Ulster Unionist Danny Kennedy has strongly condemned Sinn Fein for their failure to hold Máirtín Ó Muilleoir to account for his role in endorsing Barry McElduff`s comments. He also spoke of his admiration for the dignity shown by the Kingsmills families and the sole survivor Alan Black in contrast to the hearts of stone shown by the Sinn Fein leadership.
Danny Kennedy said:
“Almost four days have passed and Sinn Fein continue to protect Máirtín Ó Muilleoir from scrutiny over his role in the deplorable actions of Barry McElduff. The fact is they can`t hide forever. This issue isn`t going to go away because it throws the spotlight very much on Sinn Fein members and its Party leadership given their pathetic response to what McElduff did. Their lack of action and proper sanction has given a green light to disrespect by its own members.
“On Monday morning Sinn Fein`s Declan Kearney raised some people`s hopes that they were finally turning over a new leaf when it came to demonstrating respect to the victims of IRA murder and their families, but reality struck home in the harshest way possible when Michelle O`Neill and her cohorts gave McElduff a slap on the wrist.
“Sinn Fein members and the inaction of their leadership have demonstrated a complete and absolute lack of compassion and exacerbated the pain and hurt of the families and the sole survivor, Alan Black. The Kingsmills families have spoken publicly with great dignity about the hurt and distress which has been inflicted on them. Their words have touched the vast majority of people in all parts of Northern Ireland in contrast to the hearts of stone shown by the Sinn Fein leadership, frozen as they are in bitterness and bigotry.
“I do not know how anyone could fail to have been moved by the sheer humanity of Alan as he spoke on our TV screens and in print media of the hurt and pain caused by McElduff. He then saw that heaped upon by the Sinn Fein leadership, but continued to speak with dignity.
“I had hoped that Sinn Fein would be moved by Alan`s voice and the other families. However it is clear that they are as still as hard hearted now as they were in 1976. Unless there is a change in attitude I fail to see a positive way forward for creating a genuinely shared society for all. Sinn Fein`s colours remain very firmly nailed to the IRA mast.”