Attacks won't silence rights pleas, vow SDLP

The SDLP will not be silenced by attacks on its members or property, the party’s deputy leader claimed tonight.

Stormont Agriculture Minister Brid Rodgers branded as ‘‘fascists’’ those who assaulted the chair of her party’s youth wing, Patrick Clarke and attacked South Down MLA PJ Bradley’s offices at the weekend.

Republicans have been blamed for both attacks because of both victims’ criticism of Sinn Fein.

However Sinn Fein has denied the allegations.

In a speech to the party’s Keady branch, Mrs Rodgers tonight insisted: ‘‘The fascists who carried out these attacks will not silence the SDLP.

‘‘The fascists who carried out these attacks will not succeed in subverting democracy.

‘‘The SDLP will carry on speaking up on human rights abuses.

‘‘We will continue speaking up on the cancer that is sectarianism. We will continue highlighting the hypocrisy of those who talk of human rights on the one hand while continuing to abuse human rights with the other.’’

Mr Clarke sustained a head injury when he was struck with a blunt object in Castlewellan last Friday night.

Mr Bradley’s office was daubed with paint.

Mrs Rodgers repeated SDLP concern over sectarian violence and the ‘‘apparent lack of convictions and prosecutions’’ of those responsible for them.

The party had been forthright in expressing its concern to police, she said.

She stressed Protestants and Catholics were entitled to live free from sectarian harassment and from threat.

The Upper Bann MLA also told party members the SDLP would remain robust in its opposition to all injustice and human rights abuses.

But she insisted human rights are indivisible.

‘‘We do not discriminate about whose human rights should be respected,’’ the SDLP deputy leader continued.

‘‘We believe in tolerance and fairness for everyone. This stance, of course, has not always been popular and has indeed made many uncomfortable.’’