Northern Ireland politicians have condemned “up the ‘Ra” chants that were directed at mourners during a memorial event to commemorate the Enniskillen bombing.
UUP MLA Diana Armstrong, who was in attendance, said she was left “horrified”.
The incident comes ahead of Northern Ireland’s main Remembrance ceremonies on Sunday, with First Minister Michelle O’Neill set to lay a laurel wreath at the Belfast City Hall Cenotaph — the first senior Sinn Féin figure to do so.
The blast in Enniskillen killed 11 people instantly. A 12th died later.
A further 63 were left with devastating physical and psychological injuries.
A crowd had gathered at the First and Second World War memorials during the Remembrance Day ceremony on November 8, 1987.
The Provisional IRA admitted responsibility, claiming the bomb was meant for British Forces and had detonated prematurely.
Ms Armstrong said she was “disgusted” with the verbal abuse at Friday’s service.
Ms Armstrong added: “I was horrified that individuals felt it appropriate to taunt mourners by shouting ‘up the Ra’ at a dignified and emotional service of remembrance, to mark the 37th anniversary of the Enniskillen Poppy Day bomb.
The bombing saw 11 dead and 63 injured
“A generation in Northern Ireland have been failed by a lack of leadership from aspects of the nationalist community, in particular when Sinn Fein won’t ‘condemn’ the actions of the past, say these actions were ‘justified’ and that there was ‘no alternative’ to the terrorist campaign.”
“For some, peace and reconciliation are just words.”
Meanwhile TUV leader Jim Allister said the chanting is a “sad reflection of where Northern Ireland is”.
He also referenced Ms O’Neill’s decision to participate in the Remembrance Sunday ceremony at Belfast City Hall – marking the first time a senior Sinn Fein figure will take part in such an event in Northern Ireland.
“Far from being brought to justice, decades of pandering to those responsible for the murder of 12 innocent people, as they stood to remember the sacrifice for freedom, has resulted in the victims being repeatedly insulted,” he said.
“Today’s incident shows that it remains supremely inappropriate to invite the leader of Sinn Fein – who maintains there was “no alternative” to the Enniskillen massacre and similar atrocities – to take part in any remembrance event.”
Sinn Fein has been contacted for comment.
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News Catch Up – Friday 8th November