RSF not Behind Removal of 'X Factor' Posters

derry | miscellaneous | press release

Wednesday November 19, 2008 01:43

by Richard Walsh - Republican Sinn Féin

tiocfaidh at btinternet dot com

+44-7835 620 592 / +353-87 261 8603

It has come to the attention of the John Mitchel Cumann of Republican Sinn Féin in County Derry that rumours are circulating in the Dungiven area that members of the organisation were responsible for the removal of posters supporting singer Eoghan Quigg’s ‘X Factor’ campaign. Following a thorough investigation, it has been established that there is no truth to such allegations.

It has come to the attention of the John Mitchel Cumann of Republican Sinn Féin in County Derry that rumours are circulating in the Dungiven area that members of the organisation were responsible for the removal of posters supporting singer Eoghan Quigg’s ‘X Factor’ campaign. Following a thorough investigation, it has been established that there is no truth to such allegations.

The Director of Publicity for Republican Sinn Féin, Richard Walsh – himself a member of the John Mitchel Cumann – said that such false allegations were unhelpful.

“We have established that members of the Republican Movement were not behind any campaign to remove posters in support of Eoghan Quigg. Like everyone else, we are delighted to see a local lad performing well in the competition.

“Whilst we cannot endorse the promotion of the British Crown Forces either through the wearing of the British Imperial Poppy, or the release of a single to help fund the British Legion, we hold the blame for such activities firmly at the door of those responsible for the production of the ‘X Factor’.

“Indeed allegations were levelled against me in a number of publications, suggesting that I supported threats levelled against Eoghan Quigg. In fact, I clearly stated that it was those responsible for producing the show who were to blame for cynically using an Irish contestant to promote the nefarious activities of British forces throughout the globe, and therefore for politicising the show. It was not me who brought politics into the equation.

“We would ask that those behind false allegations levelled against our organisation have the honesty to cease representing them as the truth.”

ENDS