There has been condemnation at “horrifying” chants of “up the Ra” directed towards mourners during a memorial event to commemorate the Enniskillen bombing earlier today.
The abuse hurled at mourners as a crowd met for the Remembrance Day event was slammed by UUP MLA Diana Armstrong who was in attendance, adding she was “horrified” with the ordeal.
Mourners were taunted with the IRA jeers at the service marking the anniversary of the bombing which occurred 37-years-ago to the day.
Ms Armstrong said she was “disgusted” with the verbal abuse.
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.
“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”.
“Far from being brought to justice, decades of pandering to those responsible for the murder of twelve 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.”
The blast in Enniskillen killed 11 people instantly as a crowd had gathered at the First and Second World War memorials during a Remembrance Day ceremony on November 8, 1987.
A further 63 casualties occurred including lifelong physical injuries and psychological impacts in what was one of the darkest days in the history of the Troubles.
The Provisional IRA took responsibility for the attack claiming the bomb was meant for British Forces and had detonated prematurely.
Sinn Fein has been contacted for comment.