'This shows Sinn Fein's contempt for families of those murdered in cold blood': Party still silent as victims group blasts MLA Gerry Kelly over memorial to IRA killer Seamus McElwain
Sinn Fein was staying tight-lipped today as Gerry Kelly came under fire again for speaking at a memorial event to an IRA “dangerous killer”.
On Sunday, the North Belfast MLA appeared at a Co Monaghan commemoration staged to mark 40 years since the death of Seamus McElwain, a convicted double-murderer who was suspected of being involved in many more acts of paramilitary violence across Co Fermanagh.
Yesterday, the DUP raked Mr Kelly over the coals for speaking at the event as evacuated Dunmurry residents struggled with the fallout of Saturday night’s proxy bomb attack on a police station; today, victims group SEFF stated the MLA’s actions “illustrate the contempt he and other senior Sinn Fein representatives hold for the families of those Seamus McElwain murdered in cold blood.”
Said the body’s director, Kenny Donaldson: “Sinn Fein doesn't get to determine what is ‘no alternative murder’ versus what is adjudged to be criminal and against the principles of the peace process. They and many others need to face up to the ideology they supported or excused, which encouraged the murder of one neighbour by another.”
Sinn Fein did not answer News Letter enquiries over the issue, repeating behaviour of the day before in which there was no response to attempts to seek comment over the DUP’s criticism of Mr Kelly.
In separate attacks in 1980, McElwain shot dead an off-duty UDR member as he was driving his tractor in a rural area, and murdered an off-duty RUC reservist in front of his home in a Co Fermanagh village.
When the IRA man was jailed in 1982, a judge described him as a “dangerous killer”. He was suspected of being involved in several other acts of extreme violence, including the attempted murder of Arlene Foster’s policeman father, and escaped prison as part of the 1983 Maze breakout. Three years later, he was killed by the SAS as he prepared to ambush an army patrol.
In a post on social media, Mr Kelly stated he was “honoured to say a few words” at the commemoration in the village of Scotstown, close to where McElwain grew up. The event, stated the North Belfast MLA, was to “celebrate a life dedicated to his community and to the achievement of a free, independent and united Ireland”.