Newry Armagh Sinn Féin Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

Sinn Féin withdraw from undemocratic group leader system

Published: 17 February, 2009

Sinn Féin Council Leader Brendan Curran has said that there is no longer a group leader system in Newry and Mourne District Coucnil and that his party has withdrawn from this arrangement as a result of the Sinn Féin mandate not being recognised

Cllr Curran said,

"In recent months the DUP's group leader closed down the Council in partnership with the SDLP. This was done without any consultation with Sinn Féin, making a farce out of any group leader arrangement."

"The situation has been totally unsatisfactory for many months, in fact during last year's run up to the July marches when group leaders were to meet various loyal orders some of the groups failed to attend what were important meetings."

"Sinn Féin feels that this group leader arrangement is now no longer valid as it simply doesn't work. Council management and the other groupings are trying to mirror what happened in Stormont and in other Councils by attempting to continue this arrangement without the input or consent of Sinn Fein"

"This will have a financial impact on the rate payer as the same meetings will have to run twice over dozens of occasions throughout the year. This will also mean that anyone seeking to meet Newry & Mourne group leaders will be doing so without the input of Sinn Féin."

Cllr Curran concluded by stating that the Council is increasingly being dictated to and led by Ulster Unionist Danny Kennedy who now appears to have assumed the leadership of the SDLP.

"Unless there is a fair and equal arrangement in this Council we will have no part in this window dressing of local democracy."