Sinn Féin criticised for ‘menacing and incendiary’ remarks about Justice Minister Helen McEntee

Four days on from the riots in Dublin and fingers are still being pointed between political parties as to who is to blame for the unprecedented levels of disorder experienced in the capital on Thursday November 23.

A pair who have been feeling the heat from both public and political scrutiny are the Garda Commissioner Drew Harris and Justice Minister Helen McEntee.

Opposition party Sinn Féin took a swipe at the Justice Minister this weekend as Sinn Féin Deputy Louise O’Reilly appeared on RTÉ Six One News and said Justice Minister Helen McEntee “needs to be taken out”.

“If she won’t resign, he needs to take her out, we of course have ruled nothing out,” said the Sinn Féin TD.

Members of Fine Gael were quick to jump to the defence of the the Fine Gael Justice Minister and implored that language such as ‘take her out’ should not be used in this context due to the “thuggery” already witnessed in Dublin on Thursday night.

In response to Deputy O’Reilly’s comments, Kildare TD and Minister of State Martin Heydon said “taking people out is the type of language we heard from the thugs last Thursday night and now we have politicians using it.

“This extremely menacing and incendiary remark says a lot about Sinn Féin and the type of politics they would practice if they were in power. We already know of their questionable record when it comes to law and order.”

Deputy Heydon added that the comments were “deplorable” and the public do not want to hear language like that used by politicians especially after the events that unfolded last Thursday night.

“It’s safe to say that the public have had enough of threatening, extremist language and behaviour. We certainly shouldn’t expect to get it from a spokesperson from the Opposition at a time when tensions remain understandably high.

“No doubt there will be more grandstanding from Sinn Féin in the coming days. Incendiary remarks like ‘take her out’ are completely unacceptable.”

Minister Heydon then went on to brand Sinn Féin’s response to the riots as “complete political point scoring.”

“The response from Sinn Féin to point the finger of blame at Government and the Garda Commissioner over the mindless thuggery perpetrated by a group of thugs is complete political point scoring when we need consensus on ensuring all are safe in our capital.

“The criminality and wanton thuggery that we witnessed in Dublin on Thursday night appalled all and we should be extremely thankful to the frontline workers, the council staff, shop workers and others who have worked tirelessly since.

“Almost 50 arrests have been made in the city since Thursday and a high visibility policing plan [was] in place throughout the weekend, including the deployment of four public order units.”

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