Deputy McDonald and Sinn Féin must answer questions following Greenslade/King revelations – Doherty

Mary-Lou McDonald and the Sinn Féin leadership need to reveal the extent of their knowledge of an English journalist writing under an assumed name for their party newspaper An Phoblacht, a Fine Gael Senator has said.

Senator Regina Doherty said “Clearly Deputy McDonald, as leader of her party, must have known that Roy Greenslade was writing under a false name as George King in her party newspaper An Phoblacht.

“She and her party leadership must now confirm the extent of this practice of fake identifies within An Phoblacht.

“These revelations put Sinn Féin’s criticisms of the mainstream media into a new light. The only permissible views are those endorsed by Sinn Féin and sympathetic to the party and the IRA.

“This is a disturbing revelation about the underhand way that Sinn Féin operates. What you see is not what you get. And this strategy is quite clearly directed from the very top of the party.

“Online Faceless trolls and fake aliases are always in place to ensure the mask or balaclava never slips.

“Let’s not forget that Roy Greenslade questioned the credibility and motives of Máiría Cahill, a victim of a heinous IRA rape and attempted cover up.

“What Máiría Cahill suffered at the hands of the IRA was despicable. She was brave enough to waive her anonymity and speak up publicly about her ordeal only to have her character questioned.

“We need to know the extent of this practice of using fake names in an Phoblacht. We simply cannot turn a blind eye to this culture of lies and secrecy anymore”, Senator Doherty concluded.

ENDS

Senator Doherty is available for interview.