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PUP representative tweets "party at mine" following murder of republican

PUP representative Scott McDowell's tweet about the murder of senior republican Gerard 'Jock' Davison.
PUP representative Scott McDowell's tweet about the murder of senior republican Gerard 'Jock' Davison. PUP representative Scott McDowell's tweet about the murder of senior republican Gerard 'Jock' Davison.

THE PUP's South Antrim representative has been criticised after tweeting that "most sensible people would rejoice" at the murder of former IRA prisoner Gerard ‘Jock’ Davison.

Scott McDowell, who stood unsuccessfully for the UVF-linked loyalist party in last year’s elections to Antrim and Newtownabbey District Council, added "party at mine" in a post following the killing of the Belfast republican yesterday.

Mr Davison was shot dead in Welsh Street in the Markets area at around 9am yesterday morning.

After Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams tweeted that the murder would be "condemned by all sensible people", Mr McDowell replied "away and have a word with yourself Gerry, most sensible people will rejoice at the news. Party at mine by the way (thumbs up symbol)."

Mr McDowell appeared to later delete the tweet, but was criticised on Twitter for the remarks.

On his Twitter page, the PUP activist states that "any views are my own and not the party’s."

Mr McDowell, who describes his role as "trying my best to serve the good people in my community", received 214 first preference votes in the Ballyclare ward last year.