Sinn Fein has been slammed for plans to lay a wreath normally associated with sporting victories at a Battle of the Somme memorial event today in Belfast.
The party’s Tom Hartley, Lord Mayor of the city, will lay a laurel wreath at the cenotaph at 9am, two hours ahead of the main military ceremony.
Former Lord Mayor Jim Rodgers said it could be welcomed that Sinn Fein are taking part.
“But laur
el wreaths are normally placed around the necks of sports winners and this is disrespectful,” he said.
Mr Hartley said his gesture would build upon initiatives by party colleagues Alex Maskey and Joe O’Donnell to reach out to Protestants.
British symbolism has alienated nationalists from these “formal military events” he said, which has almost erased the sacrifices made by tens of thousands of Irishmen.
Today marks the 92nd anniversary of the start Battle of the Somme, in which thousands from both the 36th (Ulster) and the 16th (Irish) Division died fighting Germany in 1916.
l Also today, the Somme Association will conduct its annual commemoration at the Ulster Memorial Tower at Thiepval in France at 3pm.
Invited guests include the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Shaun Woodward, former First Minister Ian Paisley, the Commander of the 38th (Irish) Brigade and the Commanding Officer of the 2nd Battalion Royal Irish Regiment.
