Republican News · Thursday 29 May 2003

Sinn Féin confident of success in Crotlieve by-election

Colm Burns has been chosen by Sinn Féin to contest the Crotlieve by-election to Newry and Mourne District Council on 18 June, and hundreds of Sinn Féin activists and supporters packed Warrenpoint Town Hall on Tuesday evening to attend the campaign launch. Burns said he was confident of increasing Sinn Féin representation on the council.

Colm has been a member of the local Tom Williams Sinn Féin Cumann since its foundation in 1999. Originally from Andersonstown in West Belfast, he has lived in Warrenpoint for the past 21 years. He is married to Angela and they have one daughter.

Colm runs a successful photographic business in Warrenpoint and has been a long time member of St Peter's GAA club in Warrenpoint. His other interests include the Irish language, which he has taught to young children in St. Peter's GAA club and he also enjoys Irish traditional music.

Since the death of his twin brother in 1984 from leukaemia, Colm has campaigned for the closure of the Sellafield nuclear processing plant.

Addressing the gathering, Newry/Armagh Assembly member Conor Murphy said: "Last Wednesday afternoon, I accompanied Colm, Martin McGuinness MP and Assembly member Mick Murphy to sign his nomination papers. I believe this delegation reflects the unity of purpose and confidence Sinn Féin has in our candidate and I am sure that Colm is set to become our newest elected representative to be returned to Newry and Mourne District Council come polling day."

He welcomed Mitchel McLaughlin, guest speaker at the launch. "This is a further indication of Sinn Féin's commitment to the electorate of Crotlieve and South Down in general and reflects how united and focused our party is at both local and national level," said Murphy.

"Sinn Féin is the largest nationalist party in the Six Counties and people across Ireland are voting for our candidates in ever increasing numbers. This is one reason why the British government postponed the Assembly elections and in doing so denied the electorate their right to make a judgement on the political parties involved in the peace process.

"By electing Colm Burns on 18 June, the electorate of Crotlieve can give voice to the widespread anger felt by the nationalist community throughout the Six Counties, who have yet again been disenfranchised by a British administration arrogant enough to believe they know what is best for the Irish people."

For his part, Colm Burns said: "This constituency has been hampered by a lack of investment that would have allowed the region to achieve its true economic and tourist potential. Our local farming community is in decline and has suffered due to a lack of a coherent strategy for rural economic development. It is now time for change.

"There are a number of vitally important issues affecting the people of this constituency. For many years, profit has been the over-riding consideration in the planning and building of houses and provision must now be made that allows local people the opportunity to set up home in the locality. Following the recent closures of big name employers in the area such as Dunne Stores, encouraging economic investment in Crotlieve must be made a priority.

"Crotlieve is an area of outstanding natural beauty and the tourist potential of the Mournes, Carlingford Lough and the Cooley Peninsula in North Louth has never been properly marketed or fully exploited. I am therefore very supportive of my party's continuing efforts to secure capital funding for a link bridge that would span Carlingford Lough at Narrow Water which I believe has the potential to rejuvenate the town of Warrenpoint and the surrounding hinterland.

"At local level the 13 elected Sinn Féin Councillors sitting on Newry & Mourne District Council have provided strong, effective leadership within the local community and I am hopeful that following this by-election we will have an even stronger representation."

Mitchel McLaughlin said "the fact that Sinn Féin is now the largest party on the council is proof that our councilors are giving effective leadership in dealing with the daily problems of constituents. It will also allow voters to register their disgust and opposition to the fact that the Assembly elections have been postponed and left them disenfranchised.

"A strong vote for Sinn Féin will send a message to both governments that we are the party they want to represent them in negotiations to further progress in the Peace Process."