Ulster Unionist Peer Lord Empey of Shandon has said that the murder of Labour MP Jo Cox has echoes of the murder of his late colleague the Rev Robert Bradford in 1981.
Lord Empey said:
“In all the heartfelt and genuine tributes paid to Labour MP Jo Cox at Parliament and elsewhere this week, I have been struck by the parallels to the murder of my friend and Ulster Unionist colleague Rev. Robert Bradford, former MP for South Belfast.
“Both these MPs were young, articulate and energetic campaigners - Robert was only 40 in 1981- and both were murdered whilst serving their constituents, making themselves available to help the general public through advice surgeries at public buildings.
“We should also never forget Kenneth Campbell the caretaker at the Community centre in Finaghy who was also murdered alongside Robert by the IRA gang. The raw hatred that motivated the killer of Jo Cox MP, is the same as that which motivated the IRA terrorists who killed Rev. Robert Bradford MP and indeed Ulster Unionist Assemblyman Edgar Graham.
“I am glad that the Leader of the House of Lords, Baroness Stowell made mention of Robert as well as other murdered MPs, Airey Neave, Anthony Berry and Ian Gow in her tribute to Jo Cox MP in the House of Lords.”