Varadkar described Sinn Féin's response to the incident as 'concerning'

A FURIOUS row has erupted after Taoiseach Leo Varadkar accused Sinn Féin of ‘letting the balaclava slip’ with their reaction to a vigilante attack in Roscommon.

Sinn Féin’s deputy leader Pearse Doherty had to be repeatedly warned about his conduct after rising to his feet to demand an apology from the Taoiseach in the Dáil.

The chaotic scenes came amid debate over whether private security guards who participate in evictions should be regulated.

Mr Doherty referred to those involve in evicting three people from a farmhouse near Strokestown, Co Roscommon as “thugs” and “henchmen”.

He said “gardaí were watching on” as “thuggery” was carried out.

Sinn Féin want a new category of security personnel to come under the remit of the Private Security Services Act 2004. The aim would be to ensure that anyone involved in an eviction would be subject to standards, oversight, licensing and a carry ID in the same way bouncers and other security personnel do.

Mr Varadkar agreed that there may need to be stronger laws in the area, noting that it was probably overlooked when the original Act was drawn up.

He said Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan will get a report from an expert group in January and will move to tighten regulations if necessary.

Referring to the Roscommon case, Mr Varadkar said people needed to be careful not to make assumptions.

He said the High Court has a “very high barrier for allowing evictions to happen”.

Mr Varadkar then questioned why Sinn Féin were so quick to criticise those working on behalf of the bank involved but had nothing to say about a vigilante gang which arrived at the property over the weekend.

Mr Varadkar noted that people were injured and an animal killed when up to 20 people armed with baseball bats raided the home. A number of vehicles were also set alight.

Gardaí believe dissident republicans from Dublin and Northern Ireland were behind the violent attack.

“You had nothing to say about what happened afterwards,” Mr Varadkar said, adding that he found Sinn Féin’s attitude to the attack “very concerning”.

The comments drew a furious response from the Sinn Féin benches with Mr Doherty demanding the Taoiseach answer his questions.

However, Mr Varadkar continued: “It doesn’t take very long for your balaclava to slip.”

There were ructions as Sinn Féin deputies cried foul over the comments but Mr Varadkar refused to back down.

Read More

Online Editors