Barry McElduff resigns as West Tyrone MP over Kingsmill controversy

QRadio News

A Sinn Fein MP who caused controversy after posing with a Kingsmill branded loaf on his head on the anniversary of the Kingsmill massacre has resigned.

Barry McElduff, who was last week suspended by his party for three months, said he had now decided to quit as an abstentionist member of parliament for West Tyrone.

"It is with great sadness that, after more than 30 years as an active Sinn Fein member and public representative I am tendering my resignation as MP for West Tyrone," he said

"The reason I am doing so is because of the consequences of the Twitter video which has caused such controversy over the last week."

Mr McElduff reiterated his insistence that he had not meant the video as a reference to the sectarian murders of 10 protestant workmen by republican paramilitaries near the south Armagh village of Kingsmill in 1976.

He said his greatest regret was the "deep and unnecessary hurt" his video had caused the Kingsmill families.

"I again offer my profound apology to those families and to the wider victims community," he added.

"Had I been conscious of the connection to the terrible atrocity at Kingsmill I would certainly not have posted that tweet. I genuinely did not make that connection, not for a second did I make that connection in my mind.

"Kingsmill was wrong, unjustifiable and sectarian. It should never have happened.

The extent of Mr McElduff's original punishment by Sinn Fein - a three-month suspension while still being paid - was widely criticised by unionists.

The sole survivor of the attack, Alan Black, welcomed the resignation.

He told the Press Association: "This past week has been truly awful for me. I am just hanging by a thread.

"But I am glad he has done the right thing."

Mr Black said the fall-out from the Twitter video forced him to re-live the trauma of the attack in which he was shot 18 times.

"I am going to have to take time now to heal," he said.

"I only got involved because of the hurt and disrespect shown to my friends who died at Kingsmill but this whole thing has taken a heavy toll."

Sinn Fein has faced intense criticism on both sides of the Irish border over the video furore. The episode further disrupted efforts to restore the powersharing institutions at Stormont.

West Tyrone is very safe Sinn Fein seat and the party will likely hold on to it in a future by-election.

In the short post, Mr McElduff, who is known for his light-hearted social media contributions, was filmed walking around a shop with a Kingsmill loaf on his head, asking where the store kept the bread.

It was posted around the 42nd anniversary of the Kingsmill outrage on January 5.

The MP faced multiple calls to resign in the wake of the controversy.

Sinn Fein Stormont leader Michelle O'Neill said Mr McElduff's resignation was the "unintended hurt" he had caused. She thanked him for his work for the people of West Tyrone.

"Barry recognises that this controversy and his continuing role in public office is compounding the distress to the victims of Kingsmill, and again offers his profound apology to those families and to the wider victims community," said Mrs O'Neill.

"He has said that he does not want to be a barrier to reconciliation and I respect that decision."

She added: "Over the coming weeks Sinn Fein will focus our full efforts on the restoration of the power-sharing institutions on the basis of equality, integrity and respect and fulfil the mandate we received from the electorate in two successive elections last year."

Mr McElduff resigned hours after Mr Black gave a powerful interview on RTE radio in which he accused the MP of celebrating the Kingsmill deaths.

The politician said he realised many people did not believe his explanation for the video.

"There was no intended reference to Kingsmill in my tweet," he said.

"But I do accept that there are many people who do not believe this to be the case. I accept also that this view of what happened is deeply damaging to the reconciliation process that is so important to consolidating the peace process and to healing the pain and hurt of the past.

"I cannot undo the pain caused but I know that my continuing role as MP for West Tyrone will compound that sense of hurt and impede any reconciliation process.

"I wish to wholeheartedly thank my family and friends for their steadfast personal support during this difficult time, and the people of West Tyrone whom I have had the privilege to serve as their public representative for over 20 years."

He added: "I am an Irish republican and believe wholeheartedly in the reunification of our country and an agreed Ireland in which we heal the wounds of the past together.

"Reconciliation is essential, but that message is not being heard at this time.

"I do not wish to be a barrier to reconciliation and healing and in that spirit I again offer my sincere apologies to the survivors and families of those murdered at Kingsmill."