Banner celebrating IRA gunman as ‘our hero’ is sick, says unionist

THE decision to erect a banner celebrating an IRA gunman as “our hero” in a children’s play park is “sick”, a unionist councillor has said.

The banner was erected at the controversial Raymond McCreesh park in Newry.

The park has attracted much criticism after it was named in honour of the republican hunger striker, with unionists and IRA victims calling for the name to be changed to something less divisive.

McCreesh, from Camlough in Armagh, was reportedly in possession of a rifle used in the 1976 Kingsmill massacre when he was captured later that year.

Ten people were killed in the attack.

McCreesh was one of seven IRA prisoners who died in the 1981 Maze Prison hunger strike.

His convictions included attempted murder, conspiracy to murder, possession of firearms with intent to endanger life and IRA membership.

Controversy has continued to surround the park since council-

The banner at the Raymond McCreesh Park in Newry

lors voted to retain the name in February 2015.

Last year the Equality Commission told the local authority it should debate and take a fresh

decision on the park. Ulster Unionist councillor David Taylor said the banner was “beneath contempt”.

“The banner on display at the children’s play park is sick,” he said.

“To call a man who was caught in possession of one of the guns used at Kingsmill ‘our hero’ is beneath contempt.

“It is a deliberate insult directed at McCreesh’s victims, their long-suffering families and an insult to the memory of those murdered and injured in the Kingsmill massacre.

“It again exposes Sinn Fein’s campaign for rights, equality and respect as nothing more than a perverse charade.

“Despite being exposed earlier this year, this shows that any apologies given following insults about the Kingsmill massacre were just hollow words lacking in any genuine remorse for the hurt and pain that they caused.

“I am deeply disappointed and shocked at the endorsement of this banner by Ballybot residents.

“By doing so they are causing deep offence to a great many people, including their unionist neighbours.”

Mr Taylor called on Sinn Fein to condemn the banner and have it removed.

“I call on Michelle O’Neill and members of Sinn Fein in Newry locally to condemn this insult and for the sake of community relations appeal for them to work to have this appalling banner removed,” he said.

Sinn Fein was contacted but had not responded by the time of going to press last night.