‘President is right not to attend event to mark the disaster of partition’ says party leader

Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín has said that President Michael D Higgins has made the right decision not to attend the event scheduled in Armagh City to mark the centenary of the partition of Ireland.

“There isn’t a president in the world that would attend an event to mark, commemorate or celebrate the partition of his or her country,” An Teachta Tóibín said.

“The partition of Ireland has been a disaster.

“It set in train decades of 2nd class citizenship for the Catholic, Nationalist population.

“It institutionalised discrimination and state violence and it sundered thousands of townlands and communities across the norther half of this island.

“It significantly arrested the social and economic development of Ireland and it has seen the loss of thousands of lives”.

“Brexit has shown in flashing neon lights that there is a massive cost to Ireland’s of having a Tory party in London, with no interest or knowledge of this country, determining our future as an island.

“By all means we need to foster positive healthy relationships with our neighbours but there is nothing healthy in commemorating something that has been so destructive to the Irish people”.