When we are told that a veteran republican was committed to the peace process we should remember that it came after a terror campaign

With the passing of yet another leading republican, Bobby Storey we are told by their associates that they were committed to the peace process, the implication being that they should be judged peacemakers by history.
By Alex Swan
Published 28th Jun 2020, 08:09 BST
Updated 28th Jun 2020, 10:00 BST
Bobby Storey with Martin McGuinness at a protest on the Falls Road, west Belfast in 2014, over the arrest of Gerry AdamsBobby Storey with Martin McGuinness at a protest on the Falls Road, west Belfast in 2014, over the arrest of Gerry Adams
Bobby Storey with Martin McGuinness at a protest on the Falls Road, west Belfast in 2014, over the arrest of Gerry Adams

But when we look back at how the Provisional IRA exploited the ‘peace process’ we see a different picture.

The 1994 IRA ceasefire was met with lots of praise yet their 1996 Docklands bombing claimed two lives, and the following year a further two lives were taken in Lurgan. In this case the victims, who were shot from behind, were friends and RUC colleagues of mine, Davy Johnston and John Graham.

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These four lives were not taken to advance Irish unity, these lives, and others under different guises were taken simply to strengthen the negotiating position of the Sinn Fein.

So when we are assured that a veteran member of the republican movement was committed to the peace process we should remember that the process, like the terror campaign that preceded it, was paid for in innocent blood.

Alex Swan, Ulster Unionist councillor, Lisburn and Castlereagh Council

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Related topics:Alex SwanSinn Fein