HARDLINE republicans have rejected a plan by former Ardoyne priest Fr Gary Donegan to build a memorial to all victims of the Troubles near a north Belfast interface.
The former rector at Holy Cross wants to build a monument to remember all Troubles' victims - including security force personnel and loyalist paramilitary groups.
The memorial would be located close to a former loyalist protest camp site near the nationalist Ardoyne area.
The priest, who still carries out work in Ardoyne, said the monument should bear a cross to represent everyone from the wider area who died in the conflict.
The Fermanagh native also confirmed he already has a donor who is prepared to the bankroll the proposal.
He also told the News Letter that he wanted the monument to be made from basalt and include an “eternal flame”.
He said First Minister Arlene Foster and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness were made aware of the plan several months ago.
However, on Monday night the son of one murder victim criticised the proposal.
Alan Lundy’s father, who was also called Alan, was shot dead by loyalists in 1993.
The 39-year-old IRA and Sinn Féin member was carrying out work at the west Belfast home of current assembly member Alex Maskey when he was shot by the UFF.
Mr Lundy, who is a member of recently established political party Saoradh, said republicans are opposed to the proposal which he described as "grotesque".
Mr Lundy said other republican families are also opposed to the plan.
“Having spoken to a number of residents and republican families in the area, and speaking on behalf of Saoradh, I can state with certainty that there will be an active campaign against any proposal to commemorate British crown forces or loyalist sectarian killers in Ardoyne," he said.
