Unionist councillor won't attend Belfast Remembrance Sunday event with Michelle O'Neill while she 'continues to eulogise the IRA'

​The Sinn Fein leader accepted an invite to the event in honour of fallen servicemen and women for the first time last year, where she laid a laurel wreath.

But TUV councillor Ron McDowell says that he has made other plans for Sunday, as he will not share the ceremony with the republican leader.

The Court councillor, who is the party’s deputy leader, said: “I will be marking Remembrance Day this year with the Royal British Legion and will also lay a wreath at the Belfast Cenotaph on behalf of my constituents.

“However, I will not share a ceremony with Michelle O’Neill. As the First Minister continues to eulogise the IRA, her attendance on Sunday would be nothing more than political point-scoring. I cannot pretend this is acceptable to me.

“Therefore, after consultation with victims of the IRA and to satisfy my own convictions, I have once again taken the difficult decision to mark the 11th hour in the company of those doing so sincerely.”

A SF spokesperson said: “Michelle’s acceptance of the invitation is an expression of her continued commitment and determination to represent all sections of our society as a First Minister for all.”

In a BBC interview in 2022, Ms O’Neill was asked about her view on violence during the Troubles. Having stressed that she has been outspoken in her opposition to violence, interviewer Mark Carruthers asked: “But do you still feel that it was right at that time, for members of your family and others, to engage in violent resistance to British rule here?”

She replied: “I think at the time there was no alternative, but now thankfully we have an alternative to conflict, and that is the Good Friday Agreement – that is why it’s so precious to us all.”

This week, Belfast Live reported that SF has written to families of dead republicans explaining Ms O’Neill’s attendance at Remembrance Sunday is about being “respectful of all identities”.