Des Dalton
Des Daltonis an Irish political activist. He was the president ofRepublican Sinn Féin(RSF) from 2009 until 2018.[1]
Previously a member ofÓgra Fianna Fáil,Dalton later joined RSF and was a candidate forAthyTown Council in 2004.[2]Dalton became president of RSF in 2009, succeeding his close friendRuairí Ó Brádaigh.[1]Dalton is a leadingdissident republican,rejecting theGood Friday Agreement[3]and opposing theIrish peace process.[4]In 2010, Dalton said that the devolution of powers over thePolice Service of Northern Ireland(PSNI) made no difference to dissident republicans; contended that the PSNI's function was "to uphold British rule"; and warned that Catholics and republicans who joined the PSNI were "putting themselves in the line of fire."[4]In July 2011, Dalton spoke at a demonstration inLurgan,County Armagh(attended by about 200 people) protesting the imprisonment ofMartin Corey.The demonstration was peaceful, but illegal because it had not been approved by theParades Commission.[5]Dalton was subsequently arrested[6]and charged.[7]As president of theContinuity IRA-aligned RSF, Dalton rejected an overtures from the mainstreamSinn Féinfor peace talks and Irish republican unity, saying, "Our position is that they are now an integral part of the machinery of British rule in Ireland and that consequently as Irish republicans we have nothing to say to them.[8]
Dalton stepped down as RSF's president in 2018,[1]but remained a member of the party's national executive.[9]In March 2021, Dalton denounced violence as counterproductive, saying that violent acts (such as the 2019 killing of journalistLyra McKee) turned the people against the cause ofIrish republicanism.[3]Dalton defended the legitimacy of "armed struggle"in principle, but expressed a personal view that a suspension of violence by the Continuity IRA,New IRA,and other factions would best promote dialogue towardIrish reunificationand take advantage of "major opportunities opening up"in the wake of Brexit.[3][9]Dalton pointed to previousIRA ceasefiresin 1923 and 1962 as precedent for his stance.[3]Dalton criticized thedissident Irish republican campaignas a series of "sporadic actions" rather than a true armed campaign, saying that it was morally unjustifiable and unhelpful politically.[3]After expressing support for a ceasefire, Dalton was suspended from RSF;[1]Dalton refused to accept the suspension, and instead resigned from RSF.[9]
Dalton lives inCounty Kildare.[1]
References
[edit]- ^abcdeConnla Young,Former president of Republican Sinn Féin Des Dalton has resigned from the partyArchived2021-09-22 at theWayback Machine,The Irish News(11 March 2021).
- ^RSF calls for No vote in citizen pollArchived2021-09-22 at theWayback Machine,Irish Times(1 May 2004).
- ^abcdeHenry McDonald,Irish republican says violence is counter-productiveArchived2021-08-28 at theWayback Machine,The Guardian(March 7, 2021).
- ^abHenry McDonald,Catholics who join devolved PSNI 'in line of fire' says Republican Sinn FeinArchived2021-04-17 at theWayback Machine,The Guardian(February 7, 2010).
- ^Republican parade passes off peacefullyArchived2021-09-22 at theWayback Machine,Lurgan Mail(24 January 2011).
- ^Republican SF president Des Dalton arrestedArchived2019-04-04 at theWayback Machine,BBC News (6 July 2011).
- ^Henry McDonald,Republican Sinn Féin president charged over paradeArchived2021-04-15 at theWayback Machine,The Guardian(7 July 2011).
- ^Henry McDonald,Sinn Féin offer of peace talks spurned by republican dissidentsArchived2021-04-22 at theWayback Machine,The Guardian(1 April 2013).
- ^abcDes Dalton resigns from Republican Sinn Féin following his calls for dissident republican ceasefireArchived2021-03-10 at theWayback Machine,The Irish News(10 March 2021).