Republican News · Thursday 11 April 2002

McMenamin attack despicable - Doherty

West Tyrone Sinn Féin MP Pat Doherty has described as despicable the arson attack on the cars of Assemblyman Eugene McMeniman at his family home in Strabane. Expressing his sympathy to the Assemblyman and his family, the Sinn Féin MP said:

"Given the proximity of the family home to the burning cars, the potentially lethal effects of this despicable arson attack cannot be underestimated.

"This has undoubtedly been extremely traumatic experience for the McMeniman family and on behalf of Sinn Féin, I would express my sympathy to the family on the effects this terrible ordeal.

"While Sinn Féin fundamentally disagrees with the SDLPs present policy on policing, I would challenge those are so readily pointing the finger at republicans to ask themselves what benefit could be derived from such an attack. For republicans, such an attack would be completely counterproductive.

"I believe that recent events in Strabane show that a sinister hand is at work in this area at this time. This attack has taken place against a backdrop of a similar attack last week on the cars of people connected with the IRSP in the town. Sinn Féin is convinced that this attack was clearly designed to forment strife between the IRSP and republicans.

"Likewise, the timing of this attack on the cars of Mr McMenamin is extremely suspect, given the heightened level of debate on the policing issue between Sinn Féin and the SDLP."