McGuinness 'not recognising INLA dead'
The IRSP have accused Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness of not recognising the sacrifice of INLA volunteers who died during the Troubles.
The claim was made by party spokesperson Gerard Murray at the IRSP's national hunger strike commemoration march which was held in the city on Sunday.
The march set off from William Street and made its way to the republican socialist monument in the City Cemetery.
Speaking at the monument, Mr Murray referred to a recent speech by the Deputy First Minister in which he said the Cuchulain monument in the City Cemetery did not include names of members of the Real IRA, Continuity IRA, or INLA.
Mr Murray said: "These men are being denegrated by Martin McGuinness when he says there was no INLA names on the monument.
"He was saying they are not worthy of recognition and are on some lower level than the Provisional IRA.
"The volunteers we are here to commemorate, as well as members of the Official IRA, Real IRA, or INLA, are worthy of the highest praise.
"Lost touch"
"Martin McGuinness has denegrated the memory of these volunteers.
"He has lost touch with the republican base," he said.
Willie Gallagher also used the commemoration to call on anyone with information on the period of the 1981 hunger strike, during which ten republican prisoners died, to come forward.
Mr Murray also pledged his support for the Repubican Forum for Unity which aims to bring all anti-Agreement groups together. "Differences have come to the fore within republicanism but we need a united approach. Only unity can achieve real social change. The IRSP are pleased to support the unity initiative," he said.
At the commemoration, wreathes were laid on behalf of the INLA, the IRSP, Oglaigh na h'Eireann, the Republican Socialist Youth Movement, and the 32 County Sovereignty Movement.
Other speakers at the commemoration included Francie Mackey, from the 32 County Sovereignty Movement, Brendan Shannon, from the Republican Network for Unity, and Conor Hughes from the IRSP's youth wing. The event was chaired by Martin McMonagle of the IRSP. The commemoration ended with the National Anthem played by the Kevin Lynch band.
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Weather for Derry
Wednesday 22 May 2013
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