Colum Eastwood, SDLP, criticato per partecipazione al funerale di Seamus “Chang” Coyle
MLA criticised for attending paramilitary style funeral
FOYLE SDLP MLA, Colum Eastwood has been criticised for his attendance at a funeral at which a masked gunman unleased a volley of shots.
Police in Londonderry have confirmed they are investigating an incident involving three masked men in the city on Tuesday morning (April 17).
The gunmen were initially believed to be members of the INLA, but it later emerged that members of the ‘Real IRA’ were responsible for the incident in which up to a dozen shots were fired over the coffin of former INLA and Official IRA member, Seamus Coyle.
The masked men appeared in the Rosemount Gardens area before his burial at the City Cemetery.
A statement from the PSNI said: “Police have received reports of shots being fired in the Rosemount area and are investigating.”
The INLA announced they had decommissioned their weapons arsenal in February, 2010 and IRSP leader, Willie Gallagher said INLA members were not involved in the firing of the shots.
Mr Gallagher, who attended the funeral, said the firing party came from “the IRA”, and it is understood they were members of the ‘Real IRA’.
TUV leader, Jim Allister said he was ‘astounded’ by Mr Eastwood’s participation at the funeral, at which the coffin was also flanked by an IRSP colour party.
In response, Mr Eastwood said that, while he and Mr Coyle disagreed on many issues, he was nevertheless a friend and he attended the funeral to pay his respects in that capacity.
Foyle SDLP MP, Mark Durkan today (Friday) told BBC Radio Foyle that Mr Eastwood was not present when the shots were fired.
