The leader of Sinn Fein has apologised for marching behind an “England Get Out of Ireland” banner on St Patrick’s Day.
Mary Lou McDonald moved to reassure the public that its message was not directed at English people.
“For anybody who felt that it was directed at English people, I just want to reassure them that that’s not the case,” she said.
No explanation needed. @MaryLouMcDonald #StPatrickDay Parade #NYC pic.twitter.com/wgCdujHRTv
— Sinn Féin (@sinnfeinireland) March 16, 2019
The Dublin Central TD was condemned for helping carry the sign last month in New York City’s annual parade to mark the Irish national holiday.
Her actions were described as offensive and divisive by Ireland’s Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney.
@MaryLouMcDonald this is NOT leadership – it’s offensive, divisive and an embarrassment – grow up, this is NOT #ireland in 2019! we are better than this! 🇮🇪 https://t.co/LUbfbvOe6l
— Simon Coveney (@simoncoveney) March 17, 2019
An opinion poll published by the Sunday Business Post over the weekend showed support for Sinn Fein had dropped by five points to 13%. The figure was 18% in February.
On Monday Ms McDonald said: “In respect of St Patrick’s Day, I think it starts certainly a conversation around that banner which has been up and down Fifth Avenue for a generation.
“It’s a very direct political statement, it’s an anti-partition statement.
“I know it was taken by some to be directed at English people. It certainly was not and is not.”
She described the slogan as a “fairly blunt statement at any time”.
Speaking on RTE Radio 1 she said: “I suppose all of us have to be conscious of not just what we say and what is meant, but also what is heard and what is understood.”
Asked whether she was inching towards an apology, she replied: “I don’t have to inch towards anything… for anybody who felt that it was directed at English people I just want to reassure them that that’s not the case.
“Indeed I have blood relatives myself who are English … and English people are very welcome in Ireland.
“Many of them live amongst us, they are our neighbours and our friends, so certainly I apologise to anybody who felt that the banner was intended in that way, and I’m happy to clarify that it’s not. It certainly doesn’t mean that.”
On the political sentiment behind the banner, Ms McDonald said she would not apologise for being “a united Irelander” and for wanting unity and democracy across Ireland.
“Far from apologising for it, I wear that political position as a badge of honour,” she said.
The Democratic Unionist Party said Ms McDonald’s apology was motivated by poll ratings rather than remorse.
East Antrim MLA Gordon Lyons said: “Mary Lou McDonald’s apology is a cynical response to falling poll ratings rather than any acknowledgement of remorse.
“It is testament to Sinn Fein’s place on the sidelines of politics that gaffes by their new president have been their most significant contribution to politics in recent months.
“It is clear however that a drop in support has pressed those who take the decisions within Sinn Fein to stop defending the banner and belatedly send Mary Lou McDonald out to issue this supposed apology.”
Mr Lyons said if the party’s leadership was truly focused on repairing the damage it would commit to working with all other parties to restore the Stormont Assembly.