Loughgall event illustrates challenge facing unionists

Sinn Fein politicians of course attend republican events and have done since the party began contesting elections again in the early 1980s.

Ms O’Neill, it can be argued, has a particular need to do this to shore up the support of the earlier physical force generation of republicans, of which she did not play a part. But she has not just attended general commemorative events relating to the distant past, such as Wolf Tone or Easter 1916.

She is attending commemorations of some of the most fanatical IRA murderers, in instances where the state had to intervene to save the life of their intended victims.

Aside from the divisiveness of such an attendance from someone who wants to be first minister, and aside from the hypocrisy of such conduct from someone who demands respect from unionists, it raises immediate questions about Sinn Fein’s willingness to support the security forces if ever they have to use force to stop dissident terror attacks.

It suggests that Ms O’Neill does, and always will, lack the authority, ability and inclination to move mainstream republicans away from such provocative gestures.

And this in turn raises questions about the appropriateness of unionists rushing back to power with such a party.

There are now grave questions about the very structures at Stormont that unionists have been instructed to work within, thus giving a party with 28% of the vote a veto on devolution.

If the Conservatives get back on June 9 the key negotiation for unionists should be with London, explaining to a unionist government how hard it is now to deal with Sinn Fein.

The Loughgall commemoration is also a reminder of the scandalous legacy imbalance. There are two legal actions on the case before the courts, trying to blame the SAS for shoot-to-kill or trying to order a legacy inquest into the deaths.