DUP criticise McNarry over SF website stance

The DUP have hit out at UUP councillor, David McNarry following his criticism yesterday of the newly revamped Sinn Fein website.

Mr McNarry described Sinn Fein's decision to sell t-shirts branding logos like “sniper at work” and “IRA undefeated army” on their online store as "disgusting, provocative and ill-befitting of a so-called political party".

However, Ards DUP Alderman, George Ennis said he was bewildered by Mr McNarry's statement given that the UUP had sat in government with Sinn Fein over the past number of years.

Mr Ennis added: "I am utterly confounded at David McNarry’s inconsistency. T- shirts sold on the Sinn Fein website bearing logos like “sniper at work” and “IRA undefeated army” are reprehensible and ought to be removed but David and his party shared political power with Sinn Fein at a time when its cohorts in the IRA were actually carrying out some of the acts that this merchandise glorifies.

"Since learning of Mr McNarry's formal complaint to the Chief Constable about the Sinn Fein website, I have visited the Ulster Unionists own website. On it, they claim that their policies are 'To maintain Northern Ireland under the Crown as an integral part of the United Kingdom' and 'To safeguard the British citizenship of the people of Northern Ireland'. Perhaps they should be reported for making claims that their actions patently don’t back up."

The SDLP also criticised Sinn Fein yesterday over the sale of its online goods. Party spokesperson, Eugene McMenamin described the selling of items such as the 'sniper' t-shirts as "rather depressing" and showed Sinn Fein were intent on living in the past.

(MB)