SINN Fein has been attacked for plans to meet Prince Charles during his cross border Royal Visit.
In a statement earlier today, Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams said the party’s attendance was an opportunity to build on the “good work done by Martin McGuinness and the English Queen”.
He added: “Prince Charles is the colonel-in-chief of the Parachute Regiment, a regiment of the British army that has been responsible for the killing of many Irish citizens in Derry, Ballymurphy, Springhill and other communities across the north.
“But he also has been bereaved by the actions of republicans.
“Thankfully the conflict is over. But there remain unresolved injustices. These must be rectified and a healing process developed.
“There is a responsibility on us all to promote reconciliation and seek to promote healing.”
But Kate Nash, whose 19-year-old brother William was shot dead by British Parachute Regiment soldiers said she is “furious” that Sinn Fein is extending its hand of friendship to Prince Charles.
She said the prince, as Colonel-in-Chief of the Parachute Regiment, is not welcome.
“I’m disgusted and furious at the very fact that Sinn Féin are going to be entertaining Prince Charles here. What they are doing is utterly disgraceful. It’s indefensible.
“If Prince Charles did anything like use his influence to get the disgraced parachute regiment disbanded, then I would welcome the man himself,” she said.
“Sinn Féin are in the business of cleaning up the dirty war that was inflicted on the people here during the troubles.”
Thirteen people were shot dead by the British Army on Sunday, 30 January 1972 at a civil rights march in the Derry.
A 14th man died later from his wounds.
In 2010, the Saville Inquiry into Bloody Sunday was heavily critical of the Army, finding that soldiers fired the first shot without issuing a warning.
The report also found that all of those who were killed were unarmed. Some of them were fleeing or going to the assistance of others who were dying.
Kate Nash said she failed to see what healing could be gained from the meeting.
“It’s almost five years since we had an apology from the British prime minister concerning Bloody Sunday and to date not one soldier has been questioned about those crimes.
“Surely the man (Prince Charles) has some integrity, he should reject that title and use his influence to have the parachute regiment disbanded.
“I never wanted a war here, I never wanted anybody to be killed and murdered here and that includes soldiers. But what I’m saying is my brother has still not got justice.”
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