Pomeroy and District Innocent Victims' Association spokesman Ian Irwin spoke out to condemn the Pomeroy Plunketts club's plans to hold a tug-of-war contest on Saturday in memory of IRA man Seamus Woods.

Several other clubs in the area are expected to take part.

Mr Irwin blasted the GAA club's plans as "sickening" and called for the organisation to state its position on violence.

The club held a similar event last year when a parade organised as part of the commemoration had to be rerouted after anger in the Protestant community.

Mr Irwin said: "After successfully having the parade rerouted and highlighting the sickening antics of the local GAA in the media we thought they would perhaps learn from their mistakes for the future which would ultimately speed up the progression of community relations and moving on in the Pomeroy area.

"Unfortunately this has not been the case."

He said the decision to go ahead with a repeat event this year had outraged many people.

He accused the GAA of being sectarian in its attitude.

"We the innocent victims are disgusted at the sectarian behaviour of Pomeroy Plunketts GAC who after last year's event are left with no uncertainty as to the distress and hurt they are causing their Protestant neighbours."

He said political representatives must take the sporting body to task, especially if any of the clubs involved were receiving government funding.

No one from Pomeroy Plunketts GAC was available to comment yesterday, but Tyrone Board chairman Pat Darcy said while he wasn't aware of the event, the decision to host any function was up to each individual club.

"They are independent units and each club makes its own decisions," he said.

"They come from the community and they respond to the community."