Pat Cullen row: DUP candidate slams Alliance Party over Sinn Fein endorsement

It comes amid the ongoing row over Sinn Fein’s Fermanagh and South Tyrone candidate Pat Cullen repeatedly declining the opportunity to condemn IRA atrocities such as the Poppy Day bombing.

Yesterday, the Alliance Party said “where other parties stand and who individual people vote for is a matter for them”.

Mr Girvan said “There is nothing progressive about being weak on terrorism. In South Antrim Sinn Fein hope to benefit from a divided pro-Union field by pulling Alliance and SDLP votes into their column. Michelle O’Neill has been touring South Antrim claiming that Sinn Fein is ‘progressive’ but as we have been reminded today, this is the same Sinn Fein who says the PIRA had ‘no alternative’.

“The ongoing inability to condemn terrorism is troubling and raises questions for other candidates.

“Those who will benefit from what is in effect a Sinn Fein endorsement should make clear whether they are comfortable receiving such support from a party which maintains there was no alternative to murdering nurses, ambulance workers or anyone else as they stood at a cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday.”

Yesterday, in response to questions about ex-IRA killer and former Sinn Fein MLA Paul Butler’s endorsement of Sorcha Eastwood in Lagan Valley, and Alliance Party spokesperson said: “Alliance has had no discussions with any other parties and doesn’t engage in pacts. Where other parties stand and who individual people vote for is a matter for them.

“Alliance is focused on on our campaign, and standing on our platform of positive and progressive politics. That remains our vision for wanting to lead change in Westminster”.

Last month the News Letter asked Ms Cullen if she defended IRA violence and she declined to say.

During a BBC Radio Ulster election debate on Wednesday morning, Ms Cullen was asked by Ulster Unionist candidate Diana Armstrong if she would condemn the murder of nurses by the IRA in the constituency.

Mrs Armstrong said: “I’m thinking of the nurses who perished in the Enniskillen bomb and the Omagh bomb. And I think we have yet to hear a condemnation of those two extreme attacks within this district.

“So no I’m not convinced. I have asked for clarification from Pat Cullen and her stance as to Sinn Fein and their affiliation with the IRA – and I’d like to hear condemnation of those atrocities”.

The Sinn Fein candidate – previously the Assistant Director of Nursing, Safety Quality and Patient Experience in the Public Health Agency – said: “Look, I've said very clearly those were very dark days as a community nurse. I've held the hands of many people that have lived through those periods.

“I’ve felt, I've heard and I've seen their trauma have seen I've seen what it does to them. That's not go back there. Let's move forward and bring prosperity and hope to the people”.

The News Letter has given Ms Cullen another opportunity to clarify her position. We asked “For absolute clarity – do you condemn the murder of civilians, police and other emergency services – including nurses – by the IRA, or do you not?”

There has been no response from Sinn Fein or Ms Cullen.