Monaghan Sinn Féin protest against IMF “sell-out”

Members of Sinn Féin in County Monaghan protested on Monday evening last at what they described was the “IMF sell-out” by the government. Despite the short notice over 40 people gathered at the courthouse in Monaghan Town and held an hour-long silent protest. Among the banners and placards held were proclamations stating “No Mandate for IMF Intervention”, “Fianna Fáil Sell-Out Again” and “There is a better way”.

Those in attendance included Sinn Féin Dáil leader, Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin and elected councillors from across the county. The party stated afterwards that the protest was a symbolic gesture to register the disgust of ordinary people at the governments failures in recent times.

Speaking after the event the chairperson of Monaghan Sinn Féin, Matt Carthy, thanked the public of Monaghan for their support during the protest. He said: “It is clear, even from speaking to lifelong Fianna Fáil supporters, that there is huge anger at the actions of this government over the past week. Their policy of cutting public services and targeting the vulnerable has, as Sinn Féin asserted, failed. We now have the embarrassing and humiliating experience of being forced by the EU to apply for a bail-out. Even though this is a loan which will be a huge burden on future generations we are further expected to accept interference from outside governments in how we manage our economic affairs. It is nothing short of a disgrace that it has come to this.

“Our protest on Monday was just a symbolic gesture to register the anger of people in County Monaghan. The real way that our anger can be registered will be, of course, when a general election is called. It is unforgivable that before the electorate will have their opportunity to pass judgement the government intends to introduce even more measures which will devastate families and businesses across the state. Unfortunately they have been broadly supported by the so-called opposition parties in Fine Gael and Labour.

“For our part, Sinn Féin will continue to argue that there is a better way. Our policies, once dismissed by the other parties, are now being endorsed by an ever growing section of independent analysts. We have the policies that can get Ireland back working without inflicting huge pain on ordinary families. We will not be diverted from articulating that position”.

Sinn Féin Protest in Monaghan TODAY

Monaghan Sinn Féin has organised a protest which will take place at the Courthouse in Monaghan Town at 5pm. This is part of a series of protests taking place throughout the 26 Counties today over the Government’s handing over of authority for the state to outsiders in order to bailout the banks.

The chairperson of Monaghan Sinn Féin, Cllr. Matt Carthy, has urged people to support the protest. He said: “People are rightly stunned and angry at the actions of this Fianna Fáil government. They are disillusion by the fact that the government’s plans have been supported by the so-called opposition parties Fine Gael and labour. The fact is that Sinn Féin’s analysis has again been proven right although there is no comfort in that.

“Today’s protest is about sending a clear message that this Government has no mandate to do what it is doing. It has handed over authority for the state to outsiders in order to get a dig-out for the banks, which the Irish people will have to pay for.

“The Government should resign so that citizens can have their say in a General Election. I urge people in Monaghan to support our protest today and send a very clear message to Fianna Fáil.”