Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister:
“Today’s report in the Irish News on a volley of shots fired in memory of IRA terrorist Peter Rooney raises a number of profound issues.
“There is no attempt to claim that there were “dissident” republican gunmen, proving that the mainstream IRA remains armed and active.
“Secondly, the presence of senior members of Sinn Fein like Gerry Kelly and Bobby Storey at the funeral would suggest that those who some Unionists are sitting down with to talk about the future of our Province remain committed to the celebration and glorification of terrorism.
“Finally we are reminded that the Republican movement continues to hide many secrets about its murderous campaign of terror. Rooney went to his grave without innocent victims knowing what his role was in the terror campaign yet at his funeral mourners were told that as a member of the PIRA he travelled Europe.
“How can Unionists have confidence in the ability of Sinn Fein to govern this part of the United Kingdom when fundamental issues such as this so obviously exist?”