ANGRY FEELINGS OVER COUNCILLOR
Angry feelings over councillor
ONE of the most senior members of the 32 County Movement, recognised as the political wing of the group suspected of the Omagh atrocity, is a councillor for the Tyrone town.
Francie Mackey, who was suspended from Sinn Fein in June because of his support for the renegade movement, faces an angry reception from fellow councillors if he decides to attend an emergency meeting this morning.
A pro-agreement republican told the Irish News:"I think he should not attend and should offer a letter of resignation to the council."
Mr Mackey was not available for comment last night, and there were conflicting reports from other councillors as to whether or not he was expected to attend today's meeting.
Mackey, a long-standing Sinn Fein councillor of 13 years, began voicing opposition to the peace strategy in December last, when he criticised the party's endorsement of the Mitchell principles on non-violence and democracy as going "against the republican position".
In January he went further, telling a public meeting in Dundalk organised by the 32 County Movement that he could not take part in a process he said would "copper-fasten partition".
In April he failed to accompany Bernadette Sands-McKevitt on a tour of the United States after immigration officials turned him back at Dublin airport.
And in an article in the Irish News outlining his opposition to the Good Friday agreement he called on "nationalist people" to oppose the agreement "by what ever means".
ONE of the most senior members of the 32 County Movement, recognised as the political wing of the group suspected of the Omagh atrocity, is a councillor for the Tyrone town.
Francie Mackey, who was suspended from Sinn Fein in June because of his support for the renegade movement, faces an angry reception from fellow councillors if he decides to attend an emergency meeting this morning.
A pro-agreement republican told the Irish News:"I think he should not attend and should offer a letter of resignation to the council."
Mr Mackey was not available for comment last night, and there were conflicting reports from other councillors as to whether or not he was expected to attend today's meeting.
Mackey, a long-standing Sinn Fein councillor of 13 years, began voicing opposition to the peace strategy in December last, when he criticised the party's endorsement of the Mitchell principles on non-violence and democracy as going "against the republican position".
In January he went further, telling a public meeting in Dundalk organised by the 32 County Movement that he could not take part in a process he said would "copper-fasten partition".
In April he failed to accompany Bernadette Sands-McKevitt on a tour of the United States after immigration officials turned him back at Dublin airport.
And in an article in the Irish News outlining his opposition to the Good Friday agreement he called on "nationalist people" to oppose the agreement "by what ever means".
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/0010
Published Date: 17-Aug-98
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