BY RONAN McSHERRY
r.mcsherry@usterherald.com
TENSIONS within Sinn Féin over the policing issue are threatening to bring major electoral challenges across Tyrone constituencies. Members of the staunchly Republican family, the McGlincheys of South Derry, are set to challenge their previous comrades in West Tyrone and Mid-Ulster. Gerry McGeogh, a former IRA activist from Killeeshil, is also set to stand against Sinn Féin for Fermanagh-South Tyrone inthe Assembly election on March 7.
Speaking to the Ulsterherald, life-long republican activist Paul McGlinchey confirmed he will stand as an Independent candidate in Mid- Ulster if Sinn Féin endorse policing and take their seats on the policing board. McGlinchey is a former blanket man and brother of the murdered INLA leader Dominic McGlinchey. His entry into the election race would put him in direct opposition to Sinn Féin's chief negotiator Martin McGuinness.
McGlinchey said, "I will be running in Mid-Ulster providing the assembly elections go ahead. I was a member of Sinn Féin until last month and resigned because of their current policing strategy. Once SF endorses policing and the judiciary, whatever way they package it and sell it, they are copper-fastening the six county state within the United Kingdom. I am not anti-policing per se, and we need law and order, but I would want an all-Ireland police force."
The decision to put up candidates was taken at a meeting of "Concerned Republicans" held in Toomebridge at the weekend.
"I have yet to speak to any Republican, including ex-prisoners, that is endorsing this pro-PSNI agenda," said Mr McGlinchey. "None of them are for it. I also know a lot of people in the party who are hanging on to see what happens at the Ard Fhéis and that will probably tell a tale."
Mr McGlinchey served 15 years in prison for paramilitary activity.
" I personally have invested too much of my life in all of this just to turn my back on it and stay at home," said Mr McGlinchey. "I kept putting my argument within the party but was getting nowhere with them. I realised the direction they were going and could not be a part of it. It runs against every vein in my body."
Paul's nephew, Dominic Óg McGlinchey has not ruled out the rumour that he is considering going forward on an anti-policing ticket in West Tyrone. Also speaking to the Ulsterherald, he said, "Numerous people have approached me to run. I am totally against the Sinn Féin stance on policing.
"Some people talk of being 'sold out' but I see it as being 'sold short.' There is a big difference between the two."
The son of the former INLA chief-of -staff, Dominic McGlinchey emphasised that if he were to throw his cap in the ring come election time, "it would not be just to stop Sinn Féin getting a seat."
He added, "I have left-wing values and would bring those with me too. I left Sinn Féin a number of years ago because of the direction they have taken and their acceptance of Stormont rule and the British iron hand still in force."
Gerry McGeogh who previously served jail sentences in Germany and the US for IRA activity has also voiced his intention of standing in Fermanagh-South Tyrone. A former Sinn Féin ard comhairle member, he accused the party leadership of "having shown no backbone".
"Sinn Féin are making embarrassing fools of themselves. This grovelling nonsense must stop."
