Brendan McKenna

Brendan McKenna (Irish: Breandan Mac Cionnaith,cite web |url=http://www.irishnews.com/drumcree/drum4.html |title=Irish News: Drumree Special |accessdaymonth=April |accessyear=2007 |author=Irish news Internet Service |year=2001 |month=November |publisher=The Irish News ] b.~1958Fact|date=April 2007) is a prominent residents' group leader.

Brendan McKenna was the spokesman for the Garvaghy Road Residents' Coalition (also known as the Garvaghy Road Residents' Association).

Garvaghy stand-off

From 1996, McKenna had been the spokesman for the Garvaghy Road residents in the Drumcree conflict, which centres on the desire of the Orange Order to walk a traditional route through an area which had become predominantly Roman Catholic.

Prior to 2002, McKenna had received death threats and a live bullet had been sent to him. [cite news |first=Ashleigh |last=Wallace |title=Threats to 'no march' leaders |url=http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/imported/article788542.ece |publisher=Belfast Telegraph |date=2002-01-23 |accessdate=12-4-2007 ]

Resignation

On the 10th of April 2007, McKenna resigned from Sinn Féin — the suspicion being that the resignation is due to the party's support of the Police Service of Northern Ireland. [cite news |title=Garvaghy spokesman leaves party |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/6540305.stm |publisher=BBC |date=2007-04-10 |accessdate=2007-04-12 ] cite news |first=Noel |last=McAdam |title=Differences over policing believed to be cause of split |url=http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/article2437440.ece |publisher=Belfast Telegraph |date=2007-04-10 |accessdate=2007-04-12 ] It is believed he will continue as the spokesman for the Garvaghy Road residents however.

McKenna has been critical of the Orange Institution and of the Royal Ulster Constabulary (the former police force of Northern Ireland). McKenna is also a prominent campaigner for an inquiry into the murder of solicitor Rosemary Nelson.

He is currently a member of éirígí.

References