Provos have no right to use Sinn Féin name

[Risteard]

PROVOS HAVE NO RIGHT TO USE SINN FÉIN NAME

IN A statement on May 12 Republican Sinn Féin Vice-President Des Dalton said that the continued use by the Provisionals of the honoured and historic Sinn Féin name was an affront to all Republicans.

He went on: "Their attempts to lay claim on its centenary by events such as those organised in Naas on May 14 are to be deplored. The Provisionals, no more than any of the other groups who departed from Sinn Féin over the years, such as Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil or the Worker's Party/Democratic Left, cannot claim any link with the organisation founded at Dublin's Rotunda 100 years ago, to do so flies in the face of historical reality.

"At the 1986 Ard Fheis they breached the constitution of Sinn Féin, which since 1917 upholds the All-Ireland Republic proclaimed in 1916. By accepting the partitionist system, they placed themselves outside of Sinn Féin. In the years since they have been drawn further into the partitionist system to the point where they have sat in a revamped Stormont as British ministers of the crown, administering British rule in Ireland and look set in the near future to sit on the Six County policing boards from where they will help to police British rule on the ground.

"Contrary to the very philosophy upon which Sinn Féin was founded, which was to ensure that the Irish people themselves administered political power in Ireland rather than the British parliament at Westminster, they are have operated offices from Westminster as well as drawing salaries from the British state. Republican Sinn Féin alone can trace an unbroken organisational link with the body founded in 1905, since 1917 we have preserved intact the Republican constitution of our organisation despite a number of attempts to compromise or dilute it.

"This year as we proudly celebrate 100 years of unbroken continuity we call on the Provisionals to desist from laying claim to the proud name of Sinn Féin. As the Worker's Party eventually did in 1982 they should face up to the reality that have no right to use the name of an organisation which in their case they walked away from almost 19 years ago. Events such as those in Naas are an attempt to deny this reality."

[smiffy]

Oh shut up, Risteard. It's getting really old at this stage.

[DOD]

In a statement on May 16, contankerous politics.ie and SF member DOD said, who gives a rattling damn what Des Dalton thinks?

[ireland2004]

heh - you should look at Daltons press releases and apparently he is a rising star for them

All he ever talks about is the provos

He obviously wants to join

[smiffy]

Do you think he might be true04?

[Risteard]

I wouldn't imagine that Des Dalton - a national Vice-President of Sinn Féin - wants to join the Provos.

[Trefor]

PROVOS HAVE NO RIGHT TO USE SINN FÉIN NAME

IN A statement on May 12 Republican Sinn Féin Vice-President Des Dalton said that the continued use by the Provisionals of the honoured and historic Sinn Féin name was an affront to all Republicans.

He went on: "Their attempts to lay claim on its centenary by events such as those organised in Naas on May 14 are to be deplored. The Provisionals, no more than any of the other groups who departed from Sinn Féin over the years, such as Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil or the Worker's Party/Democratic Left, cannot claim any link with the organisation founded at Dublin's Rotunda 100 years ago, to do so flies in the face of historical reality.

"At the 1986 Ard Fheis they breached the constitution of Sinn Féin, which since 1917 upholds the All-Ireland Republic proclaimed in 1916. By accepting the partitionist system, they placed themselves outside of Sinn Féin. In the years since they have been drawn further into the partitionist system to the point where they have sat in a revamped Stormont as British ministers of the crown, administering British rule in Ireland and look set in the near future to sit on the Six County policing boards from where they will help to police British rule on the ground.

"Contrary to the very philosophy upon which Sinn Féin was founded, which was to ensure that the Irish people themselves administered political power in Ireland rather than the British parliament at Westminster, they are have operated offices from Westminster as well as drawing salaries from the British state. Republican Sinn Féin alone can trace an unbroken organisational link with the body founded in 1905, since 1917 we have preserved intact the Republican constitution of our organisation despite a number of attempts to compromise or dilute it.

"This year as we proudly celebrate 100 years of unbroken continuity we call on the Provisionals to desist from laying claim to the proud name of Sinn Féin. As the Worker's Party eventually did in 1982 they should face up to the reality that have no right to use the name of an organisation which in their case they walked away from almost 19 years ago. Events such as those in Naas are an attempt to deny this reality."

Can't he take them to court? He could go all the way to the House of Lords. I'm sure the Law Lords would make sure that justice is done.

[smiffy]

I wouldn't imagine that Des Dalton - a national Vice-President of Sinn Féin - wants to join the Provos.

Why does he go on about them then?

Seriously, what do you think all the complaining about the use of the name "Sinn Fein" actually achieves? Do you seriously believe that Gerry Adams is going to wake up some day, read a copy of Saoirse and have an epiphany, suddenly saying to himself "Oh ... My ... GOD! THEY'RE RIGHT!", and immediately change the name of the party to the "Free State Partionist Traitors"?

In fact, do you actually believe that you're convincing anyone? Don't you sometimes worry that this little obsession, and your harping on about it, just makes you all look a little bit weird and nutty?

[UnrepentantFenian]

its my ball and im going home....

[BarryW]

PROVOS HAVE NO RIGHT TO USE SINN FÉIN NAME

God almighty

I'll get on to the Trade Marks Office first thing tomorrow, and see if you're correct