Parliament invited to condemn ‘repugnant’ IRA members nameplate on MP’s office

DUP MP Carla Lockhart told MPs the House of Commons must “express its abhorrence at glorification or terrorists” as the standards watchdog seems powerless to sanction Sinn Fein’s Chris Hazzard over the McNulty and Magorrian nameplate on his Castlewellan advice centre.

South Down constituent Sammy Heenan, whose father William was shot dead by the IRA just a few miles from Castlewellan, said his local MP has displayed a “complete disregard to the legitimate sensitivities” of those constituents bereaved and injured by the IRA.

Mr Heenan has repeatedly raised concerns that public money should not be paid in office expenses if the nameplate on an MP’s advice centre effectively deters any constituents from entering.

In September this year, the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) wrote to Mr Hazzard, seeking an “assurance that he has complied with the Scheme of MPs’ Business Costs and Expenses.”

An IPSA spokesman later said: “We have had no response from the Member of Parliament to date.”

During a Commons’ Business Questions session, Carla Lockhart called for a debate to “address the fact that the expenses system to support MPs is being used by an MP to glorify the IRA”.

Mrs Lockhart said: “We have the utterly contemptible and offensive situation whereby a member of the House of Commons, the Sinn Fein member for South Down, has a constituency office named after two IRA terrorists.

“That office is meant to be open to all, but innocent victims of IRA terrorism like Mr Sammy Heenan have rightly described this as ‘repugnant and obscene’. Many of Mr Hazzard’s own constituents suffered at the hands of the IRA. His lauding of terrorists in an insult to those victims and their families.”

Mrs Lockhart added: “I raised this issue in the House of Commons with the leader of the House, Rt Hon Jacob Rees-Mogg MP, asking for a debate to be held that expresses the view of the overwhelming majority of MPs that glorification of terrorists – any terrorist – is wrong. I welcome his response. He pointed out the murder of Ian Gow and Airey Neave while they served as MPs and was unequivocal in his condemnation of all terrorists.

“I will continue to highlight this fundamental issue of right and wrong in Parliament. I hope the House can debate this issue soon, and also address the fact that the expenses system to support MPs is being used by an MP to glorify the IRA – seemingly without redress. That is totally unacceptable and needs fixed.”

At the time the issue was raised with the Parliamentary standards watchdog, Mr Heenan said: “Once again we witness Sinn Fein demonstrating disrespect and disdain to the Standards Commissioner by ignoring their request for clarification in respect of this vile office naming.

“How can we as a society progress if parliamentarians can pay complete disregard to the legitimate sensitivities and hurt of their constituents who bore the brunt of a depraved terrorist campaign?”

A Sinn Féin spokesperson said: “We will take no lectures from the party that once aligned itself to the Ulster Resistance, whose weapons have never been disposed of”.

READ: Parliamentary watchdog’s questions for Sinn Fein over ‘offensive’ signage

READ: IRA victim’s anger at Sin Fein’s ‘disrespect’ for Parliament

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