Ulster Unionist MLA  Tom Elliott has participated in a cross-party panel at Virginia College in Cavan to  discuss Politics and Society in  Northern Ireland during the Troubles.

 Mr Elliott  said:

 “I was very pleased  to be able to attend Virginia College in Cavan today (Friday) to participate in a cross  party Forum on Politics and Society in Northern Ireland during the  Troubles.

 The Forum provided  a useful opportunity to debate with representatives from the SDLP, Sinn Fein,  Fianna Fail and Fine Gael.   

 I took the  opportunity to outline how on each occasion Unionism had historically been  prepared to do a deal, republicans have decided it isn’t enough, and presented a  fresh list of demands, in an attempt to push Unionists even further than they  are prepared to go.

 Sinn Fein find  it easy to paint a romantic type picture of the IRA being some sort of saviours  for Ireland, instead of the murderous criminals that they really were. It  was interesting listening to the Sinn Fein representative saying  that convicted IRA man and Hunger Striker Bobby Sands is so well thought of  that a street has been named after him, in IRAN!

 Republicans must  not be allowed to airbrush their despicable deeds, which caused so much pain,  heartache and suffering to many families throughout Northern Ireland from the  history books.

 I ensured that  these students in Cavan received a much more balanced interpretation of  history in Northern Ireland than they would have heard if I had not been there  to represent the Unionist views, instead of just the pan Nationalist and  Republican viewpoint that was portrayed by the other panelists."