The Ulster Unionist Party’s Justice spokesperson Doug Beattie MC MLA has described Gerry Adams comments that the IRA murderers of a County Louth farmer should not be jailed, as ‘sickening and perverse hypocrisy.’  

Doug Beattie MC MLA said:

“Gerry Adams’ sickening and perverse hypocrisy has once again been exposed for all to see in his comments about the murder of Tom Oliver, a Louth farmer murdered by the IRA in 1991.

“When asked on radio if he wanted the killers brought to justice Mr Adams replied ‘I think it would be totally and absolutely counterproductive.’ He then described the murder as a ‘politically motivated killing’ as justification for the brutal, callous and cowardly murder.

“Gerry Adams is elected by the people of Louth to the Republic of Ireland’s parliament and in any normal democracy it would be simply incredible that an elected representative would not want to see Mr Oliver’s murderers brought to justice.

“His credibility as an elected representative, Sinn Fein party leader and self-appointed leader of republicanism, is once again in the gutter. 

“So much for the Sinn Fein mantra of rights, equality and respect. They are hollow words when set against the pile of corpses left behind by the IRA.

“Gerry Adams’ and Sinn Fein’s hypocrisy is once again exposed. When it comes to the actions of the Police and the Army they demand all manner of inquiries, legacy inquests and investigations. But when it comes to the terrorist activities of the IRA, then they say we should just forget about it and let it go for the sake of peace. They don’t know the meaning of rights, equality and respect.”