03/10/2011
McGuinness Targeted In Fine Gael Offensive
A senior Fine Gael politician has attacked the Sinn Fein Presidential candidate Martin McGuinness.
The pressure will now be on the Irish Taoiseach to see if he backs up claims such as those from the party's Environment Minister Phil Hogan.
Mr Hogan suggested that US companies would be "appalled" if Mr McGuinness were elected to the Aras.
Mr Hogan said: "Ireland's competitors would not be slow to whisper about a terrorist in the park."
Meanwhile Fine Gael Chief Whip Paul Keogh added his 'two cents' when he alleged Mr McGuinness has the proceeds of the infamous Northern Bank robbery "at his disposal".
The comments came as Fine Gael's Presidential candidate, Gay Mitchell, officially launched his campaign today, with Taoiseach Enda Kenny by his side.
However, Mitchell was reluctant to endorse these statements, but instead launched his own separate attack on McGuinness as both candidates took part in a heated debate on Newstalk's Eamon Dunphy show.
"This man (McGuinness) says that he is not a member of the IRA and hasn't been since 1974 – that's not true, Martin," Mitchell told his rival.
"You say you are not running for Sinn Fein. That's not true, Martin.
"You say you live on the average industrial wage – you earned about €200,000 last year. Publish your P60 – it's not true, Martin."
McGuinness rubbished the attacks as nothing more than 'dirty tricks' from Fine Gael.
He said he earns an annual salary of £112,000 for his position as Stormont's Deputy First Minister.
Mr McGuinness said that this money goes straight into a Sinn Fein bank account, out of which he receives a subsistence.
"Minister Hogan is obviously totally out of touch with my work, as my recent trade mission to America with the North's First Minister Peter Robinson resulted in hundreds of new jobs being created in the North,"he added.
He called Fine Gael's attack 'black propaganda' and dirty tricks.
According to Mr McGuinness he has encountered more bitterness and vitriol during this campaign than from established Unionists in the North over the years.
Sinn Fein told RTE said the attacks were without merit or foundation.
Sinn Fein Finance Spokesperson Pearse Doherty said: "They think that attacking Martin McGuinness in this way will somehow boost their own support base within their own party."
(LB/BMcC)
The pressure will now be on the Irish Taoiseach to see if he backs up claims such as those from the party's Environment Minister Phil Hogan.
Mr Hogan suggested that US companies would be "appalled" if Mr McGuinness were elected to the Aras.
Mr Hogan said: "Ireland's competitors would not be slow to whisper about a terrorist in the park."
Meanwhile Fine Gael Chief Whip Paul Keogh added his 'two cents' when he alleged Mr McGuinness has the proceeds of the infamous Northern Bank robbery "at his disposal".
The comments came as Fine Gael's Presidential candidate, Gay Mitchell, officially launched his campaign today, with Taoiseach Enda Kenny by his side.
However, Mitchell was reluctant to endorse these statements, but instead launched his own separate attack on McGuinness as both candidates took part in a heated debate on Newstalk's Eamon Dunphy show.
"This man (McGuinness) says that he is not a member of the IRA and hasn't been since 1974 – that's not true, Martin," Mitchell told his rival.
"You say you are not running for Sinn Fein. That's not true, Martin.
"You say you live on the average industrial wage – you earned about €200,000 last year. Publish your P60 – it's not true, Martin."
McGuinness rubbished the attacks as nothing more than 'dirty tricks' from Fine Gael.
He said he earns an annual salary of £112,000 for his position as Stormont's Deputy First Minister.
Mr McGuinness said that this money goes straight into a Sinn Fein bank account, out of which he receives a subsistence.
"Minister Hogan is obviously totally out of touch with my work, as my recent trade mission to America with the North's First Minister Peter Robinson resulted in hundreds of new jobs being created in the North,"he added.
He called Fine Gael's attack 'black propaganda' and dirty tricks.
According to Mr McGuinness he has encountered more bitterness and vitriol during this campaign than from established Unionists in the North over the years.
Sinn Fein told RTE said the attacks were without merit or foundation.
Sinn Fein Finance Spokesperson Pearse Doherty said: "They think that attacking Martin McGuinness in this way will somehow boost their own support base within their own party."
(LB/BMcC)
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A sunny but frosty start for many. However cloud increases by midday with a few showers reaching the north coast, these mostly light but spreading inland this afternoon. Chilly. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:A rather cloudy evening with scattered showers. Becoming drier through the night with some good clear spells developing and a patchy frost away from coasts. Minimum temperature 0 °C.