FORMER West Tyrone MP Barry McElduff has been nominated by Sinn Féin to stand in next year’s council elections.
Mr McElduff announced his intended return to politics in a tweet on Thursday night which accompanied a picture of himself with Fermanagh and Omagh District Sinn Féin councillors Anne Marie Fitzgerald and Martin McColgan.
He wrote: “Proud to be selected alongside Marty and Anne Marie tonight to go forward in Omagh Town for Sinn Féin in Council Elections 2019.”
The former MP was forced to quit after posting a controversial video to social media on the anniversary of the Kingsmill massacre on January 5. The 1976 IRA atrocity saw 11 Protestant workers shot dead close to the village of Kingsmill in south Armagh.
Sinn Féin MP Barry McElduff chose to post a light-hearted video by putting something on his head:
— Sam McBride (@SJAMcBride) January 6, 2018
Of the thousands of items in a shop, he chose bread;
Of all bread brands, he chose Kingsmills;
Of all days to do it, it was the anniversary of the Kingsmills Massacre.
What odds? pic.twitter.com/kuxf0pKPTk
In the video, Mr McElduff balanced a loaf of Kingsmill bread on his head while talking to the camera. The video caused outrage and prompted Sinn Féin to suspend him from party duties for three months. Shortly afterwards Mr McElduff announced he was stepping down as MP. In May a by-election was held and Sinn Féin’s Órfhlaith Begley was elected.
At the time of the controversy, Mr McElduff denied he had intended to cause offence and apologised for the “deep and unnecessary hurt” caused by the video.
