Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister:-
“The renewed upsurge in republican paramilitary attacks is a chilling reminder that, as when they called themselves Provos, such men of blood care nothing for human dignity or rights.
“I see no distinction between the bloodthirsty Provo kneecapper and killer and the current crop, whatever their flag of convenience. The Sinn Fein condemnation takes refuge in the claimed distinction that today’s killers have no community support, as if community support legitimises murder! Sadly, in the eyes of the Joint First Minister this still seems to be the case, otherwise he never would have stood over what his Provo bully boys and nutting squad did, nor would he attempt to distinguish his thugs from the present crop.
“One of the factors incentivising the current paramilitaries is the reward of those from whom they learned their trade. Terrorists in government is an encouragement, not a discouragement, to more terror.”