‘Bradley’s distraction doesn’t mask SDLP’s anti-agreement stance’ – Fearon | Latest Newry News, Newry Sport and Newry Business for Newry City

‘Bradley’s distraction doesn’t mask SDLP’s anti-agreement stance’ – Fearon

Sinn Féin MLA Megan Fearon has described the recent statement from SDLP MLA Dominic Bradley on the Special Advisors Bill as a petty attempt to distract attention from the real issue.

Speaking to Newry Times, Fearon said, “I defy Dominic Bradley to find anyone who has observed this process of the Special Advisors Bill from start to finish, who actually believes that the SDLP were acting in the interest of ex-prisoners.

“The recent statement from Mr Bradley regarding my participation in the debate is a petty distraction from the real issue. The SDLP supported Jim Allister and turned their back on the Good Friday Agreement, which has a requirement for reintegration of prisoners into daily life.

Fearon continued, “Dominic Bradley knows full well that each party will nominate speakers and subsequently every member will vote, which I did. It is on public record that Mitchel McLaughlin MLA and Daithí McKay MLA represented Sinn Féin in the debate speaking on behalf of every member of the party.

“If he was so concerned with protecting the rights of ex-prisoners all he had to do was sign his name as the 30th signature on a petition of concern, something that he and every other member of SDLP failed to do.

“His statement is a cheap effort to cover up his and his own party’s inaction. Sinn Féin have been consistent in protecting the rights of ex –prisoners, our track record will show this has always been the case, and it will always be the case.

Fearon added, “The SDLP ignored requests from ex-prisoner groups across the 6 counties to discuss the Special Advisers Bill. I wonder if members of those groups would agree with the ridiculous notion that the SDLP have in some way protected the rights of ex prisoners, I think not.”

Short URL: https://newrytimes.com/?p=30281

Posted by on Mar 31 2013. Filed under Politics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

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