Unionist Leaders Accused Of Failure Over Sectarianism And Racism

The Deputy First Minister has accused Unionist leaders of failing to denounce sectarianism and racism.

Responding to comments by Peter Robinson during Question Time on Monday, deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness said: "During my time as deputy First Minister, I have tried to avoid recriminating about the past. In response to Peter Robinson's comments today I could raise many issues around unionist politicians involvement in the Ulster Workers strike, collusion with loyalist paramilitaries and the setting up and import of arms by Ulster Resistance.

"But in retreating into the past, Peter Robinson misses entirely the point. When I talk about a failure of leadership and political cowardice, I am talking about the here and now. 

"I am talking about the failure of unionist leaders to stand shoulder to shoulder with the rest of us in denouncing the squalid sectarian and racist violence of the UVF; the failure to name and condemn the UVF; and the attempts to divert attention and implicitly excuse the UVF in a quest for extreme loyalist votes. 

"I have stood shoulder to shoulder with unionist leaders in condemning the activities of so-called dissident republicans. We have not seen the same united approach in response to UVF-orchestrated violence against isolated members of our ethnic minority communities, against the small nationalist community of the Short Strand, against the PSNI during the flag protests or against Alliance party offices." 

(MH/CD)