30/09/2009

SF Gate Crashes 'Yes' Event

Sinn Féin 'No' campaigners have gate crashed a Pro-Lisbon joint news conference between the SDLP and the Labour Party.

The two pro-Lisbon parties were holding a press attended meeting to promote a Yes vote for Friday's Lisbon referendum in Dundalk before being interrupted by boisterous protestors from Sinn Féin.

Both sides jostled with each other's posters and vied for space in front of the cameras and journalist's attention amid the heated scenes.

Labour Party leader Eamon Gilmore accused Sinn Féin of "bullyboy tactics" as its members shouted "no means no", in reference to the referendums original defeat last year.

SDLP Leader Mark Durkan also said the tactics were the same as used by dissident republicans when they interrupted meetings of a district policing board in Northern Ireland.

The Sinn Féin group, led by Councillor Tomas Sharkey, said the people had already voted and rejected the Lisbon Treaty.

Meanwhile, the 'Yes' camp suffered a timely blow today as former MEP and presidential candidate Dana Rosemary Scallon released a entered the Lisbon debate saying "we must not be afraid to vote No to Lisbon".

Ms Scallon said that the guarantees were worthless and that the EU will have primacy over Ireland's Constitution.

"Lisbon is not about tidying up the democratic process - it is about tying up the democratic process," she said.

(DW/BMcC)

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