Mary Lou McDonald says sorry for IRA murder of Lord Mountbatten

Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald has apologised for the IRA’s assassination of Lord Mountbatten following the funeral of the Duke of Edinburgh.
By The Newsroom
Published 18th Apr 2021, 20:50 BST
Updated 19th Apr 2021, 09:21 BST
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Ms McDonald described the murder of Lord Mountbatten – who died along with two members of his family and a Co Fermanagh teenager – on a fishing boat in Co Sligo in 1979 as “heartbreaking”.

Her comments came a day after a funeral service was held for Philip, Lord Mountbatten’s nephew, at Windsor Castle on Saturday.

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When asked on Times Radio whether she would apologise to the Prince of Wales over the assassination – which her predecessor Gerry Adams reportedly refused to do – she said: “The Army and the armed forces associated with Prince Charles carried out many, many violent actions on our island.”

Lord Mountbatten at Buckingham Palace in summer 1977, two years before he was murdered by the IRA while on holiday in Sligo. In the aftermath of the funeral of Prince Philip, Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald has apologised for the assassination. Photo: PA WireLord Mountbatten at Buckingham Palace in summer 1977, two years before he was murdered by the IRA while on holiday in Sligo. In the aftermath of the funeral of Prince Philip, Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald has apologised for the assassination. Photo: PA Wire
Lord Mountbatten at Buckingham Palace in summer 1977, two years before he was murdered by the IRA while on holiday in Sligo. In the aftermath of the funeral of Prince Philip, Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald has apologised for the assassination. Photo: PA Wire

She added: “And I can say of course I am sorry that that happened, of course that is heart-breaking.

“And my job, and I think Prince Charles and others would absolutely appreciate this, is to lead from the front now in these times.

“And I believe it is all of our jobs to ensure that no other child, no other family, irrespective of who they are, face the kind of trauma and heartbreak that was all too common on all sides on this island and beyond.

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“I’m happy to reiterate that at the time and on the weekend that your Queen buried her beloved husband.”

Mary Lou McDonald, president of Sinn Fein, says of the Mountbatten killing: "I can say of course I am sorry that that happened, of course that is heartbreaking"Mary Lou McDonald, president of Sinn Fein, says of the Mountbatten killing: "I can say of course I am sorry that that happened, of course that is heartbreaking"
Mary Lou McDonald, president of Sinn Fein, says of the Mountbatten killing: "I can say of course I am sorry that that happened, of course that is heartbreaking"

She relayed how Charles had written her a “lovely letter” last year after she fell ill with Covid-19, adding: “I thought that was most decent and kind of him.

“Whereas we are not obviously monarchists, we’re republicans, that’s our political view, we have the utmost respect for that family and for who they are and what they represent to British people and indeed to unionists and loyalists here.

“And interestingly, the conversations that you have when people like us meet people like the Royal Family are not conversations around recriminations or there’s never a demand for apologies.”

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The bomb planted on the fishing boat by republican paramilitaries also killed Lady Doreen Brabourne, the 83-year-old mother-in-law of the earl’s daughter, his 14-year-old grandson Nicholas Knatchbull and 15-year-old Paul Maxwell, from Killynur, Enniskillen.

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