Commenting on the paramilitary display today surround the funeral of Declan McGlinchey, son of former INLA Chief of Staff Dominic McGlinchey, TUV Councillor Stephen Cooper said:
“The recent report into paramilitary activity stated that the INLA not only remains in existence but is attempting to recruit new members. The report also made it clear that, like the IRA, the INLA continues to have access to weapons and is heavily involved in criminality including extortion, drug dealing and fraud.
“It is therefore outrageous that such a show of strength was permitted to take place today.
“It is deeply disturbing that schoolgirls where so close to this paramilitary display and we need to get clarity from the school as to whether they knew a display of this nature was planned. Did they give permission for the pupils to attend in uniform?
“Furthermore, given the prominence of people wearing GAA tops the funeral again raises questions about the connections between that organisation and armed Republican terrorists.
“What sort of “shared future” is being created in Northern Ireland when sports clubs and schoolgirls are seen side by side with men in paramilitary dress?
“There will be many members of the public wondering why another uniformed organisation – the PSNI – appears to have been absent from what amounted to a paramilitary show of strength in broad daylight. This is a matter my party will be raising with the PSNI.”