Socialist Republicans Condemn Defacement Of Brendan Hughes Mural By West Belfast Sinn Féin

Socialist republicans from multiple groups have condemned the defacement of the Brendan Hughes mural in the Twinbrook area of West Belfast, perpetrated by the local Sinn Féin branch. 

Brendan Hughes, nicknamed the “Dark”, was a leading Irish republican, revolutionary socialist, and former Officer Commanding of the Belfast Brigade of the Provisional Irish Republican Army. He grew increasingly critical of Sinn Féin’s direction in the 1990s after the Good Friday Agreement (GFA), slamming them for selling out the cause and administering the British occupation in the 6 counties rather than fighting for liberation. Based on the acronym, he coined the term “Got Fuck All”, stressing that the agreement sold out working-class communities and the socialist cause for which republicans fought. 

“Having kept an open mind about those responsible for defacing the mural originally, while our activists continued to prepare the wall this week several Sinn Féin members drove past and attempted to goad our activists from the safety of their cars about the wall and given who this mural was to be dedicated to, there can be no doubt as to who is responsible, “ said Saoradh in a statement in response to the events. 

“Regarding the Mi5 accusation Sinn Féin members may need reminding that it is Sinn Féin that fully support and endorse the PSNI/RUC, it was Sinn Féin that signed up to the St. Andrews agreement which gave Mi5 full control over the PSNI, it was Sinn Féin members that carried out the murder of IRA Vol. Joe O'Connor with the British States blessing, it is Sinn Féin that encourages informing and it is Sinn Féin that tows the British line of criminalising current Republican Prisoners, “ the statement clarified.

“Our activists are out in support of our communities across the city every week and unlike Sinn Féin members, we do not receive a penny for doing so. Genuine community activism done for the community by activists with a love for their communities central to the reasons for doing so, “ it concluded.

“Let there be no pretence about why Brendan Hughes remains such an uncomfortable figure for Neo-Sinn Féin and their followers. Brendan is a constant reminder of the Republican principles they abandoned which was an end to British rule, an end to partition and the establishment of a 32 County Socialist Republic. These were once proclaimed as non-negotiable principles by the present leadership. Yet today, Sinn Féin administers British rule through Stormont, operating within the constitutional frameworks of partition and sells its acceptance and participation in that system as ‘progress’, “ said Anti-Imperialist Action (AIA) in a similar statement, adding that “A mural of Brendan Hughes is a mirror held up to Sinn Féin and their followers and staring back at them is the distance between the Republicanism they once preached and the politics they have ultimately embraced”. 

In response, socialist republicans from the area and elsewhere worked together to spread the slogan “Sinn Féin Fear The Dark” referring to the nickname of Brendan Hughes, and have pledged to repaint and protect the mural.