SF defends ex-prisoner appointment

Published Tuesday, 12 June 2012

The Sinn Féin MLA appointed as junior minister at Stormont has said her experience as a republican prisoner will be a “good thing” to bring to the role.

We’re sorry. This video is unavailable from your location.

To find out if this video is available to you, we need to know what region you live in. Please enter your postcode below (including space).

Frequently Asked Questions

Thank you for confirming your region.

Frequently Asked Questions

We are sorry but this video is not available on u.tv in your region. Your region is listed below.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are you in Northern Ireland?

1. Why is my postcode required?

We are asking you to insert your postcode before watching some videos to confirm you can access the video content via u.tv.

This is because some videos on u.tv are only available in Northern Ireland.

Don't worry, we won't store or use this information for any other purpose.

If you are not in Northern Ireland, the content may be available to watch at itv.com or stv.tv.

2. Why am I directed to itv.com or stv.tv when I try to view certain clips?

The videos, which are not available on u.tv to users outside Northern Ireland, will be available to those users on itv.com (for users in England and Wales) or stv.tv (for most users in Scotland).

We need to know where you are in order to make sure you are getting the right content.

If you think we've got your location wrong, then please click here.

Need more help? Contact us

Jennifer McCann replaces Martina Anderson in the ministerial job, which includes responsibility for victims of the Troubles.

She is the third ex-prisoner in a row to occupy the role, which was also previously held by Gerry Kelly.

The mother of three served around half of a 20 year sentence in the early 1980s for the attempted murder of a police officer.

The West Belfast MLA started her jail term days after fellow prisoner Bobby Sands began the 66-day hunger strike that ended his life.

I worked for victims of state violence and families who have been victims of collusion, and I will work with all victims in the same way.

Jennifer McCann

TUV leader Jim Allister said Ms McCann's appointment "underscores the depravity of Stormont political arrangements".

"Martina Anderson - who was convicted of conspiring to cause explosions - has been replaced by another terrorist who was sentenced to 20 years for shooting an RUC officer and is on record as describing Bobby Sands as a 'great role model'," he said.

Ulster Unionist leader Mike Nesbitt: "This simply underscores the need to deal with our past and its living legacy."

Ms McCann, who has worked with the victims group An Fhirinne to highlight the impact of state violence, said she is bringing "life experience in this role to work for everyone".

"I am a former republican prisoner and I think that, like Martina, I will bring with me those experiences that I have had through conflict resolution, and through the peace process, and I hope then towards building reconciliation as well.

"So I hope that I will bring all those experiences and that will be a good thing."

Ms McCann was appointed as junior minister after Ms Anderson left the Assembly to become an MEP, replacing Bairbre de Brun, who stood down from the European Parliament for health reasons.

One of the first issues the new junior minister will address after taking up her political post will be the setting up of the Assembly's inquiry into child abuse.

Comments

28 Comments

Tong Po in belfast wrote (341 days ago):

To Steve, Belfast.Steve, im an "ordinary" catholic and i have no problem with people with past convictions being appointed to high levels of goverment. Isnt the truth of the matter steve is that its because its IRISH REPUBLICANS in high office is why your so annoyed?

Louise in Belfast wrote (341 days ago):

@Steve, Belfast. Steve, im an ordinary Catholic, im not a hardline republican/nationalist and i vote for Sinn Fein. The truth of the matter is steven, you cant dictate to people who they should or should not appoint. Sinn Fein is the SECOND largest political party in NI and its been suggested within the next ten years they will be the LARGEST political party, thus their then leader would become First Minister. Steve, the days are LONG gone when Loyalists/Unionists told catholics what they could or could not do. People, regardless of their past, can be appointed to whatever position their political party has provided for them.

Ryan in Belfast wrote (341 days ago):

Im a Sinn Fein voter and have been for many years and so has my family. It doesnt matter if someone did this or someone did that, they should allowed to attain whatever position they want, as long as their able to contribute positively to the job role. Unionists have to stop with the nonsense of attacking every other member whom Sinn Fein appoints. The days when Unionists tried to dictate what Nationalists did or did not do is LONG over. A thing called DEMOCRACY now exists. Get use to it.

Disgusted. in NI. wrote (341 days ago):

@ Liam. "Well the alternative to Stormont is joint authority with Dublin, Joe. Which would you prefer?" The alternative, Liam my friend, is to disband that mob on the hill and go back to direct rule from London via the NI Office. It worked for years and was a damn sight cheaper than what we have today. I don't recall anyone having a referendum on joint government with Dublin, so where does your statement emanate from? @ John in Armagh. It's quite simple the UDR/RIR man/woman was a member of the state armed forces and was/is quite legitimate and lawful. No matter what you try to portray them as, they worked tirelessly to prevent murder and mayhem from all quarters while many of them were murdered and maimed by Ms McCann's terrorist colleagues. Ms McCann, however, was a member of a murderous terrorist killing machine and would be classed by many people as quite unlawful, who has said she has no regrets and spent some time on the run. I do however, acknowledge that she had all charges dropped for whatever reason. I think that answers your question. Aren't there any Catholics out there who are republicans, who have no terrorist convictions, who have never been involved in terrorist violence, who could take up these posts and be a voice for the Catholic population in NI????? I for one, as a protestant/royalist/unionist certainly would respect them. But no, it's not allowed to happen is it? Only the bad boys/girls get the jobs in SF. What a backward country. @ Tomc in Belfast. I quite agree, it's time for people to break away from the past and start voting heavily for more moderate parties and try to break the stranglehold of these terrorists on the democratic process.

dave in northern ireland uk wrote (341 days ago):

the belfast agreement put terrorists in goverment.The agreement was a surrender to the ira,and a sinn fein wish list. Stormont became an extention of the maze prison.The agreement pardoned killers and bombers and victims had to live with it.The unionist people that voted for it are now seeing the consequences of their actions,they need not complain.There is no other country in the world that would stomach or tolerate such people in goverment.

More Comments

^ Top of Comments