MP blasted for using base named after two IRA men

MP blasted for using base named after two IRA men

28 February 2018

THERE has been continued criticism of Sinn Fein’s decision to name a constituency office in Castlewellan after two IRA men.

Local unionist politicians and victims of IRA violence have expressed their opposition to South Down MP Chris Hazzard using the McNulty-Magorrian Advice Centre as his local base.

The name refers to Peter McNulty (47), who was killed when a bomb he was placing outside the town’s RUC station exploded prematurely, and Paul Magorrian (21), who was shot dead by the British Army in the town in 1974.

Mr Hazzard has defended his decision and has said that the advice centre was named after Mr McNulty and Mr Magorrian 25 years ago.

However, Sammy Heenan, whose father William was murdered in 1985 outside his home just five miles from the town, said he was disgusted by the decision.

He questioned how an MP can serve everyone in his constituency from an office with a sign bearing the name of terrorists.

“What message does that send out to a vulnerable Protestant community in that town?” he asked.

“It appears he is not prepared to represent everybody in the constituency.”

DUP South Down Assemblyman Jim Wells said he had complained to the Commissioner for Standards at Westminster and Stormont about Mr Hazzard’s office.

“When he was elected as the MP for South Down, Hazzard promised that he would work for all the people of the constituency,” Mr Wells said. 

“How could anyone who is not a Republican feel comfortable going into a constituency office so obviously dedicated to two IRA terrorists?

“Sinn Fein seems to be spending a lot of time thinking up new ways of offending the law abiding community of South Down.”

Local DUP councillor Garth Craig said many people felt offended by the office name and sign, which he said was “in keeping with Sinn Fein’s don’t care attitude towards those of the unionist persuasion”.

“Once again their cry for respect has been shown to be empty rhetoric because they have demonstrated yet again that respect towards unionists doesn’t exist,” he said.

“To add insult, Chris Hazzard tries to justify his actions by drawing a parallel to a nearby war memorial with names of men from both communities who laid down their lives in both World Wars to secure our freedom. 

“His action does nothing to unite our community, but rather further polarises the community I represent.”

Ulster Unionist councillor David Taylor, who is the party’s leader on Newry, Mourne and Down Council, condemned Mr Hazzard’s decision to name his constituency office after two prominent IRA terrorists as “deplorable”.

“Once again Sinn Fein’s narrow sectarian mind-set has been exposed through this appalling act,” he said.

“Incredibly, they continue to wonder why there is absolutely no trust within the Unionist community as to their bona fides as a political party in terms of delivering a truly shared future for the people of Northern Ireland.

“Time and time again their continued sickening glorification of IRA terrorism only serves to compound the grief and heartache of the many victims of Republican violence in Northern Ireland, and this latest action by Chris Hazzard is completely unacceptable.”

Yesterday Mr Hazzard said he believed Mr Wells “could not come to terms with the fact there is a Republican MP working in South Down.” 

He continued: ”Jim is engaging in distraction politics as he and his DUP colleagues would rather talk about anything other than the accommodation they reached with Sinn Féin last week including an Irish Language Act,” he said.

“Under the Good Friday Agreement, everyone, including Irish republicans, has the right to remember their dead with dignity and respect.”