Republican News · Thursday 11 April 2002

Flying of flag at half mast inappropriate

Sinn Féin councillor Seán MacManus has slammed Fianna Fáil and the government to for issuing a directive stating that the Irish flag was to be flown at half mast above government buildings on Tuesday 9 April as a mark of respect to the British queen mother.

"It is incredible that the government called for the Irish flag to be flown at half mast as a mark of respect on the death of a member of the British royal family," said MacManus "British people, including those who share this island with us, are entitled to mourn the death of a member of the British royal family whom they respected. But the decision to fly the Irish flag at half mast was inappropriate. It has caused pain to those who have lost loved ones at the hands of British forces, who the British royal family represent daily.

"This is also a case of double standards when you consider that the Irish government refused to fly the flag at half mast over state departments on the occasion of the death of Kieran Doherty TD, who died on hunger strike in 1981.

"I am calling on the Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and Fianna Fáil to explain how they can still claim to be a republican party and stoop to such patronising acts to appease a royal family that still claim jurisdiction over part of Ireland. He and President McAleese have both extended their sympathies to the British Royal family on their recent bereavment. That is sufficient."