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Tuesday, 01 December 2009

Stormont MLA joins Fianna Fail

Gerry McHugh has joined the Republic of Ireland's governing party, Fianna Fail

A member of the Stormont Assembly has joined the Republic of Ireland's governing party, Fianna Fail.

Gerry McHugh, 52, left Sinn Fein two years ago after 30 years in the party claiming he was disillusioned with the direction the leadership was taking.

While he has now become a signed up member of Fianna Fail, officially he will continue to sit as an Independent member at Stormont, representing Fermanagh and South Tyrone.

He told UTV he thought Fianna Fail was best positioned to achieve a united Ireland.

"The reason I joined Fianna Fail is that I have an ambition and an aim and objective in all my days of being a political representative of seeing through a united Ireland at some point", he said.

"It seems like a difficult thing to achieve now but I would like to be part of that attempt to unite the country as one and to have one island and with all the people working together to do that.

"Quite a difficult task to do but I believe Fianna Fail is the only party on the island capable of doing that at this point in time."

Two years ago Fianna Fail decided to organise in Northern Ireland.

The organisation also flirted with a potential link up with the SDLP, but an alliance never materialised.

Mr McHugh attended a Fianna Fail meeting in Enniskillen last week aimed at setting up a county branch of the party. Former GAA President Peter Quinn was also in attendance.

The MLA said he felt Sinn Fein and the SDLP were wedded to Northern Ireland institutions and were not capable of delivering a united Ireland.

He also said he was sick of sectarian head-count politics he claimed the main parties in Stormont indulged in and said Fianna Fail represented a new approach.

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4 Comments

At 19:27 on 01 December 2009, norman wrote:

This mla was elected as a sinn fein member and when he left an election should haave taken place. When he left the party the people need more options and change the way they vote. What we have at stormont is not working for the people, only themselves, and I hope people stop voting orange or green and vote who will help the unemployed pensioners and low paid who are struggling on both sides of our community, and bring the communities together.

At 19:12 on 01 December 2009, Liambo wrote:

How can this man be trusted? When he cant even stay loyal to the party Sinn Fein who got him elected.If I wasted my vote on this guy I would want an answer.

At 19:10 on 01 December 2009, judiann wrote:

Nice to see a progressive approach being taken regarding the base subject of all ireland troubles and disunity. As Sinn Fein participate in republican politics it is just and fair that Fianna Fail should have the same opportunity in the north. This does not mean that britain's major parties should be allowed free reign in ireland as the country was divided by treaty only a short century ago, not by indiginous right. the island is still just that a separate tribal area and a separate nation as it should be. talks amongh the populous as wella s the politica and economic forces in ireland are necessary to achieve reunifiction as well as looking to the future not the past 1607 is long gone .jd

At 17:27 on 01 December 2009, William from East Belfast wrote:

I'm more likely to vote for them than to vote for UUP or the DUP. I don't want a united Ireland, I just want a break from this non-sense.