Sinn Fein’s Martina Anderson blasted for ‘disgusting and offensive’ tweet on terror victims

The Foyle MLA and former IRA prisoner faced an angry backlash after a tweet claiming £800 million in victims’ pension payments was going mainly to those who “fought Britain’s dirty war’ in Ireland.

Ms Anderson’s message also alleged the money was going mainly to soldiers involved in murder and security force members “involved in collusion”.

The tweet was later replaced with a message that “all victims” should qualify for the pension, and that the current eligibility criteria “reflects the Brit Gov policy and only its narrative of the conflict”.

DUP MLA Gary Middleton called on Sinn Fein to sanction the former MEP, while Doug Beattie of the UUP said Sinn Fein is “so committed to justifying the murderous criminality of the IRA” that it is “prepared to slur its victims”.

SDLP leader Colum Eastwood branded Ms Anderson’s comments “unacceptable, disgusting and grossly insulting to hundreds of victims who sustained life changing physical and psychological injuries related to Troubles incidents”.

Justice Minister and Alliance leader Naomi Long said Sinn Fein “do not have a right to launch such vitriol” at those who will qualify “or smear them in this way”.

The current government guidance on eligibility for the victims’ payment states that it is not appropriate for payments to be made to people who have a serious conviction for an offence that caused serious harm to others, nor is it appropriate for payments to be made to people who have a recent conviction for a terrorism related offence, whether the offence is serious or not.

Last week a High Court judge in Belfast described a Sinn Fein claim, that it was permissible to delay allocation of the compensation programme for political reasons, as “arrant nonsense”.

Gary Middleton said Ms Anderson’s tweet was “patent nonsense” as well as being “offensive to innocent victims of terrorism”.

He added: “The Sinn Fein leadership must deal with this shocking tweet.”

Doug Beattie also referred to the tweet as “deluded nonsense” and added: “She either does not understand the system or is attempting to create confusion by deliberately refusing to face facts. Innocent victims deserve better than this.”

TUV leader Jim Allister and Alliance MP Stephen Farry also hit out at Ms Anderson over her comments.

Mr Allister said this “latest slur on the victims of the IRA,” is a “calculated insult, not just to those who bravely wore the uniform to defeat the terrorism of her IRA, but applies equally to the hundreds of innocent civilians butchered for no reason other than in pursuit of the Provos’ blood lust.”

On Twitter, Mr Farry described Ms Anderson’s tweet as “appalling,” and said: “I appreciate Sinn Fein have concerns around the details of this scheme. But this is a massive slur on those who are injured and who have campaigned with dignity and resolve.”

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