Minister says sorry for tweet promoting ‘targets’ talk
AN SNP minister has been forced to apologise after plugging a speech by a controversial pro-independence activist who suggested British soldiers in Northern Ireland are “legitimate targets” and labelled the poppy a “bloodied weed”.
Maree Todd, minister for children and young people, shared information about an upcoming event featuring Jason Michael Mccann in Alness, and marked herself as “interested” in attending on Facebook.
Mr Mccann, who is based in Dublin, has previously labelled the British state “an oppressive anti-democratic regime” and accused it of trying to ignite a war in Northern Ireland and Scotland.
He recently tweeted: “British soldiers returned to the streets of Northern Ireland. Good Friday Agreement now utterly defunct.
“Without peace, as the rules of war have it, these British soldiers are now legitimate targets.”
Ms Todd apologised for retweeting information about Mr Mccann’s upcoming Alness speech, which described him as a “great speaker with an important message”.
She told a newspaper, which highlighted his views: “I was not aware of the, frankly, abhorrent views held by this individual and was horrified when they were pointed out to me.
“Obviously I am sorry for having retweeted this event.”