A BADGE with the caption 'Tiocfaidh ar Lá' is facing criticism due to the shape of a rifle it bears.
On the Sinn Féin bookshop website, a badge bearing the tricolour and the Republican slogan 'Tiocfaidh ar Lá' is being contested by many people.
The badge, in the shape of an Armalite rifle, has drawn criticism due to the links to extremist Republican connotations the quote draws but also the threatening violent nature of the shape of a rifle.
Just last week, Mary Lou McDonald defended her use of the phrase in her first speech as president of the Republican party.
Despite McDonald's clarifications about using the phrase, Peter Weir, speaking to Belfast Telegraph, the MLA for Strangford in Co. Down condemned the selling of the badge.
Weir commented: "Mary Lou McDonald’s claim that shouting IRA slogans is some attempt to 'reclaim language' is not only insulting but doesn’t stand up to basic scrutiny. Sinn Fein should explain how offering 'Tiochfaidh Ár Lá' badges in the shape of an Armalite rifle 'reclaims language'?
"Evidently, the new President of Sinn Fein is more focused on tipping her hat to the republican backwoodsmen than on showing respect to victims of PIRA terrorism. "
The badge even stirred many people's opinions on social media, with many slamming the party for the badges onsite.
@MaryLouMcDonald I quite liked your defence of your use of tiochfaidh ar la. Today I saw it on a Sinn Fein badge shaped as an armalite rifle and that simply has to go if you want to reclaim the phrase for the future.
— MarginView (@marginview) February 20, 2018
Sinn Fein should remove 'Tiochfaidh Ár Lá' Armalite rifle badge from website, says DUP https://t.co/Kj10YQArP5
— Katy Scarletta 💛la verità prevarrà sempre (@katyscarletta1) February 20, 2018
