Unionists Hit Out Over Castlederg 'Terrorist' March

Unionist politicians have hit out at an upcoming annual parade to be held in Castlederg, County Tyrone, that commemorates republicans who died during the Troubles.

The Tyrone Volunteer Commemoration is held every August and this year the selected venue is Castlederg.

The commemoration will be held on Sunday 11 August and will mark the 40th anniversary of Seamus Harvey and Gerard McGlynn; two republicans who died when the car bomb they were transporting detonated early.

West Tyrone Ulster Unionist MLA Ross Hussey said: "When one considers that in the Derg Valley area 29 victims of terrorist action lost their lives to the hands of terrorists and that only one of these crimes has resulted in a prosecution, you would understand frustration and annoyance that Sinn Fein should target Castlederg for this event.

"Here we have Sinn Féin attempting to rub salt into the wounds of the bereaved by holding a commemoration in Castlederg for murderers and terrorists.

He added: "There is nothing honourable or praiseworthy of any act of terrorism, in this instance these men were transporting a car bomb, probably to the RUC station in Castlederg.

"Once again we see Sinn Féin trying to rewrite history where terrorists become 'volunteers' or 'patriots'. What is or was patriotic about killing other Irish men who do not agree with your political agenda?"

West Tyrone DUP MLA Tom Buchanan said the unionist community in Castlederg was "devastated" by the republican paramilitary campaign.

"Republican terrorists were not successful in bombing and shooting their way to a united Ireland and attempts now to re-write this brutal history now will not succeed either," he said.

"This event on 11 August is not just offensive to the victims of IRA terrorism or to the unionist community, but to any right thinking person in Northern Ireland.

"There has never been a single conviction for any of the murders carried out by the Provisional IRA in Castlederg and this parade is due to pass the spot where three members of the security forces were murdered."

Mr Buchanan said he would be contacting the Parades Commission to discuss the matter.

"The test now is to see if the Commission will take action against a grossly offensive parade to commemorate terrorists killed by their own bomb as they attempted to inflict yet further death and destruction on the community of Castlederg," he added.

(IT/CD)