Sinn Féin to Protest against March handover of €3.1Billion to Anglo Irish Bank

County Monaghan Sinn Féin this week outlined details of a series of protests and demonstrations against the government’s intention to hand over a further €3.1 Billion to Anglo Irish Bank on the 31st March next.

The party will be holding information stalls and accompanying protests in Carrickmacross from 11am to 12noon and in Castleblayney from 1-2pm this coming Saturday to which members of the public are invited to attend. Further events will take place in Ballybay and Clones and the party’s activities will culminate in a county-wide mobilisation in Monaghan Town on March 10th.

Speaking in advance of this weekends protests the chairperson of County Monaghan Sinn Féin, Matt Carthy, said:

“Fine Gael and Labour promised the electorate that there would not be ‘another red cent’ handed over to Anglo Irish Bank by way of paying bondholders or promissory notes. They reneged and have simply taking over from where Fianna Fáil left off by crippling local economies and targeting struggling families while paying Billions upon Billions over to un-guaranteed, unsecured bondholders.

“On the 31st March Fine Gael and Labour intend to hand over a further €3.1 Billion to Anglo Irish Bank. This is money that is being cut from the health services, from schools and from local services including Garda stations and rural transport. It is money that is being taken from struggling families by measures including the VAT hike and the new household charge.

“This Saturday’s protests in Carrickmacross and Castleblayney are an opportunity for the people of Monaghan to shout “Stop!”. I am asking all of you who want to see a better, fairer approach to our economic crisis to come along and voice your demand. It is time the government parties heard the concerns of the people they are supposed to represent.”

Protest: Carrickmacross (Assemble- Market Square) 11am – 12noon
Castleblayney (Assemble- Main Street) 1-2pm

Carthy welcomes movement on Cloughvalley Housing Scheme

(Cllr. Matt Carthy and former Mayor of Carrickmacross, Rose McMahon, highlighting the boarded-up houses at Cloughvalley last year)

South Monaghan Sinn Féin Councillor, Matt Carthy, has welcomed the news that the government has finally agreed to live up to its commitment to allocate funding towards the completion of the Remedial Works Scheme at Cloughvalley, Carrickmacross. Cllr. Carthy, who has been campaigning for the funding for several years, said that it was a disgrace that houses had been left vacant for so long at a time when there were hundreds of people on the local authority housing waiting list.

Cllr. Carthy said: “I welcome the announcement that, finally, €2.8million has been allocated towards the demolition and rebuild of the OPD houses in Cloughvalley. I have been extremely angry with the fact that previous tenants were moved out of their homes only for the houses to be left vacant and boarded up for the past couple of years. The houses had become an eye-sore and a focal point for anti-social behaviour.

“The government’s social housing programme has become a charade. No funding is forthcoming for the purchase and building of new houses for the hundreds of individuals and families on local housing waiting lists. Instead money is being squandered on leasing programmes which will just create long term problems for the state and for local authorities. The fact that houses in public ownership had been left idle for so long just exemplified this failed policy.

“I am pleased that the government has finally released funding it had promised in 2004. I am now calling on everyone involved to ensure that the Remedial Works Scheme proceeds, and is completed, without any further delay”.

Carrickmacross Born Journalist among those kidnapped by Israeli Government

Responding to the news that a Carrickmacross born journalist was among those kidnapped by Israeli government forces this week local Councillor Matt Carthy has said that all right-thinking people are outraged at the sheer aggression of Israel.

Paul McGeough lived in Carrickmacross until he was 11 years old when his family emigrated to Australia. He currently works as a journalist with the Sydney Morning Herald and is considered an expert on Middle Eastern Affairs. He was on board a vessel in the Gaza bound Flotilla which was captured in international waters by Israel in violation of international law. He is currently being held captive in Ela prison in Beersheba.

Cllr. Carthy said: “Our thoughts and solidarity are with Paul McGeough and his family at this time. He has, I have no doubt, the support and best wishes of the vast majority of his old neighbours and family friends in his home town of Carrickmacross.

“The actions of the Israeli government have once again shown the world that this is a rogue regime. In the first instance I would join the chorus of those demanding the release of all those involved with the flotilla who are being held captive at this time. I will also be requesting Monaghan County Council, at its meeting next Monday, to join with the other local authorities who have adopted motions condemning the Israeli government and calling on our own Foreign Affairs Minister to expel the Israeli ambassador to Ireland.

“Earlier this year that same ambassador attempted to use our town for a PR exercise and unfortunately was facilitated by our Mayor. Thankfully the majority of Town Councillors rectified our image and removed Zion Evrony’s signature from the town’s distinguished visitors book. Wouldn’t it be a shame if this action had not been taken and for Paul McGeough to be informed that his home town considered a representative of the government who kidnapped him to be a ‘distinguished visitor’? Perhaps those ‘politicos’ who condemned the actions of the Town Council will now understand the motives for our actions.

“Regardless, I hope everyone in Carrickmacross and County Monaghan will join us in expressing hope that Paul McGeough, along with the other Irish citizens kidnapped by Israel, is returned home safe and sound without delay”.