Challenge to DUP at Edentubber

A large crowd marked the 48th anniversary of the deaths of IRA Volunteers George Keegan, Paddy Parle, Paul Smith, Oliver Craven and Micheal Watters at a commemoration ceremony in North Louth on Sunday 13 November.

Welcoming relatives of the Edentubbuer Martyrs and former comrades Louth Sinn Féin County Councillor Imelda Munster outlined the events which led to their untimely deaths in November 1957.

Following the laying of a large number of wreaths, a minute's silence was observed in memory of these five brave Irish men and all those who have given their lives in the fight for Irish freedom.

Th main speaker at the event was Sinn Féin Chief Negotiator and Mid-Ulster MP Martin McGuinness who challenged DUP leader Ian Paisley to come clean over his attitude to re-entering the power sharing institutions in the Six Counties. "Last year the two governments made it clear to Sinn Féin during a number of meetings that Ian Paisley had indicated to them that the only obstacle to a return to the power sharing institutions was the issue of arms." McGuinness continued: The IRA has decisively dealt with that issue. It is no longer an issue for the process. Is Ian Paisley now going to step up to the mark? Is Ian Paisley going to follow through on what he said to the two governments last year?

McGuinness went on:

"The DUP has sat back for too long. We need to get the political institutions back up and running. Week by week the Direct Rule Administration is taking decisions based not on the needs or requirements of the people but on fiscal considerations in the British Treasury. Are the DUP content to sit back and watch this happen or are they finally going to stop hiding behind rhetoric and show real political leadership?"