Tom Elliott, the Ulster Unionist Party`s candidate for Fermanagh and South Tyrone, has condemned Sinn Fein’s hypocrisy over the Manchester terror attack.
Tom Elliott said:
“This week has been traumatic for the families of those killed and grievously injured in the terrorist attack in Manchester. My heart goes out to them. Terrorism in all its forms is reprehensible but to deliberately target children, mums and dads as they enjoy a night out is vile and the lowest of the low. There is no cause that can justify it. Like parents across the country and the world it makes me sick to the pit of my stomach to think about the suffering that those kids and their families have been through.
“It was heartening to see people coming together to condemn the barbarity of the terrorists and stand shoulder to shoulder with the people of Manchester. Terrorism can be defeated if people are united.
“Unfortunately this was not the first time that Manchester has been targeted. This time it was ruthless jihadist terrorists. Not that long ago it was the Provisional IRA who terrorised Manchester and the north-west of England.
“The condemnation of the Manchester terrorist attack from all politicians is welcome, but the fact that Sinn Fein still refuse to condemn the terrorists who attacked Manchester before stands in stark contrast to this week`s condemnation and highlights their gross hypocrisy. Now is an opportunity for Sinn Fein to unequivocally condemn all acts of terrorism and any of their members with information that could bring comfort to victims and their families should be disclosed. Without such actions their condemnation of the most recent Manchester attack is hollow and without foundation.
“I am very clear that there is simply no room for equivocation, no excuse for caveats of any type. If you condemn an Islamist fanatic for using a bomb to murder innocent people and spread fear, then there is no earthly logical or moral reason that you do not condemn IRA bombs in the same city from more than 20 years ago.
“We have seen the terrible consequences of the radicalisation of young Muslims and by Sinn Fein leaders continuing to romanticise the actions of the IRA we cannot underestimate the impact that it has on young people in Northern Ireland. Only a few weeks ago Michelle O`Neill was eulogising and glorifying some of the IRA`s most ruthless terrorists. This has to end or else we risk creating a whole new generation who think that terrorism in some circumstances is ok. It isn`t. Period.
“Either it is wrong to detonate bombs in cities or it is not. The key question being asked by victims is why it is not ok to bomb Manchester today, yet it was ok to plant bombs there in the past. It looks like blatant hypocrisy to me.”