Loyalist commemoration poster 'an example of terrorist idolatry'

by Gillian McDade

The spokesperson for Innocent Victims United says the poster erected in Moygashel to commemorate dead UVF terrorist Wesley Somerville is an example of ‘terrorism idolatry.’

Kenny Donaldson says the organisation holds a consistent policy in opposing terrorism and violence, irrespective as to who the perpetrators are.

Somerville was involved in the Glenanne Gang, which included members of the RUC, UDR and UVF.

The poster has since been removed.

"We at IVU acknowledge and recognise that families will grieve and have an absolute right to remember a loved one irrespective of the circumstances in which that individual died or lost their life,” he says.

Mr Donaldson says the Miami Showband attack which resulted in three members of the band being murdered, including Brian McCoy (a Protestant from Caledon, just a small distance away) was a cowardly and depraved action.

“The fact that two members of a terrorist organisation also lost their lives in that attack is not something to be either celebrated or commemorated - it simply should not have happened. There was zero legitimacy for the Miami Showband attack and that is the case for all terror crimes perpetrated by the UVF, PIRA and their sister organisations,” he adds.

Wesley Somerville,UVF man killed in Miami Showband attack in 1975, banner removed from Lamp post in Moygashel, Co Tyrone via @irish_news pic.twitter.com/gUXLqw4SJN

— ConflictNI (@ConflictNI) June 24, 2017

Mr Donaldson says the poster should never have gone up in the first place.

“The role of political and community leaders must be to stand with the innocent victims and survivors of terrorism.

"The actions of Wesley Somerville, Haris Boyle and a small number of others who double-jobbed whilst serving in The Ulster Defence Regiment is a stain upon the tens of thousands who served within that legitimate force with honour and integrity - who stood against the onslaught of terrorism and who were murdered in their scores. Dungannon and its hinterlands has many gravestones and plaques in halls, not to mention broken hearts as a consequence,” he says.

And he adds: "Unashamedly our concern is with the McCoy family, those others who perished within the Miami Showband, those who narrowly survived and also all other innocents and their families who fell foul of the actions of Wesley Somerville, Haris Boyle and other terrorists.”