Sinn Fein Comment on Springhill Shooting

Sinn Fein Councillor Jarlath Mc Nulty, commenting on the so-called punishment shooting in Springhill Park in Strabane last night said,

“After an extended period of time whereby the Strabane area was totally free of such incidents, last night’s attack combined with other recent attacks of a similar nature have somewhat dented the hope that there was now a universal acceptance that such actions offer no long-term solution to problems within the community and are often counter-productive.

“It goes without saying that such attacks are wrong and should not be happening.” Ends

Your Vote-Your Right - Register Now!

Sinn Fein is urging everyone aged 17 and over to ensure that they register to vote before Monday 13th November in what could be the last electoral registration canvas carried out by the electoral office for the next ten years.In a joint statement, Seán Begley, the Chair of Omagh District Council and Gerard Foley, the Vice Chair of Strabane District Council, said,“Your vote is your right so register now to claim it.

“In recent years tens of thousands of people have been disenfranchised because the British government introduced highly elaborate hurdles in the way of people wishing to exercise their democratic right to vote at the behest of the SDLP and Unionist parties.

“One of the most damaging mechanisms introduced under this flawed electoral legislation was the doing away of the household registration form and its replacement with the individual registration form which had to be filled in each Autumn. For a wide variety of reasons people did not get to register each year with the result that the electoral register has been continually shrinking.

“Sinn Fein successfully argued the case that this annual obligation be scrapped and replaced with at least a ten year register. We also argued that the current register be the starting point of this new ten year register but the electoral office in its wisdom has decided that they will be starting with a blank sheet of paper for this last electoral canvas.

“If you are not registered, you cannot vote. It is therefore imperative that you now register for the final annual canvas.“Sinn Fein members will be engaged in a thorough electoral registration drive throughout the constituency in the coming weeks and will offer any assistance you require in helping to make sure you get registered“Electoral registration forms are available from schools, colleges, community centres, local council offices, Sinn Fein offices or can be downloaded from the Electoral Office website: www.electoralofficeni.gov.uk“As Electoral Office Canvassers have stop collecting forms from individual households, people anyone who has not already registered to vote must now send their completed individual registration form to the Omagh Area Electoral Office at 21, Kevlin Avenue, Omagh, BT78 1ER, before the preliminary closing date of Monday 13th November 2006.PHOTO ID NEEDED TO VOTE We would also like to highlight the fact that Current Electoral Legislation requires that everyone wishing to vote in elections in the six counties must produce the following specific pieces of Photographic Identification: A current Passport, A current Driving Licence, A Photographic ID Card issued by the Electoral Office.(Photo ID application forms also available at your Sinn Fein Offices in Omagh and Strabane) or a Senior Citizens Travel Smartcard. ENDS

Hopes Rise For Motorway Campaign

West Tyrone Sinn Fein MP Pat Doherty has described a “potentially very significant” weekend media reports that the Dublin government is, for the first time, to spend more than €1 Billion on infrastructure investment in the six counties as part of its National Development Plan 2007-2013 and that the upgrading of the 90 mile A5 route between Derry and Aughnacloy and the provision of radiotherapy services at Altnagelvin are 2 key projects earmarked for this investment.

The local MP Pat Doherty said,“Sinn Fein has been running a vigorous campaign on the need to develop the N14, A5, N2 main arterial route from the North West to Dublin so as to enable this region to compete on an equal basis with other regions of Ireland which are miles ahead in terms of transport infrastructure, and as part of that campaign have been lobbying both governments and in Europe to respond to this demand.

“If, as it now appears, the Dublin government is prepared to make a substantial investment in this key strategic transport corridor from the North West to Dublin then I view this development as being very significant.“However, the potential to overcome one of the most glaring infrastructural deficits on the island of Ireland will only be realised if the British government also agree to play ball and come up to the plate with its own financial package for this and other essential infrastructural projects.

“Sinn Fein has also been campaigning for a satellite Cancer Centre for the North West based at either Altnagelvin or Letterkenny and the inclusion of proposed funding for Radiotherapy Services at Altnagelvin in this National Development Plan is another encouraging sign that maybe the socio-economic needs of the people of the North West are at long last being taking seriously and that there is now going to be a move away from the partitionist thinking of both governments which has impeded development and equality on this island for generations.

Local Community Shocked And Horrorified At Brutal Rape

Sinn Fein Councillor Jarlath Mc Nulty says that the local community in Strabane are in a state of shock and completely horrified to hear that a young woman in her 20,s has been the subject of a brutal rape in the Derry Road area of the town early this morning.

Expressing sympathy with the victim and her family Cllr Mc Nulty said,“The unimaginable ordeal that the victim and her family are now being put through, as a result of the actions of this brutal rapist, are uppermost in thoughts of local community here today.

“There was already a heightened sense of fear and trepidation in the community following a series of sex attacks in Strabane last month, but the nature of this brutal rape has completely shocked and horrified the entire community.

