A war of words has broken out after Sinn Fein’s housing spokesman posted a tweet of a famine era eviction reworked to include gardai and hired security men wearing balaclavas.
Despite the criticism Eoin Ó Broin said he is standing over the tweet adding that he is not criticising gardai but the Government which last week voted to lift the eviction ban.
He said the image, which is based on a 19th century painting, was designed by Dublin artist Mála Spíosarí. Along with the image he posted "No words needed”.
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He said: "That is what happens in cases of a court ordered eviction. The tweet is intended as a criticism of Government policy, not the gardaí."
But Justice Minister Simon Harris described the tweet as "offensive, inappropriate and disrespectful to the men and women of An Garda Siochána".
He said that the post by a leading Sinn Fein member shows what the party really thinks of the gardai.
In the tweet he said: “Today’s social media post by a leading member of the main opposition party shows what they really think of the Gardai. The mask slips. It’s offensive, inappropriate and disrespectful to the men and women of An Garda Siochana.”
But Sinn Fein supporters defended Deputy Ó Broin’s tweet and posted pictures of gardai with face masks alongside hired security enforcers wearing balaclavas at an eviction.
In the reworked famine era picture one member of the force is seen standing over a person lying on the ground outside the home from which they are being evicted.
In recent years there was criticism of the gardai for what were described as “heavy handed” tactics while helping balaclava clad private security men evict protesters from a Dublin house..
But on Sunday Fine Gael TD Alan Farrell told Newstalk that Eoin Ó Broin’s tweet was “utterly pathetic”.
He said: “I think it is entirely inappropriate for a prominent member of the opposition to frame An Garda Síochána in such a way.
“I would reiterate what the Minister for Justice has said, that the mask has slipped on Sinn Féin, who we all know have a chequered history when it comes to respecting the authority of An Garda Síochána up and down the country.”
The General Secretary of the Association of Garda Sergeants & Inspectors Antoinette Cunningham said on Twitter that Mr Ó Broin's tweet was "deeply offensive".
The post stated: “Deeply offensive and wholly inappropriate tweet..and this from an elected representative!!!…how insultingly wrong to portray @gardainfo @AGSI_Ireland @gardarep colleagues like this.”
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