Sunday saw the commemoration and glorification of Republican terrorism in South Armagh.
The idea of a family fun day as an attempt to normalise killing sprees is simply appalling when so many families have been deprived of family fun days within their own families that have been ripped apart by those who today will be eulogised.
This is once again an attempt to rewrite history and change the narrative. Sinn Féin’s self-styled First Minister for all has issued a statement which is oxymoronic. How can you claim to represent everyone, including Unionists and especially victims yet have one of your senior MPs as the headline act at a day designed to exalt those who saw fit to make so many people victims?
Sinn Fein have put much effort into changing their profile both here and within the Irish Republic, from their slogans of Equality, Respect and Integrity to their attempt to come across as states people who are claiming to represent everyone, yet the mask slips so often with their statements of “no alternative” to republican violence, which is simply an attempt to justify the unjustifiable
Indeed Republican commentator and former Sinn Fein council candidate, Chris Donnelly earlier this week tried to compare the memorial of Republican terrorists to that of the legitimate state forces namely RUC, UDR and the rest of the British Forces. Well I’m sorry that doesn’t wash with me. The people who tried to keep the peace here didn’t have to cover their faces, murder and maim by night or plant bombs to murder indiscriminately.
Today(Monday 12th June) sees the 50th anniversary of the bombing of Coleraine which killed 6 people and left at least 39 others seriously injured. An Act of Remembrance and the unveiling of a memorial to those innocent victims who lost their lives will take place outside the Town Hall in Coleraine. This memorial was designed and organised by Causeway Coast and Glens Council, where one of the convicted bombers sits as a Councillor. Where else within these nations or indeed within civilised society would a convicted bomber be elected to the council of the area he blew up?
In closing, our Councillors Jonathan McAuley and Allister Kyle will be in attendance in solemn memory and respectful representation to those who lost their lives, ever remembering there should have been no victims and many others should have taken all other alternatives rather than leaving empty seats round family dinner tables.