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Anger at plan to glorify IRA gang

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SINN Fein has again been accused of glorifying terrorism after it emerged it is planning to commemorate one of the IRA’s most notorious murder gangs.

The Irish republican party has organised a 12-mile walk through the Sperrin Mountains to mark the 25th anniversary of the deaths of eight IRA men who were killed by security forces as they attempted to bomb Loughgall RUC station.

The men – members of the so-called east Tyrone brigade – were widely regarded as one of the most active and lethal groups in the IRA and were responsible for countless murders.

Former UUP leader Tom Elliott yesterday called on Sinn Fein to cancel the event, which he says will cause deep distress to those who suffered at the hands of republicans in the west of the Province.

And DUP MP Jeffrey Donaldson slammed Sinn Fein for backing the event after having opposed the wish of families of the Kingsmills massacre to hold a dignified walk in memory of their loved ones.

But Sinn Fein’s Barry McElduff said the commemoration was a “dignified event” and accused Mr Elliott of attempting to stir up tensions.

In his statement Mr Elliott, an MLA for Fermanagh and South Tyrone, said the commemoration events, which also include a lecture in Moy, were brought to his attention by angered local residents.

“This includes people who were victims of the Troubles, who are utterly repulsed that terrorists are going to be honoured in their locality when they caused so much pain and anguish within the community,” said Mr Elliott.

He claimed the event was an example of “mixed messages” from Sinn Fein.

“On the one hand their chairman used an Easter speech to call for unionists and nationalists to become ‘partners in reconciliation’, while on the other they glorify the actions of terrorists who sought to murder security force members and who made the lives of many unionists a living hell.

“Do they expect the unionist community to just forget that and watch on quietly as criminals are hailed as heroes?

“It just isn’t going to happen. Sinn Fein should cancel the events planned as a sign that they are truly genuine about reconciliation.

“If they don’t, then it is clear that their words were empty and contain no substance or truth.”

Mr Donaldson told the News Letter last night: “I have very vivid memories of that particular event.

“If it had not been for the actions of the RUC and SAS there could have been massive loss of innocent life.

“The reality is for the vast majority of people in the community this is an event that marks a low point in the IRA’s terrorist campaign when they were involved in widespread bombings and shootings. Most people will want to move on from all that.”

Mr Donaldson also questioned Sinn Fein’s support for the event in light of chairman Declan Kearney’s claim that republicans want to reach out to unionists over dealing with the past.

“I think on the one hand Sinn Fein objected to the families of the Kingsmills massacre walking in a dignified way to remember the loss of their loved ones, then on the other hand they are supporting the families of terrorists walking through the Sperrins,” he said.

“If they are serious about engaging with unionists then this is certainly not the way to do it.”

Victims campaigner Willie Frazer, whose father was murdered by the IRA, said: “Apart from south Armagh, the Loughgall gang were second to none in their ruthlessness. A lot of them trained in Libya, which is why we know a lot about them.

“Republicans continually tell us they want to move on. If that is the case they have to put the glorification of those who murdered men, women and children in the past. All they are doing is causing hurt.”

West Tyrone MLA Barry McElduff, who is married to the sister of IRA man Patrick Kelly, who was killed at Loughgall by SAS soldiers, defended his party’s organisation of the event,

“Fermanagh is a right distance from where this walk is taking place, and I would argue that Tom Elliott is attempting to stir up tension in an effort to grab headlines,” he said.

“How we as republicans remember our patriots who were killed is our business.

“We have exercised responsibility in how we have organised this event, which is a dignified trek.

“I believe that it is wrong that Tom Elliott should seek to interfere in this.”

Mr McElduff, who says he intends to take part in the trek across the mountains in counties Tyrone and Londonderry, said the same route was undertaken last year to remember the hunger strikers.

Last December, a leaked report from the Historical Enquiries Team claimed that the IRA men opened fire first at Loughgall, dispelling theories of a British shoot-to-kill policy.

It was also claimed that the HET report – which has not yet been released – will reveal that some of the weapons recovered from the scene were found to have been used in up to seven IRA killings.


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