Ulster Unionist Justice Spokesperson, Doug Beattie MC, MLA, has said he is staggered by comments by Sinn Fein’s South Down MP, Chris Hazzard, in which he spoke of civil disobedience with regard to Brexit.

Doug Beattie said:

“I am absolutely staggered by remarks from Sinn Féin’s Chris Hazzard regarding Brexit, talking about ‘civil disobedience.’

“Not only have Sinn Fein abdicated their role in setting up a power sharing Executive in Northern Ireland, we now have a member of Parliament openly talking about a return to violence and civil disorder. He does so while at no stage explicitly discouraging violence or asking people to remain within the law.

“Chris Hazzard could not have been clearer in his threat:

‘And I go even further, an awful lot of the focus has been on maybe dissident republican organisations and threats, but it is wider than that - it goes right down to a feeling of civil disobedience.’

'When you talk to normal people in civic society they are very very angry and frustrated at even the thought of a customs post going up.’

“I regret to say that the incendiary nature of his contribution is tantamount to an incitement to violence.

“Chris Hazzard needs to understand; the people of Northern Ireland will not be brow beaten into changing the democratic will of the people of the United Kingdom through threats of violence. Sinn Fein and their partners in the IRA tried it before and it did not work. The promotion of any return to violence will not bring about the derailment of Brexit regardless of what he thinks or wants.

“There is nothing to be gained from whipping up fears or tensions, amongst either dissident republicans or career terrorists whose violent acts can do nothing to help stabilise the situation during these difficult times. Chris Hazzard adds nothing, instead he promotes negativity and he endangers a hard fought peace by his rhetoric of a return to the violence of yesterday. In his comments and those of Gerry Adams, it is almost as if Sinn Fein appear to want a hard border and a hard Brexit.

“I appeal to everyone in Northern Ireland - and beyond - to remain peaceful in their endeavours to affect political change. This is what democracy is all about - not threats of violence.”