UUP Demands Kenny Meeting With Castlederg Relatives

Ulster Unionist Party West Tyrone MLA Ross Hussey has criticised Irish Taoiseach Enda Kenny for his alleged failure to meet with representatives of the Derg Valley Victims Voice.

Mr Hussey said he had been attempting to arrange a meeting between Mr Kenny and the Derg Valley Victims; the relatives and friends of 29 people murdered by the Provisional IRA in the County Antrim town.

"For a year now I have been working with the various Government Departments in Dublin attempting to arrange a meeting between the Derg Valley Victims and the Taoiseach Enda Kenny TD," he said.

"I have presented the Departments with a portfolio detailing the terror attacks on Castlederg – which at one time was the most bombed town in Northern Ireland – and details of the 29 murders that took place in the area.

"Most people will be aware of the Sinn Fein orchestrated commemoration which took place in Castlederg on the 11th August 2013 when Sinn Féin and their activists held an event to mark the deaths of Republicans in County Tyrone.

"These included Seamus Harvey and Gerard McGlynn who died when the car bomb which they were transporting from County Donegal, exploded prematurely. This commemoration was incredibly offensive and insensitive, taking place just four days before the anniversary of the 1998 Omagh Bomb and on the very same day that the Omagh families commemorated their loss.

"I had accepted various explanations for the delay in the meeting with the Taoiseach, including the presidency of the EU, but there is no valid reason why the Irish Prime Minister cannot find time in his schedule to meet these victims.

"I have been in constant communication with the Taoiseach's office and as I informed them my patience has eventually snapped. It is now time for the matter to be made public and I am therefore seeking an explanation from the Taoiseach as to why he is not prepared to meet the families of the Castlederg murder victims."

(IT/JP)