Masked INLA men give gun salute at grave of hunger striker Kevin Lynch
MASKED men in paramilitary uniform have given a gun salute at the grave of a hunger striker in Co Derry.
Two branches of the Irish Republican Socialist Party, the political wing of the INLA, posted photos of a masked group at the grave in Dungiven of Kevin Lynch, an INLA prisoner who died in the 1981 republican hunger strike.
The photographs show the group underneath the caption: “South Derry INLA pay respect to fallen comrade Óglach Kevin Lynch.”
It has not been confirmed when the photos were taken, but they were uploaded to social media and posted by two branches of the IRSP last week.
Mr Lynch, who was from Dungiven, died on August 1st 1981 at the age of 25 after having spent 71 days on hunger strike.
An annual commemoration has been held each year in August by the IRSP to mark Mr Lynch’s death, but the reason for the most recent gun salute is unclear.
Masked men paraded along the Falls Road in west Belfast in April as part of the IRSP’s Easter Rising commemoration march.
The IRSP could not be reached for comment yesterday.
A PSNI spokeswoman said police “were aware of the post”, but did not confirm whether an investigation was ongoing.
Last week the police arrested 15 men over a paramilitary display at the funeral of Co Tyrone dissident republican Mickey Barr.
Police were criticised for their response when similar displays were witnessed at other funerals over the last year as well as during commemorations of the Easter Rising.
Unionists expressed concern following the funeral in Bellaghy last November of Declan McGlinchey, a son of murdered INLA chief Dominic McGlinchey, and that of veteran republican Peggy O’Hara in Derry in July.
Loyalist paramilitaries also formed a guard of honour at the funeral of Colin ‘Bap’ Lindsay in Belfast in July.
