Scale is the key difference between the evil massacres in Srebrenica and Northern Ireland

This month the 25th Anniversary of the Srebrenica massacre was marked by a tree planting ceremony in Stormont.

Among those participating in the ceremony were the Sinn Fein MLAs Conor Murphy and Declan Kearney.

Both used this solemn occasion to draw comparisons between the ‘Troubles’ and Srebrenica.

Mr Kearney said the people of Bosnia “rebuilding a country still living with the consequences of hatred is an example to us all”.

He said: “From our own experience, we know peacebuilding is not easy ... the Executive’s Good Relations Strategy sets out our vision for a united community, where everyone can live, learn and socialise together, free from prejudice, hate and intolerance.”

He also said: “We are determined to build on the opportunity offered to us by the New Decade, New Approach deal in order to tackle endemic problems in our society such as sectarianism, prejudice and inequality, and to build a united community.”

Both Mr Kearney and Mr Murphy seemed to imply that whilst the ‘Troubles’ was bad, it was thankfully not on the scale of Srebrenica.

Well the fact that it never reached the levels of Srebrenica was not for want of trying by PIRA.

It was only the bravery of the security forces, including those working undercover, who time and time again prevented republican terrorists from killing many more innocents than the 2,100 they slaughtered.

PIRA were as evil as the Serbs who slaughtered in Bosnia.

Kingsmills, La Mon, Teebane, Bloody Friday, Claudy, Enniskillen, Tullyvallen and Darkley were exactly the same as Srebrenica as was the murder of the disappeared and their countless acts of ethnic cleansing along the Fermanagh border.

The only difference between PIRA and the Serb mass murders was scale.

Tom Nash, Derriaghy