A Sinn Féin TD has stated he has by no means supported the taking of hostages in any battle.
Eoin Ó Broin responded after criticism on social media as social gathering chief Mary Lou McDonald paid tribute following the loss of life of businessman Ben Dunne.
Mr Dunne, a former director of household enterprise Dunnes Shops and proprietor of a sequence of gyms, died aged 74 after struggling a coronary heart assault in Dubai.
In 1981, Ben Dunne was kidnapped by the IRA and launched after seven days after a ransom was reportedly paid.
Ms McDonald was criticized on social media over the weekend after she stated she was saddened to listen to in regards to the sudden loss of life.
Throughout a media look in Dublin, Mr Ó Broin was requested whether or not he would condemn the taking of Mr Dunne hostage by the IRA.
He replied: “I’ve by no means supported taking hostages in any battle.”
Requested in regards to the criticism of his social gathering chief, the TD stated: “I’ve not adopted the interplay between Mary Lou and a few folks on social media.
“What I might say is that this. We’ve spent 25 years, really 30 years in actual phrases, not solely ending the battle but in addition guaranteeing a secure peace within the north.
“And I believe that is a really, excellent factor.
“There’s clearly a problem round remembering and remembering individuals who died in the course of the battle, together with Republican fighters.
“And I’ve all the time stated, after we’re requested these questions, we’ve to search out methods to do it which might be acceptable and delicate.
“However we’ve the correct to do this.
Mr Ó Broin added: “I can’t relive 30 years of armed battle on this nation, a lot of which I used to be there as a toddler, however what I can assure is what I do as a Sinn Féin politician: simply as my colleagues, is to make sure that we by no means return to any type of violence.
“And that we proceed to construct a secure peace and I believe Sinn Fein’s document in that space holds up.”
Requested whether or not he thought his social gathering ought to have apologized to Mr Dunne, the Sinn Féin TD stated: “I’ve by no means met Ben Dunne however I’ve little question that he was a great man and that there was no purpose to consider in any other case.
“Republicans have apologized for a really massive variety of issues that occurred in the course of the battle, together with spokespeople appearing on behalf of the IRA when the armed battle ended and the IRA was disbanded.
“And I believe we must always all do what it takes to make sure that the wants and issues of people that have misplaced family members or skilled battle are taken under consideration.
“That is an enormous a part of the work, that is a chunk of labor that we’re doing on a regular basis, with others who do not precisely stay within the north, the place these issues are most acute.
“And on that foundation I want to see us proceed to do this work
“However all I’ll say is that very senior republicans, together with folks talking for the IRA, have apologized for this stuff earlier than and I believe that was the correct factor to do.”
