The Five Demands

SDLP MLA urged to quit over republican funeral (Belfast Telegraph)

The SDLP’s Colum Eastwood should be removed from his Stormont justice committee post after taking part in a republican funeral which saw a Real IRA gunman fire shots, it has been claimed.

The father of a victim of the Real IRA Omagh bomb and politicians voiced concern after the former mayor of Londonderry carried a coffin while flanked by men in full paramilitary uniform. The Foyle MLA has defended his actions at the funeral of former Official IRA and INLA man Seamus Coyle in the city on Tuesday.
He carried his friend’s coffin, and later a masked member of the Real IRA fired up to a dozen shots from an automatic rifle.

Alliance Justice spokesman Stewart Dickson MLA called on Mr Eastwood to be removed from his position on the Assembly’s Justice Committee.
And Michael Gallagher, whose son was killed in the Omagh bomb, said the SDLP man should have considered the ramifications of attending the funeral of a former paramilitary.

TUV leader Jim Allister and the DUP were also critical after the young politician was pictured carrying the flag-draped coffin.
“In my view a paramilitary funeral is no place for anyone who espouses the principles of a liberal democracy,” Mr Allister said.