Farrell said.

“Sinn Fein’s mask has slipped; Eoin O’Broin’s disrespectful tweet shows us what they really think about our hardworking Gardaí.

“We know Sinn Fein have a troubled history and extremely poor record in supporting our Gardaí.

“Sinn Fein have played political theatrics for the past two weeks in using the housing crisis for their political gain. But inviting hatred towards Gardaí is a new low, even for them.

“Gardai put themselves at risk every day by simply doing their job, just last week we saw a Gardaí in Kildare receive a head injury during an altercation with an armed robber.

“In what world is this attitude towards our Gardaí appropriate?

“O’Broin must do the right thing and apologise.

“The tweet has been condemned by the AGSI General Secretary Antoinette Cunningham for being deeply offensive, but yet O’Broin has the audacity to defend his tweet.

“This opinion is clearly not confined to O’Broin, many Sinn Fein representatives have liked and shared the image as well.

“Many of O’Broin’s colleagues, including Chris Andrews TD, Paul Donnelly TD, Senator Lynn Boylan and others supported his tweet.

“It is time for Mary Lou to come clean and explain her position on her Deputy’s insults towards An Garda Síochána.

“Does she have the same contempt and lack of respect for the men and women who sacrifice their safety to build stronger, safer communities every day,” Deputy Farrell asked.