NI Assembly condemns imitation weapons at rally

A motion was tonight passed in the Northern Ireland Assembly condemning the display of imitation weapons during a Sinn Féin sponsored rally through the centre of Belfast.

Assembly members passed a Democratic Unionist motion deploring the appearance of people dressed in balaclavas and bands named after IRA members during the march addressed by Gerry Adams last month at Belfast City Hall to highlight security force collusion with loyalist paramilitaries.

Democratic Unionist MP Sammy Wilson ridiculed Sinn Féin claims that the appearance during the march of masked marchers carrying replica weapons was a piece of street theatre depicting various combatants during Northern Ireland’s Troubles.

“We have heard lame excuses from Sinn Féin today,” the East Antrim MP said.

“We should not be worried about this. What are you dancing up and down about for? This was only a piece of street theatre, a Sinn Féin fancy dress party as the member for Newry and Armagh pointed out.

“People were only acting out what happened over the last years? You had the Sinn Féin actors dressed up as the RUC, the UDR, the British army, Real IRA terrorists as well.

“The next thing we will be hearing is that they want to go to the Arts Council for a grant. Or maybe even demanding an Oscar for some of those who acted. The member from Newry and Armagh said to me did I know which one was acting out the IRA informer, the one who was colluding. He was the one who got the Brit award in the whole show.

“We’re sold this that somehow this is just a piece of street theatre, you should be pleased we are bringing this into Belfast city centre on a sunny Sunday afternoon and yet had it been an Orange parade marching down the Newtownards Road or marching down the Albertbridge Road with even a flag that depicted a symbol of a paramilitary organisation, the Sinn Féin adjudicators in the Short Strand would have been round to the Parades Commission and round at Mountpottinger police and would have been whingeing for the next year.”