Row over praise for Bobby Storey

A Sinn Fein councillor on Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council has been slammed over comments praising Bobby Storey in a social media post on Wednesday afternoon.
Bobby Storey's funeral took place in west Belfast. Photo Pacemaker PressBobby Storey's funeral took place in west Belfast. Photo Pacemaker Press
Bobby Storey's funeral took place in west Belfast. Photo Pacemaker Press

Mr Storey, who had been a leading republican in Belfast, was laid to rest in the city’s Milltown Cemetery on Tuesday with many high profile Sinn Fein representatives in attendance.

Hundreds of mourners gathered in the Andersonstown Road area, including Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill - a move which has been condemned by rival politicians during lockdown.

Commenting on Facebook, Macedon Sinn Fein representative, Cllr Taylor McGrann said: “Bobby Storey throughout his life gave everything so that the people could live a better one. He will live on in the hearts and minds of Irish Republicans forever, a great leader.️

“The Brits couldn’t break Bobby and they won’t break us, onward to the Republic. Rest easy Bobby.”

The comments have been condemned by Ulster Unionist councillor Robert Foster.

Cllr Foster said: “For those too young to remember the full horror of the Troubles, the truth was this. Bobby Storey was a terrorist godfather who brought immense pain and suffering to many innocent people across Northern Ireland and indeed far beyond.

“He and his IRA colleagues had innocent blood on their hands and that’s what he’ll be remembered for outside the republican base and Sinn Fein fan boys.

“His skullduggery and ruthless commitment to IRA murder squads were atrocious. There would be a lot more people alive today if it wasn’t for terrorists like Storey and his ilk.

“My thoughts are with the victims created by Bobby Storey, not least the prison officer James Ferris who died during the Maze escape in 1983. The Prison Officers, police officers and soldiers who served here genuinely tried to make Northern Ireland a better place and protect people from terrorists like Storey. They are worth remembering.”

Defending his Facebook comments, Cllr McGrann said: “Bobby Storey was a lifelong republican activist, former IRA prisoner and longstanding member of Sinn Féin who played a vital role in developing the peace and political process over the past two decades.”

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