Sinn Fein lashes out at Quinn over Le Pen remarks

Sinn Féin today castigated Mr Ruairi Quinn over remarks he made yesterday in which he likened Sinn Féin to Mr Jean Marie Le Pen’s National Front in France.

Speaking at a press conference in Dublin, Mr Martin McGuinness, described the comments as "deeply offensive" to Sinn Féin voters - especially those who had been condemned to live under racism in Northern Ireland.

Mr McGuinness said Labour Party leader Mr Quinn was obviously "not big enough to join in the spirit of the peace process".

In an interview with a British newspaper, Mr Quinn said voting for Sinn Féin candidates such as Mr Martin Ferris was equivalent to voting for Mr Le Pen in the French presidential election. He said Sinn Fein’s nationalism was part of the extreme European tradition which had plagued the continent with civil wars, international wars and xenophobia.

Sinn Féin candidate for Dublin South West Mr Sean Crowe branded the comments by Mr Quinn as "insulting, inaccurate and desperate remarks from a man leading a party devoid of ideas and direction".

Mr Crowe said: "Mr Quinn is clearly worried about the rise in support for Sinn Féin and rather than attempt to defend his own policies he has chosen to resort to hurling inaccurate and insulting remarks".

Party president Mr Gerry Adams described the election campaign so far as "mediocre", saying there had been a low level of engagement between the main parties.

He refused to speculate his party may win up to five seats and said the aim remained three seats - and that anything more would be a bonus.