The
Independent Workers Union unreservedly rejects the
slanderous allegation printed in the Sunday Times
of 26 February, and repeated by its Ireland editor
Frank Fitzgibbon on the RTE programme Question and
Answers, that our union published or distributed
leaflets calling on people to join Saturday's counter-demonstrations
against the Love Ulster rally in Dublin.
According
to the front-page report, 'Republican riot puts
a stop to 'love parade', by Jan Battles and Liam
Clarke, the leaflets were circulated two weeks ago.
It is astonishing that a journalist with Liam Clarke's
experience would not have considered contacting
the Independent Workers Union in order to verify
the authenticity or otherwise of such a publication.
We are equally dismayed that the Ireland editor
of the Sunday Times would repeat the unfounded allegation
on national television without checking his facts.
The
Independent Workers Union is a non-political, licensed
trade union that does not endorse any party-political
point of view. The Independent Workers Union did
not take any position on the Love Ulster parade
or the counter demonstration prior to the events
in Dublin at the weekend since our union did not
believe that this issue was relevant to our work
on behalf of our members.
The
Independent Workers Union is astounded by this sinister
allegation and we ask what possible motive could
be served by this attempt to implicate our union
in the events last Saturday.
