PROVOS THREATS ARE FINAL STRAW
Provos are threats are final straw
By Niall Blaney
THREATS by the IRA against dissident republicans following the Omagh bombing was the final straw leading to a split. In the influential American Clan na Gael group, it was claimed last night.
The organisation said it could no longer support Sinn Fein's strategy and was completely opposed to the Good Friday agreement.
While it supported the use of violence, it said the use of armed struggle was "not appropriate" at this time.
Clan na Gael is one of the oldest Irish-American political groups. However splits are emerging between and within branches in eastern board cities, including Philadelphia, New York, Pittsburgh and Chicago.
The group makes no secret of its, fund-raising to the Easter Rising.
Clan-na Gael's Dorothy Robinson admitted there was a split in the organisation.
She added: "It's about 50-50 and we expect it to be about 75-25 soon enough. Some of the cities will not decide which way to go until they have meetings in January.
"According to our constitution we cannot support Sinn Fein taking part in Stormont. We waited and read the agreement
and went through it in groups. We really did try and support it but we couldn't."
She said veteran Sinn Fein member Joe Cahill had put pressure on the group to change its constitution in order to accommodate its acceptance of the agreement.
"That won't happen - our constitution has never been changed in that fashion.".
Ms Robinson said It was threats made against members of the Real IRA which "tipped the scales" In Clan na Gael's decision not to continue supporting Sinn Fein.
"We cannot support any group which gives credence to the British government.
"We support the right of the Irish to light for freedom and the right not to fight. One of the things -which really put the scales In favour of this development was the Provos threatening people - that was the end and it left a real negative taste over here."
The 32 County Sovereignty Movement said it "commended" the decision by Clan na Gael that It could no longer support leaders who accepted the agreement.
By Niall Blaney
THREATS by the IRA against dissident republicans following the Omagh bombing was the final straw leading to a split. In the influential American Clan na Gael group, it was claimed last night.
The organisation said it could no longer support Sinn Fein's strategy and was completely opposed to the Good Friday agreement.
While it supported the use of violence, it said the use of armed struggle was "not appropriate" at this time.
Clan na Gael is one of the oldest Irish-American political groups. However splits are emerging between and within branches in eastern board cities, including Philadelphia, New York, Pittsburgh and Chicago.
The group makes no secret of its, fund-raising to the Easter Rising.
Clan-na Gael's Dorothy Robinson admitted there was a split in the organisation.
She added: "It's about 50-50 and we expect it to be about 75-25 soon enough. Some of the cities will not decide which way to go until they have meetings in January.
"According to our constitution we cannot support Sinn Fein taking part in Stormont. We waited and read the agreement
and went through it in groups. We really did try and support it but we couldn't."
She said veteran Sinn Fein member Joe Cahill had put pressure on the group to change its constitution in order to accommodate its acceptance of the agreement.
"That won't happen - our constitution has never been changed in that fashion.".
Ms Robinson said It was threats made against members of the Real IRA which "tipped the scales" In Clan na Gael's decision not to continue supporting Sinn Fein.
"We cannot support any group which gives credence to the British government.
"We support the right of the Irish to light for freedom and the right not to fight. One of the things -which really put the scales In favour of this development was the Provos threatening people - that was the end and it left a real negative taste over here."
The 32 County Sovereignty Movement said it "commended" the decision by Clan na Gael that It could no longer support leaders who accepted the agreement.
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/0431
Published Date: 07-Oct-98
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