Statement by TUV Braid Councillor Matthew Warwick:
“Whatever one makes of the BBC documentary broadcast tonight there is one certainty – innocent victims of the IRA’s terror campaign will be outraged. Repeatedly throughout it, Des Long boasts of his role in procuring money for weapons and IRA training camps and his part in bringing rocket propelled grenades from Libya.
“TUV will be writing to the PSNI and the Garda asking what action is being taken in light of Long’s admissions / boasts.
“There is no doubt that Secret Army was designed by the PIRA to be a propaganda piece. However, the images of Martin McGuinness loading a weapon in front of small children probably doesn’t come across exactly as they intended.
“There are serious questions for the BBC regarding this film, however. There is no voice of challenge to the claim by Tony Divine that the IRA was “forced” to bomb city centres and sports clubs both of which are depicted in the footage aired tonight.
“The BBC clearly went to great lengths to trace those associated with the making of “Secret Army” but the documentary is devoid of any voice from a victim of the attacks shown in the film.
“Tonight’s documentary therefore will have caused gross offence to those who carry the scars resulting from the attacks depicted and indeed any IRA act of terror”.