THE flying of an SAS flag in Loughgall has been branded a "shameful act of glorification".
The flag was erected just days after republicans held a commemoration to mark 30 years since eight IRA members were killed in the Co Armagh village by the British army unit.
Undercover soldiers shot the men in May 1987 as they approached Loughgall RUC station with a bomb.
The IRA men were Jim Lynagh, Padraig McKearney, Gerard O'Callaghan, Tony Gormley, Eugene Kelly, Patrick Kelly, Seamus Donnelly and Declan Arthurs.
A civilian, Anthony Hughes, was also killed in the gunfire.
Sinn Féin said it has reported the flag to police.
Newry and Armagh MP Mickey Brady described the flying of the flag as "appalling".
"This shameful act of glorification will only serve to add further distress to the families of the nine men as we approach the 30th anniversary."
However, Ulster Unionist MLA Doug Beattie said Sinn Féin's complaint about the flag was unjustified.
"Sinn Féin and the republican movement may well see the flying of the SAS regimental flag as provocative - but what do they expect?" he said.
"Their recent overt commemoration of those heavily-armed IRA men hell bent on committing murder in Loughgall 30 years ago was extremely provocative."
Sinn Féin's northern leader Michelle O'Neill was criticised by unionists for speaking at Sunday's commemoration in Co Tyrone.
She defended her attendance, saying "everyone has a legitimate right to remember their dead, tell their side of the story and share their experiences".
