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Ógra Sinn Féin member is injured while engaged in anti-sectarian protes

category down | miscellaneous | news report author Friday August 31, 2007 18:12author by Butcher's Apron Report this post to the editors

Injured young man recovering- anti-sectarian community applauds

A young member of Ógra Sinn Féin last Saturday night noticed that a building was flying a Union Flag in Newcastle, County Down Ireland.

This "butcher's apron" flag is of course offensive to many Irish people, and since the building belonged to the avowedly sectarian "Orange Order" the young man decided that the best way to peacefully protest was to scale the building and remove the offending symbol.

Sadly, after removing the flag, the young ÓSF member lost his footing and fell from the roof, injuring his arm. He has received medical treatment and is recovering.

original designs for "Union Flag"
original designs for "Union Flag"

Since the "Orange Order" is a sectarian organisation, and the protest was entirely peaceful, many people have applauded the young man's actions and wish him a speedy recovery.

author by other waypublication date Fri Aug 31, 2007 19:12author address author phone Report this post to the editors

or something they thought offensive.?
Interestingly SF and most republican groups are bound to tolerating the unionist tradition,
therefore he was drunk or just stroppy.

author by Willy Npublication date Fri Aug 31, 2007 19:35author address author phone Report this post to the editors

I suppose it's boring being a $hinner nowadays, unless you're up in Stormont, governing the State while the Union flag flies overhead.

Now don't you dare try pulling that flag down you wee whippersnappers!

author by Bulbpublication date Sat Sep 01, 2007 14:57author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Considering you support the PSNI/ RUC now why didn't he just ring the peelers and complain about the sectarian organisationinstead of breaking British laws.

author by SWpublication date Sat Sep 01, 2007 15:19author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Fair play to him. Actions like this should be supported and encouraged. Sectarian organizations like the Orange Order should be challenged by all Republicans. (it's a pity some of the people who made the comments above can't bring themselves to support this action, and think it's more important to make attacks on Sinn Féin. Sad. )

author by Mike - Judean Popular Peoples Frontpublication date Sat Sep 01, 2007 16:06author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Shinners claiming the Orange order are sectarian ?

Pot/Kettle anyone................

author by Patrick Henrypublication date Sat Sep 01, 2007 16:47author address author phone Report this post to the editors

You must be joking, SW, if you believe that an idiotic action like the one carried out by the Ogra member somehow challenges the OO. Maybe he thought that he could redress the damage done by $inn Feign to the cause of Republicanism.

author by SWpublication date Sat Sep 01, 2007 21:21author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Pathetic shut-ins. Get some fresh air. Do something. You'll poison yourself with all that anti-Sinn Féin ranting.

The young activist did what he could. The OO is like the Ku Klux Klan, and only exists in Ireland because sad fools like you would rather tolerate it than face reality, and the so-called radical left are more concerned with what's happening in the middle-east than dealing with the hatred and colonial mentalities in this country.

Good for the Ogra member. He achieved more in one evening than you'll do in a year.

author by Tomás Ópublication date Sun Sep 02, 2007 02:39author address author phone Report this post to the editors

SW said "Good for the Ogra member. He achieved more in one evening than you'll do in a year. '

What actually did this OSF member achieve or accomplish in your opinion that struck such a major or deadly blow against the OO or occupation of the six counties?

author by roosterpublication date Sun Sep 02, 2007 08:28author address author phone Report this post to the editors

"What actually did this OSF member achieve or accomplish in your opinion that struck such a major or deadly blow against the OO or occupation of the six counties?"

All this young lad did was to inflame sectarian tensions and to put a community with a siege mentality feel even more threatened. The reaction of the local community will be to rally around the "butchers apron" and to become even more intransigent.

author by Bulbpublication date Sun Sep 02, 2007 09:41author address author phone Report this post to the editors

In a report by the Pat Finucane Centre on the Loyal Orders, which are sectarian bodies started to keep the croppies down, it was reported that 10 per cent of serving PSNI/ RUC members were also members of the Orange Order. What i pointed out was not a cheap point scoring but the fact that how can OSF believe it is actively fighting sectarianism when also supporting what is at its roots a sectarian police force. OSF needs to make up its mind. Either it supports the institutions of British occupation or it doesn't. If members who are genuinely anti partition and anti sectarian( and i'm sure there are loads) need to do anything it is to reassess the political stuctures they give allegiance to. The SF leadership are helping to stabilise a statelet based on an orange veto, thus denying Irish people the right to national self determination.

author by cop-onpublication date Sun Sep 02, 2007 10:08author address author phone Report this post to the editors

OSF are bound by the GFA as are SF and the other parties. Religious tolerance.
symbol tolerance. accepting the police force.
ye cannae have your cake and eat it too.

