Ulster Unionist Justice Spokesman Tom Elliott MLA has described as “shameful” the actions of two Sinn Fein MLAs in escorting double Police killer Martin Corey from prison to a family funeral.
The Fermanagh & South Tyrone MLA said:
“This is a quite unbelievable series of events. Martin Corey was jailed for murdering two Police officers in 1973. He is currently in jail because his licence was revoked in 2010.
For two Sinn Fein MLAs – one a Government Minister – to escort him to a family funeral raises a whole host of questions.
Firstly, what was the role of the Justice Minister David Ford in this affair?
Secondly, Sinn Fein’s commitment to any normal concept of justice is in question. Their condemnation of so-called dissident republicans as “traitors to Ireland” when they seek to murder or maim Police officers rings somewhat hollow when you see two senior Sinn Fein MLAs driving a man who was convicted of killing Police officers to a family funeral.
Are Sinn Fein saying that the murder of Police officers was justified when carried out by the Provisional IRA, but that murders of Police officers today are worthy of condemnation?
This is a shameful episode, especially coming in the very week when there has been so much attention focussed on the sentencing of the murderers of Constable Stephen Carroll.”