Sex abuse survivor Paudie McGahon says he was left “speechless by the sheer gall” of the Sinn Féin leadership as they attempted to take the high moral ground in the wake of Jeffrey Donaldson’s conviction. belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/…

Sinn Féin MEP Lynn Boylan's Irish Language Gaffe Leaves Party Red-Faced In a moment that has gone viral and drawn widespread mockery, Sinn Féin MEP Lynn Boylan has inadvertently exposed herself and her party to criticism over their commitment to the Irish language. During a recent meeting of the European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, Boylan began her remarks in Irish before switching to English. She lamented: "It's unfortunate that we can't use our own language in this committee, but I will continue now in English." The committee vice-chair promptly corrected her, confirming that Irish interpretation was available and that she was free to speak in Gaeilge. Caught off guard, Boylan replied: "We didn’t know, sorry... I wasn’t prepared," before proceeding in English. The exchange quickly sparked accusations of grandstanding. Critics, including unionist voices like the TUV, argued that Sinn Féin appears more interested in "weaponising" the Irish language for political points than genuinely promoting or using it. Online commentary has been scathing, with many noting the irony of a Sinn Féin representative — from a party that strongly advocates for Irish language rights in Ireland — appearing unprepared to use it when the opportunity arose in an EU setting. Boylan, a Dublin MEP elected in 2024, has faced questions about her own proficiency in Irish following the incident. Sinn Féin has long positioned itself as a champion of the language, pushing for its expanded use in official and everyday contexts in Ireland and Northern Ireland. This episode has been seized upon by opponents as evidence of performative rather than substantive support. The clip has circulated widely on social media, with users describing it as "toe-curling" and "awkward" for the party. While Boylan's team has not issued a detailed response, the incident underscores ongoing debates about language policy and political authenticity in Irish politics.

FACT CHECK: This image is from August 18, 2020. A Houthi sniper shot a girl named Rowaida in Taiz, Yemen while she was carrying water home. The original post is still live on X. @Partisangirl recycled a 6 year old Houthi atrocity photo and blamed Israel. The truth got 397 likes. The lie got 60,000.