Anger after ‘coordinated attacks’ on Newry Republican memorials | Latest Newry News, Newry Sport and Newry Business for Newry City

Anger after ‘coordinated attacks’ on Newry Republican memorials

Newry and Armagh Sinn Féin MLA Megan Fearon has described a series of attacks on 1981 Hunger Strike Memorials as ‘outrageous’.

The attacks took place over the weekend at 1981 Hunger Strike memorials at Fords Cross Silverbridge, Meigh Village and on the Newry A1 Bypass.

Speaking to Newry Times, the South Armagh MLA said, “These outrageous attacks are viewed by most as clearly coordinated deliberate attempts to insult and antagonise.

“All memorials should be treated with dignity and respect and should not be targeted in this way.

“I have no doubt that the Republican community here will rise to the occasion and restore the monuments to their original states. I would call on people not to be lured into a situation where they feel they must respond to this act, that is not to the benefit of Republicans.”

 

 

The Sinn Féin representative added, “All memorials should be respected and treated with the respect and dignity they deserve. There can be no place for these incidents around monuments, memorials and other places where people remember their dead.”

Republican party Saoradh also strongly condemned those responsible for what they described as “a spate of cowardly attacks on republican memorials”.

Slamming those responsible Saoradh An Iúir Spokesperson Stephen Murney said, “We strongly condemn the sectarian attack on this memorial. The sectarian bigots responsible are only interested in stoking tension, particularly at this time of year.

 

 

“This memorial is in memory of the 1981 hunger strikers. Just weeks ago we gathered at the monument with some of those activists who originally erected it. Not only was this monument vandalised but the tributes we left on it have also been removed.”

Murney continued, “In the coming weeks Newry and Bessbrook are going to be subjected to dozens of unwanted sectarian parades, those parades like the desecration of this memorial, are only designed to create tension.”

 

 

Stephen added, “Sinister attacks such as this certainly won’t deter Saoradh and our activists from remembering our fallen martyrs.

“Those behind this attack have absolutely nothing to offer society. Attacking memorials in the middle of the night is a sickening act and one which will be condemned by all. Such attacks are fruitless and certainly won’t deter us from our path of revolution.”

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Posted by on Jun 24 2018. Filed under Community, News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

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