The Deputy Mayor of Derry City & Strabane, Alderman Derek Hussey, has given his reaction to the news that a group calling itself the “IRA” has claimed responsibility for the recent car bomb in Londonderry.
Alderman Hussey, who is also Ulster Unionist Group leader on the Council, said:
“Ten days after the planting of a car bomb in Londonderry’s Bishop Street area, a group calling itself ‘The IRA’ has finally come forward to claim responsibility.
“The statement read like a relic from a past era, telling “those who collaborate with the British that they are to desist immediately as no more warnings will be given” and saying it will “continue to strike at crown forces and personnel and their imperial establishment”.
“The group’s name is not exactly original either, given that at various points in time we have encountered the ‘Official’ IRA, the ‘Provisional’ IRA, ‘Real’ IRA, ‘Continuity’ IRA and ‘New IRA.’ The one thing they have in common is that each of their campaigns of violence ended in failure, and I have no doubt the efforts of this latest gang are destined for the same fate.
“Given that this grouping is trying to disrupt the daily lives of people in this City I still cannot fathom why Sinn Fein could not support a council motion condemning the bomb.
“We are in a very bad place indeed when a major political party, publicly committed to supporting law and order, finds itself unable to use the word ‘condemn;’ in relation to a terrorist bomb in a city centre on a Saturday night. That is perhaps almost as worrying as the bomb itself.”