FG UNEASY AT BRUTON SF ATTACK
FG uneasy at Bruton SF attack
By CHRIS GLENNON and LORNA REID
FINE Gael leader John Bruton last night faced internal party criticism over his Dail speech on the new anti-terror laws.
His hard-hitting attack on the leadership of Sinn Fein caused what some party members described as "unease".
One senior party figure described Mr Bruton's Dail speech and earlier comments in television interviews as "out of touch" with the public mood in the aftermath of Omagh.
The criticisms of the Opposition leader are the first for quite some time, but they do not pose any immediate threat to his position. "We just hope he comes more back into line with general public opinion," a senior party figure said. Mr Bruton launched a stinging attack on Sinn Fein after Monday night's Provo/IRA declaration that it did not intend to decommission any arms. He questioned how any party committed to democratic politics could continue to have a private army behind it.
He maintained this line in the emergency Dail debate on the anti-terror law.
Despite reservations on the possibility of a viable government for the North, quite a few Fine Gael deputies took the view that it was better to support efforts to bring democracy to the North than to criticise the attempts to develop it.
By CHRIS GLENNON and LORNA REID
FINE Gael leader John Bruton last night faced internal party criticism over his Dail speech on the new anti-terror laws.
His hard-hitting attack on the leadership of Sinn Fein caused what some party members described as "unease".
One senior party figure described Mr Bruton's Dail speech and earlier comments in television interviews as "out of touch" with the public mood in the aftermath of Omagh.
The criticisms of the Opposition leader are the first for quite some time, but they do not pose any immediate threat to his position. "We just hope he comes more back into line with general public opinion," a senior party figure said. Mr Bruton launched a stinging attack on Sinn Fein after Monday night's Provo/IRA declaration that it did not intend to decommission any arms. He questioned how any party committed to democratic politics could continue to have a private army behind it.
He maintained this line in the emergency Dail debate on the anti-terror law.
Despite reservations on the possibility of a viable government for the North, quite a few Fine Gael deputies took the view that it was better to support efforts to bring democracy to the North than to criticise the attempts to develop it.
Further Information
Publisher: IRISH INDEPENDENT
Ref: II/235
Published Date: 04-Sep-98
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