Michelle O’Neill faced down a furious backlash from across the political divide in Northern Ireland today as she became the first Sinn Fein leader to attend a Remembrance Sunday event.
The First Minister joined politicians in laying a wreath at the Cenotaph in Belfast this morning, including DUP deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly.
Her decision to attend the event triggered a backlash from hardline figures, with Traditional Unionist Voice deputy leader Ron McDowell boycotting the event in protest. Ms Little-Pengelly also refused to praise it.
And more than 100 relatives of republicans killed in the Troubles attacked her ‘shameful’ decision to honour those they blame for the violence in Northern Ireland.
But writing on X this morning Ms O’Neil said she was attending as ‘an Irish republican who believes in a united Ireland’ and would ‘remember the tens of thousands of people from across our island who lost their lives in the First World War and in subsequent conflicts.’
‘It is through understanding and respect for our differences that we can build a stronger, respectful, and united society,’ she wrote.
‘I will never shy away from my responsibility to take decisions – no matter how personally challenging – that will help build a new Ireland, defined by inclusion and respect for all traditions.’
The First Minister joined politicians in laying a wreath at the Cenotaph in Belfast this morning, including DUP deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly.
Her decision to attend the event triggered a backlash from hardline figures, with Traditional Unionist Voice deputy leader Ron McDowell boycotting the event in protest. Ms Little-Pengelly also refused to praise it.
But writing on X this morning Ms O’Neil said she was attending as ‘an Irish republican who believes in a united Ireland’ and would ‘remember the tens of thousands of people from across our island who lost their lives in the First World War and in subsequent conflicts.’
Mr McDowell told the Belfast Telegraph he would not ‘normalise Michelle O’Neill’s behaviour’ by appearing alongside her.
And in a letter to the Irish News, victims of loyalist violence in Co Tyrone said she had turned ‘political somersaults’ to justify attending.
They said she would be laying a wreath to commemorate ‘the same forces that murdered men, women, children, and priests with impunity’, adding: ‘For many families throughout our county, and beyond, this will be devastating.’
The First Minister said she appreciated some republicans would be ‘uncomfortable’ with her being there, but insisted it was nevertheless the ‘right thing to do’.
She previously raised eyebrows with her decision to attend the coronation of Charles II in May 2023.
Speaking to media in Cookstown, Co Tyrone, on Wednesday, Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn said he ‘very much welcomes the decision by the First Minister’.
He said: ‘Remembrance Sunday is about the whole of society remembering the sacrifice of our ancestors and there is barely a family in the United Kingdom that hasn’t been touched by loss or injury in the First and Second World Wars, and the conflicts that have happened since, and we come together to recall the sacrifice of those who fought so hard so we can enjoy the freedom that we have today, and that is worth remembering always.’
Asked for her view on the move, Ms Little-Pengelly said: ‘For me, Remembrance Sunday is all about that focus on those who gave so much, many, many thousands, of course, who gave all and made the ultimate sacrifice, but almost all those that were injured over the many decades and of course those many tens of thousands who mourn the loss of their loved ones.
‘So, for me, Remembrance Sunday is very much about focusing on remembering those who gave so much and, of course, it will be a huge honour to be there to lay a wreath on behalf of the people of Northern Ireland in my role as deputy First Minister.’
Asked whether she welcomed that Ms O’Neill would be attending, Ms Little-Pengelly said: ‘The focus of this weekend will of course be on remembering those who gave so much. It is Remembrance Sunday and, of course, we all must remember what the focus of this weekend is all about.’