ARLENE Foster has used social media to criticise Sinn Féin's Michelle O'Neill for attending a commemoration service for an IRA man.
The DUP leader took to Twitter after the Sinn Féin deputy leader joined an event in Keady, Co Armagh on Sunday commemorating the 40th anniversary of Peadar McElvanna's death.
The 24-year-old was killed in 1979 during a gun battle which began after a botched IRA ambush attempt on a British army unit.
The SAS soldier and author Andy McNab was awarded a military medal for his actions during the gun battle.
Ms O'Neill attended the Keady commemoration after earlier marching in Belfast with victims' families and campaigners at the Time for Truth rally.
The Mid Ulster MLA tweeted that she had used the 40th anniversary of Mr McElvanna's killing to "reaffirmed our commitment to delivering a new, united and inclusive Ireland".
"An Ireland of equality and justice – an Ireland that Peadar dedicated his life to achieving," the tweet said.
But Mrs Foster, who this week is expected to be involved in round-table discussions at Stormont with Ms O'Neill, responded with a tweet of her own.
"The #TimeforTruth hashtag was dropped before eulogising someone who went out with the sole aim of causing death and destruction," the former first minister's tweet said.
"Anyone recasting the IRA's terrorism as a campaign for 'equality and justice' is blind to the truth and to the pain of their victims."
The #TimeforTruth hashtag was dropped before eulogising someone who went out with the sole aim of causing death and destruction.
— Arlene Foster (@DUPleader) June 9, 2019
Anyone recasting the IRA's terrorism as a campaign for "equality and justice" is blind to the truth and to the pain of their victims. https://t.co/yDRDlXwgAK
