Relative of UDR men shot dead by IRA brands Michelle O'Neill Belfast Remembrance Sunday plans a 'PR stunt' as she'll likely pay tribute to a paramilitary soon
First Minister Michelle O’Neill’s plan to attend Remembrance Sunday is a shallow ‘PR stunt’ as she’ll likely pay tribute to a paramilitary soon, a man whose father and uncle were killed by the IRA has said.
Rev Alan Irwin’s father Thomas was murdered in 1986, while last week marked the 45th anniversary of the death of his uncle Fred at the hands of IRA gunmen.
Sinn Fein vice-president Ms O’Neill plans to attend a Remembrance Sunday ceremony in Belfast City Hall – stating that she’s doing so as “First Minister for all”, while adding that for her this weekend is “about an acknowledgement of all loss”.
That doesn’t wash for Rev Irwin, who believes she’s not sincere in her reasons for attending.
The Fermanagh Church of Ireland minister said: “For me, Michelle O'Neill's attendance is merely a PR stunt and, I believe, without any substance, particularly from one who said there was no alternative for murder.
“To attend Remembrance Sunday, or events for those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice in war, conflict, acts of aggression and terrorism, must be sincere and not tokenism. I feel such is to mock the act of remembrance and bring it to the level of ticking a political box.”
In October 1979, Fred Irwin was shot to death by two IRA gunmen who ambushed him as he drove to work in Dungannon.
Seven years later, the family suffered another tragedy when Rev Irwin’s father Thomas was killed by the IRA at his workplace near Omagh.
Both men were part-time UDR members, and off-duty at the time of their murders.
Rev Irwin added: “The reality is that Ms O'Neill will likely be soon standing at some PIRA commemoration, giving a graveside eulogy to someone who murdered others in pursuit of an ideology far removed from the values we would espouse for everyone.
“Those who died in war did so in the pursuit of peace, to leave this world a better place for future generations. Sad as it appears, we've squandered those freedoms by building a false peace, void of truth and justice.”
Sinn Fein was contacted but did not reply.
Ms O’Neill will be the first senior party figure to go to a Remembrance ceremony and has denied her attendance is an attempt to distract from Sinn Fein scandals.