| Republican Sinn Fein admits to theft of Union Jack |
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| Andrew Hamilton & Gordon Deegan | |||||
 A MAJOR Anglo-Irish incident could be in the offing following the theft of a Union Jack from the Ennis Cathedral by the Clare Branch of Republican Sinn Féin (RSF).The flag was cut from a a flag-pole in front of Ennis Cathedral on Tuesday evening last, during a ceremony to honor the Irish soldiers who fought for the British and other armies during the first world war. The head of the committee which organised the commemoration told The Clare People yesterday that he fears that RSF will attempt to burn the stolen flag. “We flew the flags of all the Allied nations along with the tricolour outside the service as a mark of respect. These Irish soldiers fought and died in a number of different uniforms. It is a gross lack of decency to have taken this flag,” said committee chairman, Peadar McNamara. “We knew that they were up to something and I would guess that they are going to burn the flag at this point. Well if they go off and burn that flag off in some cabbage patch in the middle of nowhere, what brave men they will be then.” Speaking to The Clare People yesterday, the head of Republican Sinn Féin in Clare, Paddy Conneely, admitted to have taken the flag. The exact whereabouts of the flag, which is the property of the Ennis Cathedral, is unknown. “We hosted a protest of about 20 people outside the cathedral on Tuesday and at the protest we lowered the Union Jack and then cut it off the flag post,” said Mr Conneely. “It is disappointing that an event like this took place in Clare when the British army that was being commemorated was at the time an army of occupation. Our protest was peaceful, the special branch came and took the names and addresses of the people who were involved but that was all that happened.” According to the Department of the Taoiseach, it is currently not against the law to burn national flags in Ireland. It is however discouraged as it can be interpreted as incitement to violence.
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B-man
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This is nothing more then people who cant let go of the past. I know of people who fought in different army's around the world and who were Irish and they and their familys have a right to rember their people. This is just a group of small minded people who think actions like this are brave and just, yet I wonder how many of them or their families walk around wearing English teams top. Have your protest if you what, but have respect!! |
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