A senior Unionist leader in Northern Ireland has said he will not attend a Remembrance Sunday at Belfast City Hall alongside First Minister Michelle O’Neill.
TUV Deputy Leader Ron McDowell, who stayed away from last year’s event, accused the senior Sinn Fein member of “eulogising the IRA”.
Ms O’Neill is expected to lay a wreath at the Cenotaph during the ceremony in Belfast on Sunday.
The Irish republican came under fire at last year’s event from victims of both IRA and loyalist violence.
TUV Deputy Leader Ron McDowell accused the senior Sinn Fein member of ‘eulogising the IRA’
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RON MCDOWELL
It had been rumoured in recent weeks that the First Minister would boycott this year’s event after a former British paratrooper was been found not guilty of murder and five attempted murder on Bloody Sunday on October 23.
The man, known as Soldier F, was on trial at Belfast Crown Court after being accused of murdering James Wray and William McKinney during disorder at a civil rights parade in Derry on January 30 1972.
Irish republicans were left furious after DUP leader Gavin Robinson posted a picture the Parachute Regiment insignia on social media in the aftermath of the verdict.
Last November, Ms O’Neill made history after becoming the first leading Sinn Fein official to attend a remembrance event for British troops.
Ms O’Neill made history after becoming the first leading Sinn Fein official to attend a remembrance event for British troops
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GETTY
Sinn Fein have confirmed their vice president will be in attendance at this year’s event.
In a statement on Friday, Mr McDowell said: “I will be marking Remembrance Day this year with the Royal British Legion and will also lay a wreath at the Belfast Cenotaph on behalf of my constituents.
“However, I will not share a ceremony with Michelle O’Neill.
“As the First Minister continues to eulogise the IRA, her attendance on Sunday would be nothing more than political point-scoring.
“I cannot pretend this is acceptable to me.”
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Sinn Fein have confirmed their vice president will be in attendance at this year’s event
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GETTYThe TUV deputy leader added: “Therefore, after consultation with victims of the IRA, and to satisfy my own convictions, I have once again taken the difficult decision to mark the 11th hour in the company of those doing so sincerely.”
Responding to criticism surrounding the First Minister’s attendance, Sinn Fein said: “Michelle’s acceptance of the invitation is an expression of her continued commitment and determination to represent all sections of our society as First Minister for all.”
Ms O’Neill will attend the ceremony alongside the DUP Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly.
Ms Little-Pengelly has not yet confirmed whether she would be attending the the inauguration of the new Irish President Catherine Connolly at Dublin Castle next week.
Belfast Sinn Fein chairman Harry Connolly has said that the party “recognises” that many feel unease at a Sinn Fein official attending the ceremony.
In a letter to republican families, Mr Connolly wrote: “We recognise that this decision may be challenging for some republicans, particularly for the families of the republican patriot dead and for those whose loved ones were killed by British state forces and agents.
“This initiative, however, seeks to acknowledge the pain and suffering of all those who lost their lives – on all sides – in the First World War and in subsequent conflicts.”
GB News has approached Sinn Fein for comment.