The name of Sinn Fein, taking its literal translation, means ‘we ourselves’.
That might have stood up to scrutiny had it remained a political party on the outside looking in.
However, in 2024, the party finds itself as the dominant force in Northern Ireland politics.
No longer can it stand alone. With power comes responsibility. And that responsibility is no longer just to those who support it, it is to all the people in Northern Ireland.
The issue over the party’s former press officer Michael McMonagle, the references given by Sinn Fein as he took up a position with the British Heart Foundation, the timeline of information, the inconsistencies in dates, the lack of clarity over who knew what and when, leaves too many unanswered questions.
When references were given to the charity, his former employers already knew he was under investigation. And while no one organisation can be responsible for the actions of their employee, the manner in which they deal with the matter is open to public scrutiny.
As the story has developed over the last week, contradictions and backtracking from Sinn Fein have increased as quickly as the questions have come.
From Sinn Fein’s point of view, this is a mess of its own making. And if there’s a stain on an organisation, the best way of dealing with it is quickly coming clean, admitting mistakes and taking measures to address what went wrong.
The issue over Sinn Fein’s former press officer Michael McMonagle, the references given by Sinn Fein as he took up a position with the British Heart Foundation, the timeline of information, the inconsistencies in dates, the lack of clarity over who knew what and when, leaves too many unanswered question
That fault, as SDLP leader Claire Hanna said, does not lie with the charity. It asked for references and they were given.
Instead, it was implied last week that the charity should shoulder some blame. It becomes all the more important when it’s the safeguarding of children at stake.
How, too, can Economy Minister Conor Murphy state the party would have prejudiced any investigation by alerting the British Heart Foundation to his background? That claim has promptly been dismissed by the Chief Constable.
This has now become an issue of trust. Northern Ireland has a Sinn Fein First Minister. The party holds key positions in government.
The questions cannot simply be dismissed with a series of contradictions and half truths.
And a party which has traditionally closed ranks under fire must now step up and be honest about what has gone wrong and what had been done to correct procedures which have so obviously been found out as inappropriate.
Sinn Fein cannot be in it for ‘we ourselves’ any longer.