The republican MP posted a video to his Twitter account on Friday.
Sinn Féin MP Barry McElduff has incurred a three-month suspension from the party in the wake of a controversy generating from a video he posted on social media on Friday.
The video consisted of McElduff in a newsagent with a sliced pan of Kingsmill bread, a well-known brand in Northern Ireland, on his head.
The brand of bread shares a name with the village in south Armagh which, back in 1976, witnessed one of the more shocking incidents of the Troubles, when 11 Protestant workers were lined up and shot while on their way home from work.
McElduff posted the video on Friday, the 42nd anniversary of the Kingsmill attack.
He swiftly removed it and apologised for the video’s contents upon realising his mistake.
The MP has been the subject of abuse since the video was posted, with the families of those murdered, as well as the one man who survived the attack, announcing that they haven’t accepted his apology.
Sinn Féin announced on Monday afternoon that the party have suspended McElduff for three months following claims that he appeared to mock the Kingsmill victims.
Statement from Barry McElduff MP @BarryMcElduff https://t.co/inEzdDiahG pic.twitter.com/jFDTcNtLY5
— Sinn Féin (@sinnfeinireland) January 8, 2018
The Tyrone-native has since made an official apology, which has been published on the party’s website:
“Although I genuinely meant no offence, I accept that my actions were ill-judged and, while unintended, caused deep and unnecessary hurt and pain to the Kingsmill families.
“I apologise unreservedly for this. In recognising the serious consequences of my actions, I fully accept the party’s decision to suspend me from all party activity for a period of three months.”
McElduff has also responded to claims of insensitivity on Twitter, apologising profusely for his actions, and expressing his willingness to meet the victims’ families to apologise further.
Have deleted video post. Had not realised or imagined for a second any possible link between product brand name and Kingsmill Anniversary.
— Barry McElduff (@BarryMcElduff) January 6, 2018
Further, I apologise for any hurt or offence caused. Never my intention to offend anyone who has suffered grievously.
— Barry McElduff (@BarryMcElduff) January 6, 2018
Mindful of unintended hurt caused to victims' families I would be very willing to meet with Kingsmill Massacre families if they were willing
— Barry McElduff (@BarryMcElduff) January 6, 2018
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