Old-Fashioned Oppression In Kerry

national | miscellaneous | news report Wednesday March 13, 2002 14:57 by Peter - SF

Protest at the arrest of Martin Ferris

Sinn Fein has protested "in the strongest possible terms" at the arrest today of a member of the party's leadership, Martin Ferris. In a tightly fought race with Ireland's three largest parties, Ferris is putting in a strong challenge for one of the three seats in the constituency. The election is now just weeks away, but Ferris has said his team have been enduring constant harassment. There is a widepread belief that the arrest was politically motivated.

Mr Ferris was arrested at his home this morning. Other Sinn Fein activists in the area have received similar treatment in recent weeks, including Mr Ferris's campaign director, Jamesie Sheehan.

With Mr Ferris being held overnight at Killarney Garda Station, Sinn Fein's chief negotiator and the North's Minister of Education Martin McGuinness was in contact with senior Dublin government officials. He appealed to the Irish Prime Minister, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and the Minsiter for Justice to intervene in an expanding campaign of political harassment by Garda police against Sinn Fein in Kerry North.

A Garda spokesman said Mr Ferris was arrested in connection with an investigation of the false imprisonment of an alleged drug dealer in December, 2001.

A spokesman for the Taoiseach said his department would not get involved in what was described as an "operational Garda matter". But the suspicion is growing that the Taoiseach's party was behind the operation.

The party's TD for Cavan/Monaghan, Caoimhghin O Caolain, said he regarded the arrest as "gross interference in the democratic process".

"There has recently been an orchestrated campaign of vilification against Sinn Fein by some of our political opponents and by sections of the media, much of it focused on North Kerry," he said.

"It is no coincidence that this is one of the constituencies where Sinn Fein is challenging the main government party, Fianna Fail, for a Dail seat. The arrest of our North Kerry candidate must be seen in that context."

Speaking on Irish radio, Mr O Caolain confirmed that Sinn Fein accepted the Gardai as the lawful police authority of the State and rejected the allegation that Sinn Fein was involved in any vigilante activities.

Commenting on a possible setback for Sinn Fein's election prospects nationally -- already being eagerly anticipated in the media -- he pointed out that, given that such allegations were several months old, the timing of the arrests wsould be viewed with suspicion.

Ordinary people, he said, would take a very careful, very objective view. "I am confident that, if this is orchestrated, it will yet backfire," he said.