JOHN McAreavey, the Down GAA star and widower of Michaela McAreavey, has taken to social media to voice his support for Barry McElduff.
The west Tyrone MP has come under as barrage of criticism and calls to resign after posting many saw as "mocking" the victims of the Kingsmill massacre.
Mr McAreavey, who knows Mr McElduff personally, said he believed that the Sinn Féin man did to not mean to cause any offence to the Kingsmill victims.
"Anyone who personally knows Barry McElduff will know he’s a man of great dignity," he wrote.
"I believe his character isn’t capable of being snide and malicious. He would never say or do anything to intentionally hurt anyone."
In turn, the former Down forward faced criticism of his own for voicing his support for the politician.
"Always have had great respect for you John McAreavey but I can’t believe that you support this person," one person wrote.
Others accused those criticising Mr McElduff of "jumping on the bandwagon".
After Declan Kearney’s interview on Good Morning Ulster I’d say the first election of 2018 will be a by-election
— Allison Morris (@AllisonMorris1) January 8, 2018
One man who hit out at such an assertion was Alan Black, the son of the only Kingsmill survivor, with whom he shares a name.
"My father was maimed that night. Am I allowed to comment/jump on the bandwagon...?" he wrote.
