Sinn Fein accused

last updated 8 January 2015

Dublin

The government of Ireland this week said that the leaders of Sinn Fein were part of the IRA “command.” The Sinn Fein party, active in Ireland as well as in the British province of Northern Ireland, is often referred to as the “political wing” of the terrorist group. But it has long insisted that it has no control over the militants, and the British and Irish governments have never openly claimed otherwise, until now. Irish Justice Minister Michael McDowell named Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams, his deputy Martin McGuinness, and member of the Irish parliament Martin Ferris as part of the IRA’s seven-man ruling Army Council. All three men immediately denied the allegation. The British and Irish governments have been increasingly critical of Sinn Fein since December, when they blamed the IRA for a Belfast bank robbery.