A PROTEST due to take place in Co Armagh at the weekend in support of two men convicted of murdering a PSNI officer has been branded a "deliberate attempt to glorify" terrorism.
DUP MP Carla Lockhart said the event organised for Saturday, March 28 in Lurgan was "an insult to those who were closest to Stephen Carroll".
Constable Carroll (48) was the first police officer to be killed in Northern Ireland after the formation of the PSNI.
He was ambushed and shot dead by dissident republicans as he responded to a 999 call at Lismore Manor in Craigavon in March 2009.
Brendan McConville (48), from Craigavon, Co Armagh, is serving at least 25 years behind bars for his murder.
A second man, John Paul Wootton (28), from Lurgan, was handed a minimum 18-year term for his part in the murder.
March For Justice Ireland are to hold a protest on Saturday, March 28 in Lurgan "to highlight the ongoing injustice wrought upon two innocent men, Brendan McConville & John Paul Wootton.The Craigavon Two, innocent men in prison for a crime they did not commit".
Ms Lockhart said to hold the protest "just two miles from the scene of that crime is a deliberate attempt to glorify that terrorism and an insult to those who were closest to Stephen Carroll".
"The organisers of this disgraceful gathering describe is as being for `justice'," she said.
" Justice was served however when Brendan McConville and John Paul Wootton were found guilty of murder and when their appeal was rejected. This event is an obvious attempt by dissident republicans to provoke a reaction from which they can use to feed their campaign of terrorism".
