Sinn Fein has called a move by the Red Hand Commando to become legalised as a community group 'ludicrous' and "abhorrent to their victims."
The loyalist paramilitary group met the British Home Office to formally request legalisation
It has applied to be removed from the UK's list of proscribed terrorist organisations in its bid to become a community organisation .
Sinn Féin North Belfast MLA Gerry Kelly said it was "ludicrous.”
“How, and more importantly why, would you have a paramilitary organisation working as a community group? And what does that say to the victims of this organisation if their status and their activities is to be somehow legitimised? I am sure victims would find that abhorrent.
“Of course ex-prisoners and ex members of these groups are free to become involved in community organisations and to seek to play a positive role in society. That should be welcomed... What the Red Hand Commando, along with all other paramilitary organisations should do, is disband.”
TUV MLA Jim Allister said that the Red Hand Commando would show "genuine remorse" by disbanding completely.
The Red Hand already are an old boys club in every sense of the word old, former members free to do community work without being legalised
— Allison Morris (@AllisonMorris1) September 12, 2017
It would be a travesty to implement a policy to make life easier for former paramilitaries before implementing legislation for victims
— Allison Morris (@AllisonMorris1) September 12, 2017
Disbandment, not seeking legalisation, would show genuine remorse.
— Jim Allister (@JimAllister) September 12, 2017
