Sinn Fein TD’s apology for ‘insensitive’ Narrow Water massacre tweet not enough, says brother of soldier killed in IRA attack

Alex Blair, whose brother Lieutenant Colonel David Blair was one of those killed in the 1979 IRA ambush, called for the Sinn Fein TD Brian Stanley to resign after he posted a message on Twitter celebrating the attack.

Mr Stanley, a representative for Laois/Offaly in the Dail (Irish Parliament) sent the tweet on the anniversary of the centenary of the Kilmichael ambush in 1920.

“Kilmicheal (sic) (1920) and Narrow Water (1979) the 2 IRA operations that taught the elective of (the) British army and the establishment the cost of occupying Ireland,” he wrote. “Pity for everyone they were such slow learners.”

He has since apologised and deleted the tweet.

Mr Blair said: “My reaction was anger, really. Sinn Fein seem to do what they like and then apologise, and it’s all forgotten about.

“Barry McElduff was dancing around with a loaf of bread on his head on the anniversary of the Kingsmills massacre. He apologised and then it was forgot about.

“The innocent victims are forgot about. They don’t matter.”

Asked if he believed the apology from Mr Stanly went far enough, he said: “No. He should resign or be removed from his post.”

Meanwhile, Graham Eve, a member of the Parachute Regiment who was deployed to secure the scene after the bombs at Narrow Water, said people who display such hatred are “oxygen thieves”.

“I fully understand the ruffled feathers, however how do we move on with such needless, childish, hate-filled tweets?” he added.

“I wish they could look outside the boxes they appear to live in and reflect on the beauty of this country instead and embrace it.

“Those who still display such hatred are just oxygen thieves and don’t deserve a response from those of us who were there that day only because of the violence being perpetrated by those who live in a time machine stuck in reverse.”

Sinn Fein’s Eoin O Broin said the party will not be taking any further action over the tweet.

He told Irish broadcaster RTE that the tweet was “wrong” and “wholly inappropriate”.

Mr O Broin added that Mr Stanley did the right thing by apologising and deleting the tweet.

Stormont Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill said Mr Stanley deleted his “inappropriate and insensitive” tweet.

“We all have a responsibility to commemorate in a responsible manner,” she said.

She said old battles should not be refought.

“Our mission is to bring all the people of this island together and not keep us apart.”

She said next year should not be defined by rancour and division. Irish Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney, meanwhile, said it was another case within Sinn Fein of the “mask slipping”. He added: “It was a really insensitive and stupid thing to tweet.”