Statement From Des Long (RSF)

DOUBLE BARRELL SIDE OF MOUTH TALK
FROM CROWN MINISTER MURPHY

British Crown Minister Conor Murphy in his defence of a man
whose assets have been frozen by the UK’s Serious and Organised
Crime Agency has brought talking out of the side of his mouth to
a new art form, the vice-president of Republican Sinn Fein said today.

Des Long from Corbally in Limerick who is contesting the leadership
of RSF this weekend’s Ard Fheis in Dublin said SOCA is an agency
of the British Government and as such is subject to the political control
of Minister Murphy and his Provisional colleagues.

Conor Murphy is administering British rule in Ireland so he must now
accept some political responsibility for the actions of SOCA. However
in condemning the raid, which according to the Minister caused deep
anger in South Armagh, he seems to forget that he is a political overlord
of the police.

The fact is the Provisionals are more than enthusiastic in their welcome of
the continued devolution of police and justice powers. Does this mean
that there will be even more raids on sound Republicans?

Yet Minister Murphy tries to distance himself from the police actions
and brings talking out of both sides of his mouth to a new art form. It can
only be described as a double barrelled side of the mouth exercise.

Instead of trying to sit on the fence and play the republican card, the
Minister must come clean and fully back the police because as a
Crown Minister that is his function as a legislator.

Minister Murphy must surely be aware that is no use complaining about
the tactics of the British when at the same time he enjoys a
position as a Crown Minister under British patronage. It is time
for the Minister to wake up to the reality of what his sellout and
surrender actions have done to sound Republicans.