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."