Those singing pro IRA chants poking unionists and terrorist victims in eye, DUP leader says
DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has said those responsible for singing pro-IRA songs were poking unionists and victims of terrorism in the eye.
Speaking after a meeting with the Taoiseach Micheal Martin, Sir Jeffrey said the Irish Government should use its influence to attempt to prevent further scenes of people singing pro-IRA chants in the future.
His comments come after a video was posted on social media at the weekend, appearing to show a group of passengers at Dublin Airport singing a song in support of the IRA
Last week, a video showing members of the Ireland national women’s football team singing the same pro-IRA chant was condemned by victims of terrorism.
The Football Association of Ireland apologised for the video, which circulated online after Ireland qualified for the Women’s World Cup for the first time.
Speaking in Belfast, the DUP leader said: “We had the singing at the weekend and last week of songs that are deeply offensive to many people, including victims. And I recognise this isn’t just a problem on one side.
“But certainly when you have people who are role models in a community or society who are engaging in this kind of activity, it doesn’t do anything to create the kind of atmosphere that we need to make progress.
“And so we are asking the Irish government to use their influence in their jurisdiction to ensure that people desist from this kind of behaviour.”
Sinn Fein vice president Michelle O'Neill has urged people to be respectful of each other following recent incidents where videos of groups singing pro-IRA songs were posted on social media.
Speaking following a meeting with the Taoiseach, Ms O'Neill said:
"I think we all should be very sensitive to the needs of victims and survivors and be very mindful of that.
"I think all of us in public life or just in life in general, we should be sensitive to that. I think that we need to be civil, and we need to be respectful in what we say.
"People have said their piece in terms of what happened.
"I can't police everything that I see appearing on social media, but what I can say is that we should all be respectful of each other."
The DUP leader also referenced a weekend attack on an Orange Hall in County Down.
Police have said they are treating the attack where a window was broken at Finnis Orange Hall as a sectarian hate crime.
Sir Jeffrey said: “Over the weekend I was visiting a little Orange Hall, that through the whole period of the Troubles was never once touched.
“That hall is used by all sections of the community, and yet they had their windows smashed.
“There’s cause and effect. When people create a bad atmosphere, unfortunately, people do bad things.”
Sir Jeffrey said the Taoiseach agreed with him that “creating a febrile atmosphere or polarising opinion is not the way forward”.
He added: “And I think he also recognises that it completely undermines the notion put about by some of building a shared future and a shared island and a united Ireland and having a border poll.
“The people who are doing this actually do more harm to their own cause than anything else.
“Because it demonstrates very clearly to unionists, that whilst on the one hand, we’re told, you will be well looked after, on the other hand, people just want to poke us in the eye and particularly they want to poke victims in the eye.
“I cannot for the life of me understand how anyone gets enjoyment out of causing grief and pain to those who’ve already had much grief and pain visited upon them.”
“So I think that when people talk about building a relationship or relationships and these islands, that is based on respect, we will judge them more by their actions than by their words.
“I have to say the actions of some of late have demonstrated that really, it’s not about reconciliation. It’s not about healing. It is simply about poking people in the eye.”
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