Gerry Adams praises Corbyn for being ‘on right side of history’ during The Troubles
SINN FEIN leader Gerry Adams has praised Jeremy Corbyn for being “on the right side of history” during The Troubles in the north of Ireland.
Gerry Adams defends Jeremy Corbyn
Jeremy Corbyn has come under fire this week for his role during the conflict when he urged for a political discourse with both the IRA and Sinn Fein.
While the British Government did hold talks with both, some in secret, Mr Corbyn has been tarred as an IRA sympathiser in recent years, most recently by Northern Ireland Secretary James Brokenshire.
After accusations he has failed to condemn terrorist bombings during The Troubles, the Labour leader yesterday said: “I condemn all the bombing by both the loyalists and the IRA.”
Jeremy Corbyn was on the right side of history
Sinn Fein’s two leaders, Mr Adams in the Republic of Ireland and Michelle O’Neill in the North, have now come out in support of the Labour leader.
Launching the party’s Westminster election manifesto, Mr Adams said today: “Jeremy Corbyn was on the right side of history. What he did was very modest, what he did was very fundamental.
“He recognised the rights of the people who voted for Sinn Fein and I think he was vindicated by subsequent events.
“Because where he led, others followed.”
Ms O’Neill also backed up Mr Corbyn, saying he saw the importance of talking to Sinn Fein during the bloody conflict.
She said: “Jeremy Corbyn was someone who saw the primacy of dialogue, who engaged with Sinn Fein through the years and respected our democratic mandate when others would not.
“I think his track record speaks for itself.”
This week Alan Barry, co-founder of Justice for Northern Ireland Veterans, blasted Mr Corbyn as an “odious individual”.
READ MORE: What will happen to Northern Ireland after Brexit?
He said: “He should quite clearly state that he has no links or alliance to the provisional IRA, that his loyalties lie with the men and women of this country who went to Northern Ireland and fought terrorism.”
Sinn Fein also used their manifesto launch to call for a referendum on Irish unity within five years, saying Brexit had accelerated the need for a border poll.
It said: “The imposition of brevet and cuts from the Tories demonstrates the unjust and undemocratic nature of partition and the union.
“Ending partition has now taken on a new dynamic following the Brexit referendum.”