BY CATHERINE WYLIE

The event, which was in memory of Sheena campbell who was shot dead in the  York Hotel in Belfast on 16th October 1992, was then attended instead by Sinn Féin’s John O’Dowd.  A DVD was shown which detailed the republican struggle to date, followed by a few words on the late Sheena by Mr O’Dowd.  Having grown up with her, O’Dowd claimed, “I am an Irish republican today because I knew Sheena Campbell, and I know that if she seen us now and was asked about what she thought of the current political situation, she would ask if all our party’s developments in the last 17 years had benefited the republican struggle.”

When asked about how a Conservative government would effect the party, he said, “David Cameron needs to go away and read the Good Friday Agreement, because some of things he has said recently have been way off the mark.”

The clubrooms where the event was held were full, prompting O’Dowd to comment, “The room is full, that’s a good sign.”