Sinn Fein defend event to remember IRA pair

Sinn Fein defend event to remember IRA pair

26 July 2023

SINN Fein has rejected DUP criticism of a Republican commemoration in Castlewellan at the weekend.

The commemoration on Sunday was in memory of two IRA members who died 50 years ago.

Alphonsus Cunningham and Pauline Kane were killed when a bomb they were transporting exploded prematurely at Causeway Road, Newcastle, on July 21, 1973.

Cunningham, who was from Annalong, and Kane, who was from Castlewellan, were both aged 21 and were engaged.

Slieve Croob councillor Alan Lewis described the commemoration as an “abhorrent distortion of history”.

However, Sinn Fein hit back, accusing Cllr Lewis of “breathtaking hypocrisy”.

Cllr Lewis said the actions of Cunningham and Kane were a “terrorist attempt to inflict pain and injury somewhere within South Down”.

He remarked: “The fact that they met death by their own hand is welcomed In the sense that it potentially saved many innocent lives.

“Do Sinn Fein have no shame? These two individuals set about planning to plant a bomb somewhere within our district, transporting high explosives through Newcastle, which had the potential to kill innocent bystanders.

“Their actions were reckless, sickening and leave one to question their character along with the character and intentions of those who gather to commemorate what they done.

“Sinn Fein needs to finally accept that there was never any justification for the taking of life, for an armed campaign which brought misery and death to many across our district. Not a single death or bombing was justified. To stand today in proud memory of those who did so is an abhorrent distortion of history.

“To state that the actions of Cunningham and Kane were the precursor to building a new and inclusive Ireland leads many Unionists to reaffirm their position that if this is the kind of Ireland Sinn Fein are building then we resolutely want absolutely nothing to do with it.”

He continued: “These two terrorists were planning to perhaps kill hundreds of people. The very fact their death is being marked at all is beyond staggering.

“It really does reflect the mentality of Sinn Fein that they believe this sort of memorial is in any way appropriate. It’s undignified coat trailing, attempting to romanticise murder and mayhem.

“The party need to come into modern times and leave this sort of revisionism behind. They attempt to portray themselves as a responsible party of government. How does this reflect the so-called ‘first minister for all’.”

Cll Lewis added: “It’s disappointing to think that another generation are set to be brainwashed into believing that the deaths of Cunningham and Kane are in some way honourable.

“The public were only too lucky that the only people these two bombers managed to kill was themselves.”

A Sinn Féin spokesperson said: “Frankly, Councillor Lewis’ hypocrisy is breathtaking. His attacks on the family and friends of those who died during the conflict are vile and contemptible.

“Councillor Lewis and his party colleagues are attempting to distract attention from their cruel and callous refusal to go to work with the rest of us to tackle hospital waiting lists, to work with families trying to get a place in schools for their children with special educational needs, and support workers and families facing a cost of living crisis.”

The spokesperson added: “Everyone has the right to commemorate their dead with dignity and respect.

“We will continue to stand with families who lost loved ones during the conflict.”