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Sinn Fein criticised for 'cop out' sanction against Barry McElduff

West Tyrone MP Barry McElduff who has been suspended for three months on full pay. Picture by Niall Carson/PA Wire
West Tyrone MP Barry McElduff who has been suspended for three months on full pay. Picture by Niall Carson/PA Wire West Tyrone MP Barry McElduff who has been suspended for three months on full pay. Picture by Niall Carson/PA Wire
By John Manley

SINN Féin was last night facing accusations of weakness after the party suspended Barry McElduff for three months over his controversial Kingsmill video.

The abstentionist West Tyrone MP - who insists he did not mean to cause offence when he posed with a Kingsmill loaf on his head on the anniversary of the 1976 massacre - will continue to receive his party salary.

Mr McElduff received the sanction after being summoned to the party's west Belfast offices yesterday afternoon.

Speaking after the meeting he said he had "no idea" he had posted the video on the anniversary of the massacre of ten Protestant workmen.

Sinn Féin northern leader Michelle O'Neill said she had suspended the West Tyrone MP with immediate effect.

"I made it clear to Barry that his tweet was ill-judged, indefensible and caused hurt and pain to the victims of Kingsmill," she said.

But the sanction saw Sinn Féin criticised by other Stormont parties and Kingsmill families.

DUP leader Arlene Foster said the three-month suspension "added insult to injury", while her party colleague Sammy Wilson described it as a "cop out".

Ulster Unionist leader Robin Swann said Sinn Féin failure to sack Mr McElduff meant the party has "failed the ultimate test".

Ten Protestant workmen were murdered at Kingsmill in 1976
Ten Protestant workmen were murdered at Kingsmill in 1976 Ten Protestant workmen were murdered at Kingsmill in 1976

SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said people were struggling to "figure out what the actual punishment has been for Barry McElduff".

Alliance leader Naomi Long said many would regard Sinn Féin’s sanction as "weak".

The only survivor of the Kingsmills massacre described the video as "depraved" and "designed to hurt".

Alan Black, who survived the attack despite being shot 18 times, said the three-month suspension was not sufficient.

Mr Black accused Sinn Fein of "circling the wagons" around Mr McElduff.

Bea Worton, whose son Kenneth was murdered, also criticised the suspension.

"Mrs O'Neill wants equality, and that's the equality we get?," she said.

"We get no equality."