If OSF are incapable of digesting this then wtf are they attempting to build a national
campaign based on Irish Sovernity, bang yer drum elsewhere.SF are working with Paisley
now and ye are the youth branch- ye should be centrist and fighting for low tax corporate
shite like SF do in the south and leaving the work to the rest of us.

author by radicaljonnypublication date Sun Sep 02, 2007 13:39author address author phone Report this post to the editors

I find it always interesting that SF hardly seems to mention the existence of OSF, much less publicly comment on the actions that the we'ens get up to.

How about it, any ELECTED SF reps? Care go on the record with your comments about the above-mentioned action? How does it sit with party policy?

This I gotta hear...

author by Mike - Judean Peoples Popular Frontpublication date Sun Sep 02, 2007 14:33author address author phone Report this post to the editors

And what pray tell is the Shninner position on the right of any person or group of people to display the flag of their choice on their own property ?

Is this not the Sinn Fein who back in the eighties made so much noise about "censorship" ?

Seemingly the Shinner position on free speech is and always "everybody has the right to agree with us"

Has the young thug in question yet been questioned by the police in relation to a little matter of theft/criminal damage/aggravated trespass/incitement/behaviour likely to lead to a breach of the peace/wasting NHS resources?

author by Tomás Ópublication date Sun Sep 02, 2007 14:36author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Sinn Féin condemns arson attack on Seagoe Orange Hall

Published: 30 August, 2007

Sinn Féin Representative, Cllr Dessie Ward, in condemning the overnight arson attack on Seagoe Orange Hall said:

"This is a very sinister development as it is the first time that this Orange Hall has been attacked. I have no hesitation in condemning this attack and do so without reservation. All of us are trying to move on but unfortunately there is a small number of people intent on dragging us backwards. They won't succeed.

"Sectarianism is a cancer on our society which can best be resolved by unionists engaging with nationalists and republicans on a constructive basis through the political process. This attack may or may not be in response to a number of attacks on the nationalists community in the Portadown area over the past week. Either way it is wrong and will no doubt be condemned by all right thinking people." ENDS

http://sinnfein.ie/news/detail/20436

will Dessie Ward also condemn what hapened saturday night?

author by curious georgepublication date Tue Sep 04, 2007 12:46author address author phone Report this post to the editors

The sectarianism of the Orange Order is not the topic here. These attacks are going on in areas where Protestants are a minority and, like it or not, the Orange Hall is the local gathering spot for Protestants in the area. The arson attacks, trespasses and ripping down of flags are intolerant and threatening to the Protestant community. Trying to dress it up as some revolutionary act against sectarianism is a flasehood.

author by mourneman - none of the abovepublication date Mon Sep 10, 2007 14:50author address author phone Report this post to the editors

If SF try and force OSF to expell said youth, will OSF in south down refuse to comply with headquaters dictat?

author by Member - Ogra Shinn Feinpublication date Fri Oct 19, 2007 04:15author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Just want to thank you for your good wishes, it was me that came off the hall. For those who say my actions were stupid i have to argue against them. In a dominately nationalist town it is our right to remove what the majority of people in the town feel is offensive towards them. If a tri-colour was placed in Sandy Row would it last long? And do you think that if i wasnt a member of a political organisation that the police, media, orange order and DUP would be making such a great deal out of the matter? I dont think so...

author by oneillpublication date Wed Nov 07, 2007 12:50author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Ogra Member, I read your comment with interest, apparently not a drunken escapade then but a blow against the forces of sectarianism.

Two questions:

1. Have the PSNI taken any further action against yourself ?
2. Has your party taken any disclipinary action against yourself

author by Confusedpublication date Wed May 07, 2008 12:57author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Your comment:
"In a dominately nationalist town it is our right to remove what the majority of people in the town feel is offensive towards them."

Does this mean that it was okay to discriminate against catholics because they were a minority in the Northern Irish state!

"If a tri-colour was placed in Sandy Row would it last long?"

If a union jack was on an orange hall near you, would it last long?

"And do you think that if i wasnt a member of a political organisation that the police, media, orange order and DUP would be making such a great deal out of the matter?"

No but you are a member of a political organisation whose adult wing is in government and therefore responsible for maintaining a government with the DUP!

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