Unionists have criticised the participation of a republican member of a District Policing Partnership (DPP) at a hunger strike commemoration in Co Tyrone, writes Dan Keenan.
Ruairí Gildernew, brother of Agriculture Minister and Sinn Féin MP Michelle Gildernew, defended his attendance at the rally. He was “proud” to have been a member of the republican colour party at the event at Galbally GAA grounds last week.
Ulster Unionist Assembly member Tom Elliott said his participation was incompatible with membership of the policing body which provides local councillors and members of the public with an input into local policing decisions.
DUP Minister Arlene Foster called on Policing Board chairman Barry Gilligan to dismiss Mr Gildernew from the Dungannon DPP.
However, Mr Gildernew said: “I think it is entirely a non- issue and Tom Elliott and the like of him are incensed that the republican movement can draw a crowd of 10,000 to 15,000 people into a nationalist area to commemorate the nationalist martyrs of the hunger strike and not one penny of policing resources was spent in policing this.”
Mr Elliott said: “Membership of a DPP means that you can’t don a pseudo-uniform and celebrate the life of terrorists.”