Anderson tells IRA memorial event SF wants a ‘branch in every parish’

SINN Féin MEP Martina Anderson told a commemoration event for four IRA members killed by their own bomb during the ‘border campaign’ that the party wants to establish a branch in every parish on the island.

Speaking at the annual ‘Edentubber Martyrs’ event in County Louth she also said that “no man or woman young or old need ever again risk imprisonment, injury or death in pursuit of (republican) goals” of a “united Ireland built on equality and social justice.”

“Different times and circumstances require different strategies but the goal and the commitment are the same.

“The work of republicans in this phase has laid the foundations that will ensure the final stages of our journey to national reconciliation and reunification are concluded through peaceful and democratic means. No man or woman young or old need ever again risk imprisonment, injury or death in pursuit of these goals.

“But the journey will not be easy. It will require increased effort to mobilise people at home and abroad in support of republican objectives,” she said.

The former Londonderry MLA also outlined Sinn Féin’s expansionist ambitions in the Republic of Ireland, saying the party wanted a branch in every parish.

“Sinn Féin is in a period of significant party building in this state. Although we have more people in the Dáil we need a bigger party.

“We want as many people involved as possible North and South. We want to increase the number of women in the party in particular. We want to have a Sinn Féin cumann in every parish in the country.

“The substantial growth in party membership and support is clearly a result of the leadership being shown by our public representatives in every elected fora in the 32 counties and of course the hard work of the organization on the ground,” she said.

She said she hopes US diplomat Richard Haass can make progress on key points of division in Northern Ireland in the run up to Christmas.

“It is my hope that as Richard Haass brings his talks on parades, flags and dealing with the past to a conclusion over the next few months that the opportunity to inject a new momentum into the political process and the conflict resolution process will not be lost,” she said.

“We have a New Republic to build - an Ireland beyond partition where the people will be sovereign. Sinn Féin will play its part in building that New Republic.

“We invite others to join with us to ensure that we can unite our people and our country as the Edentubber Martyrs and all our patriot dead sought to do.

“We have the opportunity to achieve it without further loss of life or threat to the liberty of anyone. Let’s leave this place today determined not to waste that opportunity,” she concluded.