Norman Tebbit, a former Thatcherite MP and the former chairman of the Conservative Party has said he hopes the “Real” IRA shoots Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness for attending the banquet at Windsor Castle and toasting the Queen.
McGuinness, who makes no secret of his past, has since the Good Friday Agreement, suffered a number of attacks on his family home in Derry by dissident Republicans opposed to the peace process.
Now a Lord, Tebbit said: “Mr McGuinness is there on the coat tails of the Irish ambassador – it’s up to him whose company he chooses to keep. It makes it very difficult for the Palace and for the Lord Mayor.
“Mr McGuinness owns up to being a member of a terrorist organisation, those who suffered at the hands of the terrorists are not best pleased.
“The Queen no choice in matter; she can hardly refuse to invite the Irish ambassador. I imagine it is difficult for her – her family has suffered at the hands of the IRA.”
He added: “There’s always the possibility that a member of the Real IRA will be so outraged by Mr McGuinness bowing to the Queen that they might shoot him in the back for it.
“We can but hope.”
Lord Tebbit has suffered due to the actions of the IRA, when they blew up the Conservative Party conference in Brighton, in 1984, in an audacious attempt to kill Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. One result of the bombing was that Tebbit’s wife Margaret was left paralysed by the attack.
Surely Lord Tebbit does not seriously want more bloodshed and violence in-particular aimed at a man-no matter how abhorrent Tebbit finds him, who has helped bring an end to slaughter and bloodshed?
McGuinness is a member of a representative assembly that looks after the interests of the people of Northern Ireland, which as Tebbit’s party still desires, is a part of the United Kingdom.
While one would not expect or demand Tebbit to forgive the actions of the IRA that have brought such personal misery and grief to his family, surely Lord Tebbit should immediately withdraw and apologise for such outrageous comment.
with thanks to the Belfast Telegraph
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