UUP decline Ahern Invite to celebrate Easter Rising
The Ulster Unionist Party Assembly Group today declined the offer of Mr Ahern to participate in a joint celebration of the so called Easter Rising and the commencement of the Somme Offensive.
In a statement UUP Parades Spokesman Michael Copeland MLA described the events at the GPO on Sackville Street which occurred around Easter 1916 as an act of terrorism during time of war:
“The Easter insurgency which took place during the Great War led to the death of approximately 30 rebels, 200 hundred British servicemen and over 200 innocent Dublin citizens. It took place at a time when 300,000 Irishmen of all religions were serving as volunteers in the British Army, 50,000 of whom gave their lives. It heralded the end of the long and honourable tradition of Constitutional Irish Nationalism and brought to the fore the blood sacrifice ethos of armed republicanism which led directly to the partition of this Island and the Irish Civil War.
As a democratic Party we fully respect the right by the people of the Republic to commemorate events in their history in any way they deem appropriate. We also recognise the very great steps being taken to honour the memory of the true heroes of 1916 ( those serving in the 36th (Ulster), 16th (Irish), 10TH (Irish) and other Commonwealth and Empire Forces).
We regret that on this occasion we must decline Mr Ahern’s invitation. This Easter I will calling to mind the death of my Great Uncle who fell at Gallipoli whilst serving with the Royal Dublin fusiliers and my wife’s grandfather who fought alongside all three Irish Divisions.”