Republican News · Thursday 31 January 2002

Unionism must accept it is creating the dynamic for violence

Sinn Féin Education Spokesperson, Fermanagh South Tyrone Assembly member Gerry McHugh, says unionists must accept responsibility for creating the dynamic for anti-Catholic violence.

"We see attacks on Catholic schools, students attending further education colleges being singled out in a manner that is reminiscent of the Nazis in fascist Germany and we see attacks on Catholic homes.

"Unionists may well stand up and make what they believe are the right noises but the reality is that the words of condemnation mean nothing when the actions of unionists are creating the dynamic for anti-Catholic violence carried out by violent Unionism. And I say that very deliberately loyalism is nothing other than violent unionism.

"Violent unionism has traditionally been kept at arms length by its political masters but the reality is that it has been organised and motivated very clearly by the political directions given by the leaders of political unionism in order to pursue the same objectives.

"Trimble and Paisley need to get off their high horses and get to grips with their responsibility for creating and maintaining conflict and in particular in pouring fuel on the flames of sectarianism. They are providing the political cover for attacks on our young people and in making education a sectarian battlefield. They need to wake up and seriously ask themselves if they want to be part of ending the conflict and the process of conflict resolution or instead to provide solace for sectarian bigots."