Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister:
“The legalising of the IRA, an organisation which brought death and destruction to countless homes in Northern Ireland and further afield, would be monstrous and a gross insult to innocent victims. That this suggestion should be floated just days before the publication of a report into paramilitary activity is, I believe, far from being a coincidence. It is also clear that Jonathan Powel’s involvement in the Loyalist announcement earlier in the week was linked to the report.
“The sanitisation of paramilitarism and pandering to paramilitary egos appears to be an inherent component of “the peace process”. To me and many law abiding citizens this is repugnant.
“It is testament to the moral morass into which Northern Ireland has descended that such a suggestion could even be made. By Powel’s logic it would have been a good thing for the SS to have remained in place after the fall of Nazi Germany.
“Let’s just recall that Loyalist and Republican paramilitary groups are banned because of their practice of terrorism, often for purely sectarian purposes.
“Are we really building a new and better Northern Ireland if we permit those organisations to operate openly as some sort of “old boys club” as has been suggested when what they will be commemorating will be acts of terror which have left many physical, emotional and mental wounds which are still raw today? The IRA is nothing like the Royal British Legion and must not be treated as such. Veterans who served their country in defence of us all bear no comparison to “veterans” of wicked, murderous terrorist organisations.
“Just a few weeks ago we saw just why the IRA is banned when they shot a man in the streets of Belfast.
“Jonathan Powel’s suggestion is morally repugnant and should be roundly condemned as such by all democrats.”