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"Democratic" Party Bans Dissent
Sinn Fein have suspended party member Francie Molloy, a man described as a 'veteran republican'. "What would lead Sinn Fein to suspend a member from the party now?" I hear you ask. Was he implicated in the Northern Bank robbery? No. Was he under investigation for involvement terrorist activities? No. Mr Molly disagreed with the party line that the RPA went wrong yesterday when it announced that there would, in future, be 7 councils in Northern Ireland.
Mr Molloy described the 7 council plan as "a sectarian headcount" (I would have said sectarian carve-up, but each to their own) and that it endorsed gerrymandering. In this Mr Molloy seems to be in agreement with all the other major parties. He said his argument was coming from a civil rights point of view and that 15 councils would have been a better option.
Follow up:
Now it could just be that Mr Molloy is protecting his own interests as a Dungannon councillor wanting to keep his job, but even if it was (and I have no evidence to suggest it is) - one has to wonder are there others in Sinn Fein who would agree with Mr Molloy and are too afraid to say lest they suffer the same fate?
Sinn Fein were the only party who supported the 7 council move, and it seems even they can't agree. Has Peter Hain made another huge cockup in his announcement yesterday?