Statement by TUV Magherafelt council candidate Gareth Ferguson:
“I was shocked to read the comments of DUP councillor Anne Forde in today’s Irish News where she said she has “no issue” with a display of Easter lilies and a box marked “Honour Ireland’s Patriot Dead Wear an Easter Lilly” in the reception area of Magherafelt council.
“To add insult to injury Anne Forde went on to compare Republican Easter lilies to Remembrance Poppies saying: “It would be different if they said there would be no poppy”.
“Councillor Forde clearly believes that a parallel can be drawn between a display of poppies in the run up to Remembrance Sunday and Republican Easter lilies.
“This will outrage people throughout Northern Ireland. The poppy is a symbol of those who served their county with honour and fought for freedom, both Nationalist and Unionist, Catholic and Protestant, against tyranny in two World Wars.
“It also reminds us of the sacrifice which many innocent people paid in our own part of the United Kingdom at the hands of terrorists.
“The Enniskillen Poppy Day Massacre starkly illustrated this.
“The Poppy is a symbol of honour. The Easter Lilly is a symbol of those who bombed a remembrance service.
“If Mrs Forde professes to be any sort of Unionist she needs to withdraw her comments immediately. It is also incumbent upon her party to clarify their position on terror displays like this.
“Her comments illustrate the weak, rollover attitude of the DUP to Republicans. In a few weeks’ time they will be going round portraying themselves as the champions of Unionism and opponents of Sinn Fein. These comments reveal the reality.”