McCarry makes by-election intimidation allegation
By Nevin Farrell
(nevin.farrell@jpress.co.uk
THE race to fill the vacant seat on Moyle Council was plunged into controversy this week when Independent Republican James McCarry linked his decision to run against Sinn Fein with bombshell allegations of an alleged attack and death threat, in which, it is claimed, mention was made of the IRA, on his 19-year-old son.
The 57-year-old candidate who last week announced he was putting his name forward to take on Sinn Fein representative Padraig McShane following the exit of Sinn Fein councillor Marie McKeegan, claimed to the Times his teenage son, who he doesn’t want named, was “singled out” on Friday night in Ballycastle by a named individual he claimed is either, or was recently, a Sinn Fein member.
But Sinn Fein said they were “unaware” of any alleged incident and a PSNI spokesman said on Monday afternoon they had no reports of any incident.
James McCarry told the Times on Monday morning his son and a group of friends were walking in the Moyle Road area on Friday night when his son was targeted and struck on the face before allegedly being issued with a death threat which mentioned the IRA.
He said his son received a slight injury to his face and is now “traumatised” and afraid to leave home.
Mr McCarry said the did not report the attack to police as he has “no faith” in them but he said the matter is now in the hands of a family solicitor.
The Ballycastle man claimed he and his family were fearful of “further attacks” and he called on Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams “to rein in” Republican elements.Mr McCarry told the Times that after being targeted by loyalists on several occasions in the 1990s when he was a Sinn Fein councillor the latest situation brought back those dark days and he was now contemplating not standing for election because of what he believed is a new threat of violence hanging over him and his family.
“Look at what happened at the border recently,” said Mr McCarry, in a reference to the death of a man from Cullyhanna allegedly involving people with Republican links.
He called on Sinn Fein to give an assurance that Republicans would not harm him or his family.
Mr McCarry claimed that during Friday night’s incident in Ballycastle the alleged attacker was joined by several members of the attacker’s family and at one stage his son was allegedly told: “You’ve hit a Provo, you’re dead.”
Mr McCarry claimed some of his son’s friends spoke to the police on Friday night at Moyle Road but that a relative of the alleged attacker “gave them a mouthful for talking to the police”.
“My son got a taxi home. He has a sore face and is traumatised over the incident. He hasn’t left the house since,” added Mr McCarry.
The by-election candidate believed his son was attacked because he is standing against Sinn Fein.
“It’s a bit of a coincidence that my name appears in the press to fight against Sinn Fein and my son is targeted for abuse a few days later.
“I still have to think about whether I want to stand because when it comes to this it’s a price too far. I thought we were over the stage of attacks on my family.”
Sinn Fein said they are “unaware” of any alleged incidents and said they recognise the right of Mr McCarry to contest the by-election.
The party’s by-election candidate, Padraig McShane, in a statement to the Times, said: “I am unaware of any incidents. If James McCarry or anyone else has any information regarding threats we would encourage them to go to the relevant authorities.
“James McCarry like any other candidate is entitled to stand in this by-election. For our part in Sinn Fein we will be fighting this by-election on our past track record in the Glens and on our positive politics in defending the ratepayers of Moyle and we wont be drawn into a negative campaign by others.”
He didn’t wish to comment further on the allegations made by Mr McCarry.
Sinn Fein councillor Cara McShane said it was “bizarre” that the allegations surfaced at a time when Mr McCarry put himself up on an “anti-Sinn Fein ticket” and she said it was not surprising that the rival candidate would attempt to damage Sinn Fein with the allegations.
Meanwhile, Sinn Fein have accused Mr McCarry of imposing an election bill of at least 7,000 by prompting a by-election instead of allowing the party to co-opt Padraig McShane straight onto Moyle Council as a replacement for his party colleague.
But Mr McCarry said: “If after the closing date only one completed nomination paper is handed in there will be no by-election and if Sinn Fein are sincere in that regard to their expressed concerns in relation to the ratepayers’ expense, let them do the honourable thing as it was their councillor who vacated the seat before her term was up.”
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Weather for Ballymoney
Tuesday 22 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 11 C to 17 C
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Sunny spells
Temperature: 10 C to 17 C
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