Sinn Fein tones down opposition to Royal visit

WHILE Sinn Fein has still to make up its mind on whether to allow its elected representatives to meet the Queen when she comes to Enniskillen next Tuesday, and, if so, will they shake her hand, others can’t wait.

Ulster Unionist MLA, Tom Elliott said he was ‘delighted’ that she will visit Enniskillen on her 2-day visit to Northern Ireland and give the people of Fermanagh South Tyrone an opportunity to show their gratitude to her.

For its part, Sinn Fein, locally, are adopting a ‘wait and see’ approach. The chairman of Fermanagh District Council would normally be expected to be invited along to one or more of the functions the Queen will be attending, among them a morning ecumenical service in Enniskillen and, it is thought, a visit to the new South West Acute Hospital.

The present chairman is Sinn Fein’s Thomas O’Reilly told the Herald yesterday he would take his lead from the party as to what to do.

“If there comes an invitation, fine, but I will follow party direction.”