Donaldson: “Its about representation of the past, not airbrushing it away”
Kenny Donaldson, an Ulster Unionist Party Officer has rounded on Republicans for their misrepresentation of the National Stadium debate, which has ensued over the inclusion of a ‘Conflict Transformation Centre’ at the Maze site.
In a statement, Kenny said: “Numerous Republican representatives have taken to the air and to the newspapers this week crying foul over the opposition many of us within political unionism and indeed, outside of that fold have expressed towards the preservation of a ‘shrine at the Maze Hospital Wing.’
“These ‘Republican’ representatives have claimed that unionism is seeking to ‘airbrush’ the happenings at the Maze out of history. If I was those same Republicans I’d be smart enough not to look this particular gift-horse right in the mouth.
“The facts of the past are these; the Maze housed some of the most gruesome, calculating murderers this Country has ever produced. Those incarcerated at the Maze (and I accept a number were wrongly imprisoned) were mainly members of illegal terrorist organisations who brought death, destruction and sheer mayhem to their fellow Countrymen under the guise of; furthering their own down-trodden community’s rights. They were not and will not ever be; legitimate armies and/or freedom fighters.
“Irrespective of wrongs the Government may or may not have been guilty of, there was never any justification for the Provisional IRA to mount an insurrection which not only targeted Government and its’ ‘State Protectors’ but also wider civic society.”
“Until there is recognition by the Republican Movement for the failings and the futility of the actions and tactics they employed over the Trouble’s past, Northern Ireland’s future will remain fragile. The burning of Orange Halls and the targeting of buses as they proceeded homewards on the Twelfth has demonstrated that there remain people who continue to ‘hate’ others because of their perceived religion, politics and culture.
“The Godfathers of the Republican Movement need to sit down their sons/daughters, grand-sons and grand-daughters and explain to them that irregardless of the past grievances they had against the ‘establishment’ that the use of bombs, bullets and hate filled sectarianism was never justified.
“If the Republican Movement are sincere in building a ‘shared future’ with their unionist neighbours, then they will address their past actions and its’ continued legacy and they will step away from demanding the preservation of a ‘terror shrine’ at the Maze, which would do nothing to heal the wounds of the past but instead, would glorify terrorism. They would allow the issue of a ‘National Stadium,’ (which is about building for the future) take centre stage so that an informed, transparent debate could follow which would conclude via a decision being made as to the best site available for the sting of, our new “Northern Ireland National Stadium,” concluded Kenny.