Sinn Fein deny ETA invitation at party conference

Sinn Fein party chairman Mitchel McLaughlin has confirmed that several delegates from the Basque region will be attending this weekend’s Sinn Fein conference in Dublin, but refuted claims that the visitors are from the dissident terrorist group ETA.

Responding to claims made by UUP politician Dermot Nesbitt, Mr McLaughlin denied any direct invitation had been made to ETA. Speaking at a press conference in Belfast on Tuesday 25 September, the Sinn Fein chairman said that while he was unsure just how many delegates would be in attendance from the region, he could confidently state that the individuals attending the event were representatives from separatist organisations such as Euskai Herritarrock and Eusko Alkartasuna.

Mr McLaughlin said: “We will have political representatives of many struggles and that has been a feature of our international perspective. We have invited people who are political representatives, that is the extent of our knowledge. We have not invited ETA.”

However, Sinn Fein have come in for criticism from several Spanish anti-terror organisations, including the Madrid-based Association of the Victims of Terror, who branded the invitation as “inappropriate”. Spokesperson Paulino Baena added: “Sinn Fein know who ETA is and what they do, and by inviting a political group that supports the inhumane killings of innocent people in Spain is dreadful.”

Several thousand delegates are expected to attend the conference at the RDS in Dublin, which will discuss the theme of “Building a Party of Equals”. Guest speakers will include representatives from the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) and the African National Congress (ANC). (CL)