Cllr Richard Holmes has expressed his shock and sadness at the car bomb attack in Londonderry on Saturday night and the response by one local MLA.

Councillor Holmes said:

“The IRA campaign showed the futility of terrorism and left families across the UK and Ireland without loved ones. Grief and bitterness are the true legacy of terrorism.

“This latest act of terrorism comes at a time when Northern Ireland has been prospering and Londonderry in particular has benefited from the past 25 years of relative peace.

“The futility of this act seems to have been lost on the minority who have carried it out. Condemnation has been swift from all sides with SDLP MLA Mark H Durkan tweeting: ‘Whoever is responsible for this explosion outside Bishop Street Courthouse in Derry clearly hasn't got the message that the people of Derry DO NOT want this on our streets.’

“However, the party line seems to have been lost on East Londonderry MLA, John Dallat who posted on Facebook: ‘Not even the appalling behaviour of the Brits towards Ireland can justify this.’

“Such qualified condemnations are normally the remit of Sinn Fein, who were the mouthpiece of the IRA.

“Is John Dallat saying that a lesser act of terrorism is justifiable? In 2019 what ‘appalling behaviour’ is he seeking to highlight?

“Mr Dallat has also used the term ‘Brits’ to describe the people of the UK. Whilst ‘Brits’ may have positive connotations in other parts of the world, here in Northern Ireland it has always been used in derogatory language by republicans towards Northern Ireland unionists and other UK citizens.

“Politicians need to be careful of their language and qualifying acts of terrorism whilst belittling communities with words couched in hatred does nothing to heal divisions nor build a society fit for our children. I’m disappointed that an MLA of John Dallat’s standing has resorted to such crass commentary.”