FAKE IMAGES OF Sinn Féin activists dressed as Orangemen, covered with ash in a warzone, waving the English flag, and attending an LGBT+ Pride parade wearing sparkling shirts and a harness, have spread online.

The different images all appear to be AI-generated, though they are based on a real photo posted by Sinn Féin councillor Mícheál Mac Donncha.

The original picture was taken at a demonstration to show “solidarity with the people of Venezuela” and “opposition to US aggression,” on 3 January.

“Dublin Sinn Féin on their way to meet party paymaster the British King Charlie for a drop of tea and a couple of cheeky scones,” reads a social media caption on one of the fake images, which features party activists wearing English football garb and waving flags with the St George’s cross, emblazoned with letters reading “Sinn Féin”.

Another fake image shows the same group of people wearing bowler hats and orange sashes while waving Union Jacks, as if they were members of the Orange Order.

“Dublin Sinn Féin have landed in Caracas to defend the glorious Bolivarian Revolution from over 20 million ungrateful Venezuelans,” reads the caption on yet another fake photo, showing the group covered with ash in a bombed out city. “How dare they enjoy liberty without consulting Dublin SF first!”

One of the AI-generated images.

Another fake photo shows the group in garb such as a rainbow-coloured hat and a leather body harness in front of LGBT+ flags.

On Facebook, these images have been viewed widely, with individual posts attracting hundreds of comments underneath.

They are also all fake.

The original image that the fakes are based on was posted by Sinn Féin councillor for Dublin City Mícheál Mac Donncha, and shows him with fellow councilor Daithí Doolan, as well as other activists whose social media accounts all indicate support for Sinn Féin.

The original photo posted to the Facebook page of Mícheál Mac Donncha.

They are photographed in front of Venezuelan flags being waved in Dublin city.

“Solidarity with the people of Venezuela, opposition to US aggression, on the Ha’penny Bridge this afternoon”, the caption reads.

There are no bowler hats, bombing debris, harnesses, or George’s flags in the original photo.

Similar photos of the activists were also targeted on other social media platforms, such as X, though there, rather than fake images, the abuse largely took the form of direct insults against those pictured.

There has been a trend in AI-generated images being used to mock politicians, regularly posted into fringe groups. Another recent example posted on a far-right Facebook page shows socialist TD Paul Murphy wearing a dress, possible in response to his previous comments in support of trans people. 

While such AI-generated images are often meant satirically, they risk fooling people into believing they are real. 

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