Comber Councillor Stephen Cooper appeals for Unionism to unite against terrorism after his motion condemning the removal of the National Anthem at Stormont’s Remembrance Service on Armistice Day was passed in the Corporate Services Committee of Ards and North Down Borough Council on Tuesday night.
Commenting Councillor Cooper said:
“I am pleased that some Unionists were able back my motion, which was to point out the folly of bending the knee to IRASF on the removal of our National Anthem at the Remembrance Service to honour those who sacrificed their lives for our freedom and liberty in the many conflicts since 1914.
“How on earth can the Unionist electorate ever have faith in any party who apologises to Martin McGuinness of all people for singing God Save the Queen?
“It is an absolute disgrace and I hope come May next year the people of Northern Ireland show their disgust at yet another insult to the many victims of terrorism at the hands of the very people responsible for pulling the Anthem from the order of service.
“The removal was a deliberate and provocative insult to the fallen and politicised what should have been a dignified and solemn occasion.
“Of course, Unionists should be aware of this familiar tactic of removing little bits, chip, chipping away, similar to IRA/Sinn Fein’s approach to parades.
“It is shameful that Mitchell McLaughlin, who was responsible, was installed by Unionists as Speaker of the Assembly while the IRA remained armed and capable of robbery, extortion and of course murder.
“His previous comments about Jean McConville’s abduction and murder not being a crime, because the Army Council ordered it, are utterly repugnant.
“The National Anthem has been played at previous services and should always be in future.
“Any diminishment of our British heritage and our right to commemorate our fallen heroes by those responsible for murdering many of our citizens will be resisted by the TUV and all principled unionists.”
The motion read as follows:
“That this council condemns the unnecessary apology made to IRA/Sinn Fein’s Martin McGuinness for the singing of our National Anthem after its deliberate and provocative removal by Mitchell McLaughlin at the Remembrance Service in Stormont on Armistice Day, and urge the Northern Ireland Assembly to include God Save the Queen in all future services.”