Parents hoodwinked on McGuinness visit
19 June 2008
I am appalled that parents of pupils at Ballymena schools were hoodwinked into allowing their children to be involved at an event today at which IRA Commander Martin McGuinness was chief guest, along with Minister Ruane. Letters to parents made no mention of the fact that McGuinness would be present at Ballymena Town Hall where the children were invited to perform. This deliberate concealment, I have no doubt, was to ease McGuinness' presence in the town and represents a political misuse of children.
Parents have been in contact with me who are very upset that their children were used in this way and who want to know why the full nature of this event was concealed from them.
I'm not surprised to discover that Ian Paisley Snr and Jnr added to the sanitisation of McGuinness by their own presence at the event.
ENDS
