Allister slams Sinn Féin over terrorism

Published Monday, 30 April 2012
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TUV leader Jim Allister has hit out at Sinn Féin over terrorism, amid a sitting of the Northern Ireland Assembly at Stormont where there was cross-party condemnation of a 600lb fully primed bomb abandoned near Newry.

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During Monday's session, Sinn Féin's Conor Murphy was among those who expressed relief that there had been no casualties as a result of the device left in a van on the Fathom Line close to the border.

"What is clear is that people have moved on from this. There is, and remains, a peaceful political path open to all of those involved," the Newry and Armagh MLA said.

"And while there is an honourable position that people can dissent - people can disagree with the political process, they can disagree with engagement with policing - they also have a responsibility to offer a rationale.

Mr Murphy added: "If what we are doing here is so wrong - if our engagement with policing is so wrong, if our engagement with the political process is so wrong - then others have a duty to spell out how incidents such as these are a better approach."

But TUV leader Jim Allister responded with strong words of criticism for Sinn Féin.

"So long as there is a party in government in this country which refuses to disown and to repudiate the terrorism of their IRA, then so long will there be others prepared to be their clones and to carry on where they left off," the North Antrim MLA said.

"So as for the godfathers of today's generation of terrorists, the very least they could do is face up to, acknowledge and express remorse over their terrorism and ensure that those they know to still be involved are made amenable for crimes that many of them were never made amenable for."

The 600lb bomb, which is believed to be the biggest planted by dissidents, was discovered over the weekend after a member of the public raised the alarm on Thursday afternoon, sparking a major security alert.

The van had been left with its engine running and the device - consisting of homemade explosives packed into two blue barrels and complete with a detonator - inside.

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7 Comments
Seán in Newcastle wrote (385 days ago):
Seriously?? Sinn Fein members may have been part of a paramilitary organisation in the past, but now now. They have abandoned the armalite for the ballot box. Is that not was asked for by the unionist population. Let's not forget the numerous reasons for why a violent approach was pursued in the first place! Robinson and Paisley were part of Ulster Resistance, but their careers took the political route, which is now commendable. Sinn Fein do not drag up the past of the DUP Leader nor let it interfere with his role as being a very effective first minister. Some people, including myself, view the british governement, british army and the orange order as amongst the region's most influential terrorist organisations, yet to maintain the political status quo and to encourage political participation, these views are not brought up in Stormont. These ancient accusations must hope to encourage a renewal of direct rule, which i think Jim Allister is edging towards. He fears the meteoric rise of Sinn Fein and the ever increasing liklihood of a United Ireland.
CrumlinT in Co Antrim wrote (385 days ago):
Sad, bigotted little man. Dismiss him and let's get on with the future - for all our, and our childrens', sakes.
bog man in fermanagh wrote (387 days ago):
i live in fermanagh were there is a strong support for dissident republican. i also believe that the ira still controls these people and can turn the tap on or off using a diffrent name. in the late sixtys how many people though that the ira would put down the oira very few . the only answer is a strong goverment using what every means they need to get rid of these people
William J in Antrim wrote (388 days ago):
Jim Allister just wants to drag stormont down, he has no support anywhere from what i can see. Hes a Relic of old, ring wing, extremist Unionism. Im a Unionist but this guy just wants to spark off the troubles again. He just wants everything to go HIS way, he has to understand there is two main communties in Ulster. More resources have to go to the police in order to track down these terrorists because more and more their attacks are becoming more dangerous and life threatening. The public have to send them a clear message, we have moved on and we're not going back.
Rob in Belfast wrote (388 days ago):
Again Jim Allister speaks the truth , these dissidents see what sf have achieved , nice comfy lifestyle ,money in their pockets and of course they will be looking the same
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