A row about vigilantism and Sinn Féin's links to the IRA has broken out in Co Meath as former Taoiseach and Fine Gael TD Mr John Bruton accused the party of a conflict of interest in its association in the republican movement with an illegal army.
Sinn Féin's Meath general election candidate, Mr Joe Reilly, has ruled out any suggestion of vigilantism in the county.
Mr Reilly questioned the appointment to the National Roads Authority by the Minister for the Environment and Meath TD, Mr Dempsey, of his brother's business partner, Navan auctioneer Mr Raymond Potterton.
The Sinn Féin candidate said that a conflict of interest could arise for Mr Potterton in view of the land acquisition which is needed in Meath for construction by the NRA of new motorways.
Mr Bruton, however, said it was "inappropriate" for a representative of Sinn Féin to be criticising other parties, including the current Government, for alleged conflicts of interest when the party had not yet resolved its own conflict of interest arising from its continued association in the republican movement with an illegal army.
"The IRA is still well armed and has been involved in vigilante activity in this jurisdiction," said Mr Bruton. The Sinn Féin candidate said his party had no conflict of interest and opposed vigilantism. "Indeed, I know of no evidence of such a case in Co Meath," said Mr Reilly. He defended his right as an elected representative to raise any issue of relevance to the county.
Mr Reilly said he had been part of Sinn Féin delegations that had met Mr Bruton, both when he was Taoiseach and leader of Fine Gael. "He should know better than most the efforts the Sinn Féin leadership have made and will continue to make regarding the issue of arms and of bringing about a lasting peace on this island," he said.