News

Bloody Sunday campaigner votes unionist over abortion issue

Liam Wray holds a photograph of his murdered brother Jim Wray
Liam Wray holds a photograph of his murdered brother Jim Wray Liam Wray holds a photograph of his murdered brother Jim Wray

A Bloody Sunday campaigner has revealed he voted Traditional Unionist Voice because he no longer trusts nationalist parties on the abortion issue.

Liam Wray, whose brother, Jim was shot dead on Bloody Sunday, was responding to an Irish News report that former Sinn Féin mayor of Limavady, Anne Brolly had quit the party over its stance on abortion. Mrs Brolly’s husband, Francie, a former Sinn Féin MLA, said he remained a member because he was trying to change the party’s support for limited abortions from within.

Mr Wray said he voted for Jim Allister’s TUV party in the last European elections because of its unambiguous anti-abortion stance. He said he no longer trusted either Sinn Féin or the SDLP to safeguard the rights of the unborn child.

“For me the foremost thing, no matter what comes after that, whether I believe in a united Ireland or whether I believe doing this for the health service or not, the first and foremost point has to be the protection of human life,” said Mr Wray.

Mr Wray said he understood the situation was very difficult for women but he did not believe abortion was a gender issue.

“I would normally vote nationalist or republican, depending on the candidate or the policies from I was able to vote at 18. When it came to this time around, the only party that I could see that was unambiguous was either the DUP or Jim Allister."