The friends of Martin McGuinness
24 May 2008
In a speech at a fundraising event for East Antrim TUV in Carrickfergus, Jim Allister MEP rebuked Ian Paisley for recently describing Martin McGuinness as “my friend” and argued that if the Belfast Agreement continues to be implemented, then we will be trundled into a united Ireland.
Extract from Jim Allister’s speech:-
One of the most wicked terrorist leaders of our generation, Brian Keenan, dies – the man who personally sanctioned the Kingsmill massacre, led a murderous bombing campaign in England and was convicted for his involvement in 8 murders, including cancer specialist Professir Hamilton-Fairley – and who leads the eulogies to him? None other than joint First Minister, Martin McGuinness, who described Keenan the murderer as “my friend”.
Keenan this year said of his terrorist career, “I would do it all again, but not make the same mistakes.” No doubt, McGuinness is of the same mindset. Yet, amazingly, at the recent Investment Conference Ian Paisley publicly referred to Marty the Terrorist as “my friend.” That is how far the DUP has departed from the ethos and principles of traditional unionism.
Should we be surprised therefore, when McGuinness recently said Ian Paisley had done more for “national reconciliation” (Sinn Fein speak for Irish unity) than some republicans! What a sad commentary on the once strongman of Unionism, but what an accurate assessment of what it means to work Belfast Agreement devolution, because, undoubtedly, through ever-increasing all-Ireland harmonisation, it is indeed designed to ultimately deliver a united Ireland.
Does Ian Paisley care? This is what he recently told the Irish Times, “We're not going to have a united Ireland within 50 years or maybe 100 years but then I'll not be here anyway, so it doesn't matter."
I’m afraid I do care; it does matter! That is why I continue to stand implacably opposed to the Belfast Agreement structures – with its terrorist inclusive Executive – because, left to succeed we will indeed be in a unified Ireland long before 50 or 100 years.
By its very existence TUV is putting the brakes on the delivery of the DUP/Sinn Fein Government. When the Maze Stadium plan is binned, you can thank the voters of Dromore more that the statisticians who are producing the figures necessary to justify its burial. Without Dromore we’d be tangibly closer to McGuinness exercising key powers in the appointment of our Judiciary through the devolution of policing and justice, and you’d have had the spectacle of the Chuckle Brothers for much longer.
In terms of our mission we are delivering every time fear of the Unionist electorate causes the DUP to row back.”
