Ulster Unionist Councillor David Taylor has condemned the erection of a banner at a children`s play park in Newry which describes a terrorist who was caught in possession of a gun used in the Kingsmills massacre as ‘our hero’. He has called on Sinn Fein to condemn it and work to have it removed immediately.

Councillor Taylor said:

“The banner on display at the children`s play park is sick. To call a man who was caught in possession of one of the guns used at Kingsmills ‘our hero’ is beneath contempt. It is a deliberate insult directed at McCreesh`s victims, their long suffering families and an insult to the memory of those murdered and injured in the Kingsmills massacre.

“It again exposes Sinn Fein`s campaign for ‘rights, equality and respect’ as nothing more than a perverse charade. Despite being exposed earlier this year, this shows that any apologies given following insults about the Kingsmills massacre were just hollow words lacking in any genuine remorse for the hurt and pain they caused. Sinn Fein are now building up a long track record of carefully directed insults towards the victims of the IRA, and as my party Colleague Doug Beattie MC MLA has said, demonstrates the perverseness of Sinn Fein`s attitude to the victims of IRA murder. They clearly have no shame.

“I am deeply disappointed and shocked at the endorsement of this banner by Ballybot residents. By doing so they are causing deep offence to a great many people, including their Unionist neighbours.

“I call on Michelle O`Neill and members of Sinn Fein in Newry locally to condemn this insult and for the sake of community relations appeal for them to work to have this appalling banner removed.”