The “vast, peaceful majority” in Northern Ireland needs to challenge the likes of Sinn Féin and Gerry Kelly or the people who painted a UVF mural in east Belfast, who seek to “glorify violent crimes”, according to NI Conservatives’ co-chair, Trevor Ringland.
“Gerry Kelly’s comments about the anniversary of a prison break which cost the life of a prison guard are absolutely disgraceful and represent a strain of thinking that the peaceful majority must challenge strenuously”, Trevor said. “During that escape from the Maze, the Sinn Féin MLA tried to murder a warder, by shooting him in the head.”
“Meanwhile, there is a strong suspicion that the UVF has just shot a young woman in the legs, in order to assert its authority through fear and the police should clarify this, yet we’ve seen a number of instances of the organisation being celebrated through parades, or the mural of a gun man which has recently been completed in east Belfast. It’s about time that we saw some acknowledgement that the type of violent crimes which these events are celebrating were absolutely repudiated by the vast, vast majority of people in Northern Ireland and still are. We need to call the organisers on what they’re actually saying.”
“Does Gerry Kelly regret his attempt at murdering a prison officer 30 years ago and, if he doesn’t, does he regret that he was unsuccessful? Does a certain section of loyalism really believe that the Shankill Butchers’ actions were justified? Are they saying that more young people should be involved in crime or go to jail, by becoming involved in similar incidents?”
“During the Troubles parts of our society broke down and, as a result, we have to recognise that some people became involved in criminal acts, who would not otherwise have done so. The peace process and the peaceful majority have done a huge amount to offer them a fresh start. However there needs to be an acknowledgment that all those who acted outside the law were wrong and continue to be wrong.”
“We need to see an end to this type of glorification, if we’re to have a hopeful future which we share in a constructive way. And, if it won’t end, the vast majority in society needs to continue to keep challenging it and keep reminding, particularly young people, of the consequences of violence. We should never allow those who hate the most to determine our relationships.”