Letter: The IRA murdered my dad but even so I am glad that Michelle O'Neill attended the Remembrance Sunday service
A letter from Rev David Clements:
I think I understand the criticism of Michelle O’Neill’s participation in the Act of Remembrance last Sunday, but I don’t agree with it.
People probably well known to her were responsible for the murder in 1985 of my father, a decent family man with a strong Christian faith. The IRA did it simply because he choose to serve his community wearing a bottle-green uniform – something for which republicans have never apologised.
Michelle O’Neill is the democratically elected First Minister of Northern Ireland and I welcome her dignified participation on Remembrance Sunday.
I have little doubt that it was a sincere attempt to reach out to my community. It was in stark contrast to the loutish behaviour of those republicans chanting IRA slogans at a similar event in Enniskillen last week.
We all have a way to go in our journeys, if reconciliation is ever going to mean anything here. When people I may disagree with take a step in the right direction, it would be churlish of me not to welcome that.
Rev David Clements, Cullybackey