“I would urge everyone to vigilant and take the necessary precautions to protect themselves and their family members from the designs of any sexual predators who may still be out there in the community.

Firework onslaught against Ballycolman Community must end-Sinn Fein

Sinn Fein Councillor Brian Mc Mahon says that a group of young teenagers are terrorising the Ballycolman community through the reckless and wanton use of fireworks.

He says that along with party members he will be working with local people in an attempt to ensure an end to what he describes as an onslaught against the local community.

“The problem with the misuse of fireworks is with us at this time every year. However, I have never have received so many complaints as I have this year about how these potentially lethal objects are being maliciously targeted at property and people in the Ballycoman area by a group of young teenagers aged around the12-13 age group.

“Within the last few days alone I have: had to visit the home of a couple who have had windows broken by fireworks, been told of a firework being strapped to the oil tank of another home which thankfully did not go off, fireworks being inserted into the drainpipes of peoples’ homes and ignited causing damage, pets being put in a constant state of major stress and a multitude of other such serious incidents.

“There is a real fear in the local community that if this reckless activity continues it is only a matter of time before someone will be seriously maimed or worse.” It is obvious that whoever is supplying this massive amount of fireworks to these young people is making a substantial profit but this profit is being made at the expense of the local community.

The supplier/s in this potentially lethal trade carry the primary responsibility for what is now happening in the area.“I would appeal to the person or people who are acting in this totally irresponsible way to desist immediately and along with other party members I will be working along with local people in an attempt to ensure that this onslaught on the local community ceases.

Contact The Councillors.

Omagh District Council

Sean Begley Chairman (Omagh Town)
Peter Kelly Vice-Chair (West Tyrone)
Ann Quinn (West Tyrone)
Sean Clarke (Mid Tyrone)
Frankie Donnelly (West Tyrone)
Martin McColgan (Omagh Town)
Declan McAleer (Mid Tyrone)
Barry McElduff (West Tyrone)
Sharon O'Brien (Mid Tyrone)
Mickey McAnespie (Mid Tyrone)

Strabane District Council

Ivan C Barr (Mourne)
Daniel Breslin (Mourne)
Gerard Foley (Derg)
Claire McGill (Glenelly)
Kieran McGuire (Derg)
Charles H McHugh(Derg)
Brian McMahon (Mourne)
Jarlath McNulty (Mourne)

Sinn Féin delegation meet North West Gateway Initiative to discuss infrastructure and development in region

Sinn Féin MP for West Tyrone Pat Doherty today led a party delegation including Bairbre de Brún MEP and Barry McElduff MLA to meet with the Joint Chairs of the North West Gateway Initiative.

The meeting took place in Strabane and was held to explore the remit, work plan and implementation framework of the Gateway Initiative. During the meeting the Sinn Féin delegation stressed the importance of active engagement with groups and individuals in the North West at all stages of the formation and implementation of future plans.

They also emphasized the need for formal ministerial meetings to drive the agenda forward in developing the North West area through active cross border work.Speaking today Mr Doherty said:"We raised the lack of road, rail and energy networks in the region.

I specifically raised with the Department of Transport representative local demands for infrastructure and development around the N14/A5/N2 road route. I conveyed to him the outcome of my recent meetings in Strasbourg with the EU Transport Commissioner.

Ms de Brún said:"Today's meeting was a positive engagement, and a commitment to future discussions was agreed. Officials also undertook to forward us further information in regards to this issue."

Governments should not squander EU support for infrastructure improvements

West Tyrone Sinn Féin MP Pat Doherty says that his party will be maintaining the pressure on both governments to redress the transport infrastructure deficit in the northwest and border counties after the party secured the pro-active support of EU Transport Commissioner Jacque Barrot for the campaign to upgrade the N14, A5, N2 strategic transport corridor to a uniform motorway/dual carriageway standard.

The West Tyrone MP said,

"Last week's meeting in Strasbourg between a Sinn Féin delegation and EU Transport Commissioner Jacque Barrot was highly productive as it will increase pressure on both governments to take joint action to redress the transport infrastructure deficit in the northwest and border counties."

"We outlined our case in detail presenting Commissioner Barrot with a map of the island of Ireland clearly outlining the gap in infrastructural development to and in the North West. We also highlighted the social, economic, and political impact of partition on the region and the neglect of successive administrations North and South".

"The Commissioner acknowledged the gap in infrastructure and was clearly convinced by the case made. He assured us that he will write to the relevant British and Irish Ministers inviting them to adopt a joint approach to progress the issue and also undertook to speak to the EU Commissioner for Regional Development, Danuta Hübner to bring the issue to her attention as such an infrastructural project would also fall within the remit of her department."

"The support and goodwill at EU Commission level for the case to upgrade the N14,A5, N2 strategic transport corridor to a motorway/dual carriageway standard must now be grasped by both governments, and the coming weeks Sinn Fein will be increasing the pressure on both governments to avail of this opportunity by focusing on the issue in a formalized and integrated manner. "