Suzanne Breen ✒ Footage of the incident was posted online. 


An ex-IRA gunrunner and former Sinn Fein ard comhairle member has been assaulted while saying the rosary at a Pride parade.

Gerry McGeough was punched in the face by a woman as he stood with eight men praying and holding a statute of the Virgin Mary as an LGBTQ march made its way through Cookstown on Saturday.

Mr McGeough (63) later described those parading as “glorifying the sin of sodomy” and lambasted Sinn Fein for taking part in the event.

Before punching him, the woman approaches Mr McGeough to say something before the attack.

She was arrested immediately by police who witnessed the assault.

The ultra-Catholic nationalist group, Siol na hEireann, later claimed Mr McGeough had suffered a heart attack on Sunday morning.

Footage of the incident is circulating on social media.

The PSNI said a 44-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of common assault following an incident in the James Street area of the town on Saturday. It is understood she was released pending a report to the Public Proseuction Service.

Molly Farrell of Mid Ulster Pride told The Irish News she was unaware of the incident.

“We had made it clear from the beginning that we remain peaceful and don’t engage with protesters,” she said.

“I don’t imagine it was anybody who was part of the parade.” She added that she was “very sorry to hear what happened” and that the parade itself had been a great success.

Continue reading @ Belfast Telegraph.

Ex-IRA Gunrunner Gerry McGeough Attacked While Saying Rosary At Cookstown Pride Parade

Suzanne Breen ✒ Footage of the incident was posted online. 


An ex-IRA gunrunner and former Sinn Fein ard comhairle member has been assaulted while saying the rosary at a Pride parade.

Gerry McGeough was punched in the face by a woman as he stood with eight men praying and holding a statute of the Virgin Mary as an LGBTQ march made its way through Cookstown on Saturday.

Mr McGeough (63) later described those parading as “glorifying the sin of sodomy” and lambasted Sinn Fein for taking part in the event.

Before punching him, the woman approaches Mr McGeough to say something before the attack.

She was arrested immediately by police who witnessed the assault.

The ultra-Catholic nationalist group, Siol na hEireann, later claimed Mr McGeough had suffered a heart attack on Sunday morning.

Footage of the incident is circulating on social media.

The PSNI said a 44-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of common assault following an incident in the James Street area of the town on Saturday. It is understood she was released pending a report to the Public Proseuction Service.

Molly Farrell of Mid Ulster Pride told The Irish News she was unaware of the incident.

“We had made it clear from the beginning that we remain peaceful and don’t engage with protesters,” she said.

“I don’t imagine it was anybody who was part of the parade.” She added that she was “very sorry to hear what happened” and that the parade itself had been a great success.

Continue reading @ Belfast Telegraph.

9 comments:

  1. Headline should have been God Smites McGeough Sunday Morning for taking one in the gob the night before.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Wow. Never thought McGeough would have so much in common with Paisley.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. it does have strong echoes of what the Free Presbyterians used to do - and probably still do. Take away the violent assault on GM and the scene looks hilarious. That type of stuff is like Young Earth Creationism - not something to be taken seriously by wider society.
      Bonkers as it looks, people should be free to believe whatever they want but not practice those beliefs on the rest of us.

      Delete
  3. Isn't he that nutter that wants Ireland to turn into a Catholic theocracy?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's a Republican Sinn fein 📴 shoot . 🙏

      Delete
  4. Down with that sort of thing!
    Careful now!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Christy, Very sharp comment.

    I understand Republicanism is a broad church but this sort of protest would be more comfortable for the intolerant right and not those who argue for inclusivity, equality and who fight for others' rights even if we ourselves aren't directly affected by the discrimination minorities face.

    Pride is an event designed to give a voice to people who in the past had to stay hidden and still face violence, here in Ireland today. The children of the nation are equal. We don't say the rosary to others so why at the LGBT community? Sexual orientation doesn't take demographics into account so it'll just alienate people whatever their background. Ireland should be loving not begrudging.

    Everybody is entitled to their views but if we allow intolerance to fester we are in danger of moving to the right and history isn't kind to the Nationalist right in Ireland or indeed anywhere else.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Simon
      Totally agree. If God is all that these neanderthals say then we should expect God to chatise his intolerant troops.

      Delete
  6. McGeough is living proof that bigots come in both Orange and Green.

    ReplyDelete