SINN FEIN UP TO NECKS IN NORTH DRUGS, SAYS SPRING

FORMER Tanaiste Dick Spring has accused Sinn Fein of being associated with
the drugs trade in the North and said their support for vigilantism in the
Republic was hypocritical.

"I find it very hard to take the Sinn Fein line on drugs. They're up to
their necks in peddling drugs in other parts of the island and on the other
hand they're pretending they're going to save the country from drugs," he
said. "Beating guys up and breaking their legs isn't going to stop the
drugs problem. You might deter one or two minor dealers from time to time.
But at the end of the day that is not a solution - it's a matter for the
gardai and the local community."

The allegations have been rejected out of hand by Sinn Fein. Its publicity
director, Dawn Doyle, said they were part of a pattern of vilification
involving all the main parties.

But the Kerry North TD said he was extremely concerned about the drug
problem and its impact on his local community, though he insisted it was a
complex issue demanding a wide-ranging response. Mr Spring also said there
had to be a rethink about extended bar opening hours, which he said were
linked to an upsurge in violent street crime and vandalism.

The former Labour leader's comments follow similar scathing remarks about
Sinn Fein by Tanaiste Mary Harney at the Progressive Democrat conference at
the weekend.

She warned against balaclava economics and said killing a garda was not
political activity.

But Ms Harney dropped another Sinn Fein reference in the script of her
keynote address on Saturday, which warned against a party proceeding with a
ballot paper in one hand and a baseball bat in the other.

It is understood she felt she risked giving too much emphasis to the issue.

Sinn Fein's Ms Doyle said all the main parties had tried the same smear
tactics, especially since the start of the year.

She cited comments by Justice Minister John O'Donoghue, Fine Gael leader
Michael Noonan and earlier remarks by Mr Spring, as well as Ms Harney's
criticisms at her party conference.

"All of these remarks are either totally incorrect or based on vague
innuendoes. We are concerned about these statements but, ultimately, they
say more about the other parties and their fear of Sinn Fein's appeal to
voters," she said.

Ms Doyle said this form of discourse was damaging for the political process
and Sinn Fein would not engage in it.