BY MARK McKELVEY

WEST Tyrone Sinn Féin MLA Barry McElduff caused uproar this week among the unionist community following comments opposing a proposed Royal Irish Regiment (RIR) homecoming parade from Afghanistan.

With appearances on the Stephen Nolan show and stories on the front pages of regional daily newspapers regarding this, Mr McElduff had to ask, "Is anyone surprised that Sinn Féin, the Irish Republican political party is opposed to a welcome home parade for the British army in Ireland?" when speaking to the UH this week.

He said any such parade would be an insult to Nationalists, stating, "The British army is not our army; it is an army of occupation with a brutal track record in Ireland, Afghanistan and Iraq to name but a few of its little 'international adventures'. Any parade would be an affront to Irish Nationalists and Republicans and would attempt to legitimise the illegal decision to invade Afghanistan."

West Tyrone DUP MLA Allan Bresland described these comments as "petty narrow minded anti British bigotry" and an insult to the service men and woman from this area that are currently risking their lives in Afghanistan.

Mr Bresland said, "The reality is that many soldiers both Protestant and Roman Catholic have been serving together in the RIR in both Iraq and Afghanistan in order to uphold democracy and prevent terrorism.

"These young men and women have been serving in a war zone and cheap political point scoring by Sinn Féin in West Tyrone is totally unacceptable.

"Many young men and women from West Tyrone are serving overseas with the RIR and such comments are an insult to these young men and women and to their families who anxiously await there safe return home.

"I fully support a homecoming parade in Belfast; I would also urge such a parade to take place in Omagh, the county town of Tyrone. The town of Omagh has been associated with the army for many generations and I would urge Omagh District Council to invite the RIR to the town."

Chairman of the Mid Ulster Young Unionists, Ryan Moses gave a sarcastic welcome to Mr McElduff's comments as he says they have done more to ensure that people will attend the parade, than any amount of advertising could have done.

He continued, "To say that a home-coming parade would be "provocative and dangerous" when Mr McElduff attended a Republican/IRA parade in Galbally and talked about ways to "erasing partition", is highly hypocritical. There can be no comparison between a home coming parade to honour our War Heroes and a parade to remember republicans or members of the IRA who were no more than "hide and go seek" terrorists that have never been in a War."

Mr McElduff makes no apology for his "partisan" position stressing he will not be conditioned into ever supporting any British army presence in Ireland.

He said, "I don't come at this as a neutral. I am partisan and support Ireland's right to self-determination. I am not a pacifist but I am totally opposed to the British army in Ireland.

"There is a type of false nostalgia coming out of the pages of the Newsletter everyday outlining the latest from Afghanistan, trying to condition the people into thinking a particular way. I can say now I will not be conditioned by unionist politicians or the newsletter paper into accepting the British army in Ireland.

"As I leaf through the pages of books outlining the British army involvement in Ireland, there are examples jumping out at me of people killed in Ireland by the British army, including Aidan McAnespie, members of the IRA and civilians. Every page includes a reason for me to oppose a British army welcome home parade in Ireland."