DUP told in Stormont debate: ‘You can hold your noses but you won’t look down on us’ (Video)

» John Hedges

An Phoblacht Editor

‘I don’t care what part of your anatomy you have to hold on to to make yourself feel comfortable but I’ll tell you what you’ll not be doing’ – John O’Dowd to DUP

THE DUP can hold their noses sharing power all they want but they will not look down their noses at Sinn Féin or the people the party represents, Sinn Féin MLA John O’Dowd has told unionists in the Stormont chamber.

Responding to a DUP MLA’s repeated comment that some unionists have to hold their nose to share power with Sinn Féin, John O’Dowd said on Tuesday:

“I don’t care what part of your anatomy you have to hold on to to make yourself feel comfortable, but I’ll tell you what you’ll not be doing – you’ll not be looking down your nose at us or the people we represent.”

Reminding the DUP MLAs that he has lost relatives who were murdered by members of the state’s police force and the British Army who also operated as part of the notorious Glenanne Gang and the unionist paramilitary Ulster Volunteer Force – and that republicans have made compromises to share power at Stormont – John O’Dowd continued:

“I don’t hold my nose to share power with anyone. I hold my head high.

“As a former minister, I am proud to say I have shared power with my Protestant and unionist neighbours despite our history, the conflict and the pain we’ve been through.”

He ended:

“We are all equals with a very sad past behind and none of us can look at each other and go, ‘It was all your fault.’”

Watch the video here.

John O’Dowd had earlier told the unionist benches:

“The Good Friday will be the foundation upon which we build a society.

“The only way any of us, if we are re-elected, will be standing in this chamber or a future Executive will be on the principles of power-sharing, respect and mutual understanding.”