Official complaint made to watchdog over MLA tweets
A COMPLAINT has been made to a watchdog over social media posts by a Sinn Fein MLA.
Doug Beattie has contacted the Assembly’s Commissioner for Standards and Privileges about two tweets by Foyle MLA Martina Anderson.
One tweet, now deleted, relates to allegations that a compensation scheme for injured Troubles victims would “discriminate, criminalise and exclude”.
The second tweet relates to her claim that British Armed Forces will receive legal protections though the Victims Payment Scheme (VPS) legislation.
Mr Beattie, an Upper Bann MLA, said he believes the latter tweet, which was sent on Tuesday, is designed to discourage people from a nationalist background applying for the scheme.
Currently there is no commissioner in post but Mr Beattie said he hopes the matter will be addressed when one is appointed.
He has also called for Ms Anderson’s resignation.
Earlier this week Ms Anderson apologised for a tweet claiming a compensation scheme for those injured in the Troubles was “mainly for those who fought Britain’s dirty war”.
The comment sparked anger and hurt among the victims’ community, many of whom have been campaigning for years to secure the payments which have been repeatedly delayed due to political rows over who should qualify.
Ms Anderson deleted her original tweet amid widespread backlash.
Mr Beattie said her remarks have created “huge and lasting hurt” and said a second tweet sent by Ms Anderson is “even more harmful” than the first.
Ms Anderson’s tweet reads: “All victims should qualify for the pension. It reflects the Brit Gov policy & only its narrative of the conflict. It’s given legal protection to Brit armed forces who killed or injured or tortured Irish citizens during the conflict. No to Discrimination Criminalisation Exclusion.”
Mr Beattie said he believes this tweet is harmful because some victims may believe if they apply for a victims’ pension, they are supporting UK policy.
“The reason this is so incredibly harmful is that Ms Anderson is stating that the VPS is an extension of UK Government Policy and only reflects its narrative of the Troubles,” he added.
“This could lead to those who are entitled to this pension and who come from a nationalist background, not applying for it, simply because they believe the Sinn Fein propaganda line and believe that if they do apply, they are supporting UK policy and the UK’S narrative of the Troubles.
“This is damaging to all communities and it is obviously false.”
To apply for the pension does not mean you are supporting any narrative of the Troubles or UK policy, Mr Beattie said.
“The pension is clear — it acknowledges all sections of the community with long-term, life-limiting injuries caused during the Troubles and only omits those from all communities who injured themselves whilst undertaking an illegal action,” he added.
“My second complaint is around the false statement that British Armed Forces will receive legal protections though this VPS legislation. I challenge Sinn Fein to show where those legal protections are.
“This is creating division, it is deliberate in doing so, and that is against the code of conduct we should expect of any MLA.
“Martina Anderson cannot backtrack on this last tweet, the media cannot ignore what she is doing and she must resign forthwith.”
Sinn Fein, on behalf of Martina Anderson, was contacted for a comment in relation to this story.
Ms Anderson, a former MEP, was selected to replace Raymond Mccartney as a Sinn Fein MLA for Foyle in February.