Call on John O’Dowd to provide clarity over COVID payment to Sinn Fein account

The chair of the party organisation in Upper Bann resigned after it emerged the money had been paid to an account belonging to Sinn Fein in Lurgan.

Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart said Upper Bann Sinn Fein MLA John O’Dowd should provide the public with clarity following the resignation of the unnamed party officer.

The resignation came in the wake of revelations by the Nolan Show that Sinn Fein had received £30,000 in COVID support payments.

Mrs Lockhart said: “The public are absolutely disgusted by these revelations around Sinn Fein and their treatment of public funding aimed at support for businesses fighting to survive.

“This has been a shocking indictment on Sinn Fein and their attitude to transparency and respect for the public and taxpayer.

“Yet while the public has many questions, Sinn Fein seem to be scuttling away to the nearest solicitors office to try to hide the answers to these serious questions from the public.

“Whatever happened to honesty, integrity, respect? Where is the honesty, integrity and respect for the public purse, or indeed the public who want answers?

“In Upper Bann we have had the resignation of the local party Chair. Yet we have no idea why he resigned? We have no idea to what link this resignation has to the £10,000 support scheme? We have no idea what role this individual has and the relationship he has with local Sinn Fein elected representatives?

“One man can bring more clarity and seek to answer these questions. That person is John O’Dowd MLA.

“We know John has aspirations of leadership, so here is a chance for him to show leadership. To step up and answer the questions that the people of Upper Bann demand answers to.

“Will he step up in a spirit of honesty, integrity and respect? We will wait and see.”

Sinn Fein in Upper Bann has been contacted for comment but at time of going to press no response has been received.

Two other party members resigned over the debacle, former MP and Irish Senator Eilisha McCallion and an official in West Tyrone.

Sinn Fein HQ issued a statement from Sinn Fein President Mary Lou McDonald last Thursday which read: “The Sinn Fein leadership established that three party offices incorrectly received lodgements of £10,000.

“The payments were not applied for and were automatically received as part of the round of grant payments in late March/early April from the Land and Property Service.

“Payments were paid into constituency accounts in West Tyrone and Lurgan, and into Elisha McCallion’s account in respect of her former Westminster office.”

She added that all this cash should have been handed back “immediately” – and “the fact this did not happen is unacceptable”.

It said the party’s high council (ard chomhairle) met on Wednesday night of last week, and “censured” those responsible.

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