Sister of IRA murder victims says PSNI Chief Constable George Hamilton should not attend debate in Derry tonight with Sinn Fein
THE sister of Robert McCartney, who was murdered by Provisional IRA members in 2005, said PSNI George Hamilton should not attend a debate tonight in Derry with Sinn Fein because of the recent murder of Kevin McGuigan.
The Chief Constable is due in Derry’s Waterside district this evening for the debate with Sinn Fein’s National Chairperson Declan Kearney.
Mr Kearney says he is looking forward to the debate while republicans are furious over that the Provisional IRA are back on the political agenda ten years after they “left the stage” and disarmed.
Also on the panel are former Victims Commissioner Patricia McBride and victims campaigner Alan McBride.
All four will participate in a Gasyard Féile sponsored debate on the way forward in Clooney Hall at 7.30 pm.
Catherine McCartney said: “When the chief constable shared a stage with Sinn Fein at the feile an phobail, Kevin McGuigan had not been murdered.
“I think the circumstances now have dramatically changed, I think the police have played along with Sinn Fein’s game long enough.”
She added: “We have a situation where Kevin McGuigan has been murdered so I think the chief constable should have reconsidered the invitation in light of that.”
Ms McCartney said she believed that since 1998, maintaining the peace process has taken priority over the investigation of murders by paramilitaries.
“I would hope that the people in the audience are going to put the hard questions to both Sinn Fein and the chief constable. This is a public opportunity to put these hard questions to both.”
Ms McCartney said the fact that the chief constable and Sinn Fein would appear together didn’t give her confidence that the McGuigan family would be treated any differently to hers.
Paul Quinn from Cullyhanna was beaten to death in 2007 when he was 21. His family have blamed the IRA for their son’s murder.
Paul’s mother Breege Quinn said she believed the chief constable has not been clear about the existence of the IRA.
“He seems to be sitting with Sinn Fein a lot, doesn’t he? At this stage I just don’t know, I can’t make head nor tail of any of them.”
Mrs Quinn said the chief constable seemed to be agreeing with Sinn Fein’s assessment of the IRA, despite admitting that the IRA exists.
“If the IRA were gone away when they were supposed to be gone away, my son would not have been murdered,” she added.
Sinn Féin National Chairperson, Declan Kearney says the only way forward was through dialogue.
“I congratulate the Gasyard Féile organisers on their initiative in hosting this “Uncomfortable Conversations” event in the Clooney Hall. I am looking forward to it,” said Kearney.
“Sinn Féin has been involved in many engagements and conversations aimed at promoting reconciliation and healing within our community.
“Through these encounters we have sought to engage the unionist, nationalist, loyalist and republican sections of our community on the need for reconciliation.
“This event represents another important opportunity to promote dialogue. All of the panelists will bring distinct and hugely important perspectives to this discussion.
“New and innovative forms of engagement involving all sections of society across the island, particularly reaching across the political divide between republicans and our unionist neighbours in the North are required if we are to maintain momentum towards reconciliation.
“This city is no stranger to such imaginative initiatives. The widely respected accord reached in the city over parading, based on direct dialogue between loyal orders, local residents and business interests, stands as an example of how to deal with contentious issues.”
He added: “The hurt experienced by all of our people; the existence of fear, both real and imagined which exists across our community; the legacy of partition, economic disadvantage and social inequality must all form part of these discussions. There is no alternative to dialogue.
“It is time that we seriously addressed how we begin to build genuine mutually respectful human and community relationships based on equality and understanding of our political differences whilst simultaneously constructing a new political, social and economic dispensation that will best serve all of our people.”
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