Northern Ireland

Barry McElduff's resignation welcomed by political opponents

Barry McElduff has resigned as West Tyrone MP 
Barry McElduff has resigned as West Tyrone MP  Barry McElduff has resigned as West Tyrone MP 

Opponents from across the political spectrum have welcomed the resignation of West Tyrone MP Barry McElduff.

DUP leader and former first minister Arlene Foster was among the first to react.

In a statement, Mrs Foster said: "He was not fit for public office and should have resigned in the immediate aftermath of posting the disgraceful video mocking and insulting the horrific terrorist events at Kingsmill.

"Over the course of the last 10 days, Sinn Féin has failed to deal with the McElduff situation. By merely suspending him and continuing to pay him they compounded his disgraceful actions and demonstrated a lack of respect and compassion for the victims of Kingmill and indeed victims more widely. Sinn Féin got this badly wrong.

"Now is the time for Sinn Féin to learn the lessons from these dark events and to deal with the fact that it, and many of its individual members, continue to publicly glorify the murderous deeds of the past.

"This needs to end if we are to build a future based on integrity and respect. Sinn Féin has much work to do to demonstrate they have truly learned from these events."

SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said Mr McElduff's actions had caused "huge offence and immense hurt".

"Barry McElduff has done the right thing by resigning," he said.

"Over the weekend we heard from Alan Black about his pain and that of the families of the victims of Kingsmill. It is deeply regrettable that it has taken over a week for Mr McElduff to do the right thing."

Meanwhile, questions have also been raised about Sinn Féin's handling of the controversy.

Last week the party issued a three month suspension on full pay after northern leader Michelle O'Neill said she believed Mr McElduff had not intend to cause offence.

TUV leader Jim Allister accused republicans of deploying a damage limitation strategy.

"The resignation of Barry McElduff is welcome but let us be in no doubt as to what brought it about," he said.

"The harrowing but dignified comments of victims, especially those of the sole survivor of the Massacre, Alan Black, have forced this. The potential for electoral damage to Sinn Féin, particularly south of the border, was clear.

"Sinn Féin thought that this would blow over but victims ensured that was impossible. Now, in an attempt at damage limitation McElduff has been pushed."

The TUV politician also called for pressure to be put on Sinn Féin's former finance minister Máirtin Ó Muilleoir who re-tweeted the video.

The Ulster Unionists said Mr McElduff's position had become untenable.

Party leader Robin Swan said: "We welcome the fact that Barry McElduff has resigned although it should have happened last week.

"This is a day when a Sinn Féin Member of Parliament has done the right thing. His resignation was long overdue. His position was absolutely untenable given the hurt and pain inflicted on the Kingsmill victims' families and the sole survivor Alan Black. This has been a horrendous experience for them."

With the prospect of a divisive by-election looming, Mr Swan said he would support a non partisan candidate to contest the seat.

He added: "The condemnation of Barry McElduff's deeply offensive actions has come from across the community. If a candidate emerges that allows cross-community support to coalesce around, it would send a strong message that this type of behaviour will not be tolerated."

Green Party leader Steven Agnew said he hoped the resignation would bring the saga to an end.

The North Down MLA said: "Politicians need to mirror the dignity shown by Kingsmill survivor Alan Black over the weekend.

"All this furore has achieved is to cause further upset to the families and I hope this resignation will now draw a line under it."

Meanwhile, South Armagh victims campaigner William Frazer, who has supported the Kingsmill families' quest for justice said: "I welcome Mr McElduff's resignation we will take it as a recognition of his guilt.

"I am however disappointed that he didn't take the opportunity to do so sooner, he could have saved the families a week of great hurt, and unnecessary media attention.

"Undoubtedly the mask slipped, Barry McElduff was exposed, and as was the level of public outrage he was left with no option."

Mrs O'Neill later defended her handling of the affair and rejected the suggestion the initial punishment had been weak.

"I believe the action I took last week was proportionate," she said outside Sinn Féin's offices on the Falls Road in west Belfast.

"Barry did cause hurt, he didn't intend to do so.

"I accepted last Monday and I still accept today, as does Barry, that his tweet was ill advised, it was ill judged but he did not intend to cause hurt.

"And in recognition of the controversy that it has sparked over the last week Barry has now decided to resign so he is not barrier toward reconciliation and I accept that as the best way forward."

She said Mr McElduff had taken time to reflect on the reaction to the video, particularly from victims.

"I think that sends out a strong message that Sinn Fein listen to the needs of victims," she added.

Mrs O'Neill said there was a need to heal all the wounds of the past in order to move society on.

"Kingsmill was wrong, it was unjustified and it was sectarian," she said.

Mrs O'Neill said she had warned Mr O'Muilleoir to be "more responsible" on social media but indicated no further action would be taken against him by the party.

"That is the matter dealt with," she said.