Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister:
“The events at the West Belfast Festival this weekend should, at long last, result in the withdrawal of funding from Belfast City Council, the Art’s Council and the National Lottery.
“With the group Kneecap – a sinister name if there ever was one given the life changing injuries which have been inflicted on so many in Northern Ireland – unveiling a mural depicting a petrol bomb attack on a PSNI Land Rover and screaming about getting “the Brits out” the festival has exposed the heart of darkness within Republican areas. This, allied to the repeat of the annual display of racism and sectarianism at the Wolfe Tones concert, should mean that not another penny of public money should go to the festival.
“Just two weeks ago the Ulster Fleadh said they were angry and sad following the emergence of a video in which a large number of people chanted about the IRA. They told us they had nothing to do with the event. Last night we have had the annual display of terrorist glorification at the West Belfast Festival. Does anyone expect the organisers to follow the example set by the Ulster Fleadh? Would anyone take them seriously if they did given that what has happened this evening was entirely predictable?
“Funding needs to be pulled from this hatefest. Furthermore, all those who add a veneer of respectability to the festival by taking part in other events need to be unequivocal about this.
“On Wednesday past, a BBC reporter chaired the West Belfast Talks Back event. The UUP’s Steve Aiken sat on the panel. Both the BBC and unionist parties need to make it clear that there will be no more engagement with this festival unless or until they clean up their act.”