Campbell welcomes Villiers' challenge to republicans over atrocities

By The Newsroom
Published 12th Feb 2016, 01:24 BST
Updated 17th Feb 2016, 07:24 BST
Aftermath of the La Mon house hotel massacre in 1978. PacemakerAftermath of the La Mon house hotel massacre in 1978. Pacemaker
Aftermath of the La Mon house hotel massacre in 1978. Pacemaker
Theresa Villiers' rejection of republican attempts to blame the state on almost every terrorist atrocity has been welcomed by the DUP's Gregory Campbell.

Addressing an event at Ulster University on Thursday, the secretary of state said there was a “pernicious counter narrative” attempting to “displace responsibility” away from the terrorists who killed and maimed.

Reacting to Ms Villiers’ comments, East Londonderry MP Mr Campbell said: “Over the past few months particularly, it just seems that every atrocity...was all the fault of the state.

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“There has been an attempt to blame the state for the Shankill Road bomb, attempts to blame the state for Enniskillen, so there did need to be a very emphatic, robust statement, and I am glad that she made it.

The scene at the Rising Sun bar, Greysteel on the morning after seven people were shot dead by loyalists in 1993. PacemakerThe scene at the Rising Sun bar, Greysteel on the morning after seven people were shot dead by loyalists in 1993. Pacemaker
The scene at the Rising Sun bar, Greysteel on the morning after seven people were shot dead by loyalists in 1993. Pacemaker

Mr Campbell added: “The Provisional IRA embarked on what they called ‘a long war’ and they and their successors and Sinn Fein need to understand, however long their campaign continues to rewrite the past, our campaign to make sure they don’t rewrite it will last longer.”

In her address, Ms Villiers said: “It wasn’t the RUC or the Army who planted the bombs at La Mon, Enniskillen, or the Shankill, or pulled the triggers at Loughinisland or Greysteel.”

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Related topics:Gregory CampbellDUPEnniskillenPeople