DUP MP slams McGuinness over sectarian divisions

A senior unionist politician today rejected claims by the North's deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness that he is not doing enough to heal sectarian divisions.

The Democratic Unionist Party’s (DUP) Gregory Campbell dismissed complaints that by refusing to speak to the senior Sinn Féin representative, he was feeding-in to Protestant/Catholic divisions at grassroots level.

But Mr Campbell, who as Culture Minister in the power-sharing Assembly sits in government with Mr McGuinness, said he would not engage in what he described as ’token’ talks for the benefit of the cameras.

Mr Campbell also attacked Mr McGuinness’s former membership of the IRA and insisted he was prepared to work with all democrats to build a better future for everyone in the North.

The controversy comes in the aftermath of the May 24 killing of Catholic father-of-four Kevin McDaid in Coleraine, Co Derry, who was attacked by a Protestant mob.

Mr Campbell, who is MP for the area, condemned the killing but has also alleged Catholic intimidation of Protestants in the town.

He rejected a public call from Mr McGuinness for Mr Campbell to sponsor cross-community talks.

He also rejected calls for the DUP man to open up more cordial relations with Mr McGuinness.

“Each time there is an Executive meeting or any other business that we have to do, I talk to Martin McGuinness and to anyone else that I need to talk to to get the business done,” said Mr Campbell.

“Now if what Martin McGuinness alluded to, that we don’t engage in pleasantries, that we don’t have tea or coffee, well waken up Marty, waken up.

“Because that’s the picture. Get used to it. Grow-up and get on with your life because there are many people out there who can’t get on with their lives as result of the movement of which Martin McGuinness was a member of for 30 years.”

Kevin McDaid, 49, was killed yards from his home when violence flared after a 40-strong Loyalist mob stormed into the area after Rangers beat Celtic to the Scottish Premier League title.

Six men have so far been charged with the murder and they, together with three more, with the attempted murder of Damien Fleming, 46, who was critically injured in the disturbances.

Mr McDaid’s wife, a Protestant, was beaten by the gang, as was a pregnant neighbour who came to her aid.

The murdered man’s son Ryan McDaid has now been issued with a death threat by loyalists.

Mr Campbell appealed for anyone with information to come forward to police.

Mr McGuinness and leader of the nationalist SDLP Mark Durkan attended Mr McDaid’s funeral, as did Protestant clergymen. But there were no senior unionist politicians present.

Mr Campbell’s party said he had prior commitments on the day of the funeral.

Today Mr Campbell also said he preferred to deal with such sensitive issues in private and not in front of the cameras.

Asked if he would meet Sinn Féin politicians for talks in Coleraine, Mr Campbell told the BBC: “That would be tokenism. He (Mr McGuinness) knows that.

“He would like to try and make some sort of political tokenism... before the media and public, that everything was rosy in the garden.”

He added: “The reality out there on the streets is that we still have a deeply divided community. The way to address the deep divisions is to work towards the healing of those divisions.”

Mr Campbell said he would work with anyone who supported the rule of law, but added: “What I am not going to do is engage in some kind of tokenistic ritual for the cameras.”

Earlier this week, Mr McGuinness said he had set aside reservations over the DUP’s history to enter government with the party.

He added: “Gregory and others within the DUP in the Coleraine area need to step forward.

“Condemning the violence and murder of Kevin McDaid is not enough.

“What we need to see is people stepping forward, rolling up their sleeves, engaging in dialogue and contributing to the resolution of problems.”