Paisley asked not to attend anniversary

Victims of one of Northern Ireland's worst IRA terrorist attacks have told Stormont First minister Ian Paisley to stay away from…

Victims of one of Northern Ireland's worst IRA terrorist attacks have told Stormont First minister Ian Paisley to stay away from planned 30th anniversary commemorations of the atrocity.

Some of the survivors of the La Mon hotel bombing, which claimed the lives of 12 people in February 1978, say Mr Paisley is not welcome at the memorial service because of the DUP's decision to go into government with Sinn Fein.

It has been alleged that senior members of Sinn Fein were involved in or had knowledge of the IRA plan to target the Belfast hotel.

Billy McDowell, who was badly injured in the attack, said the DUP leader's new relationship with Sinn Fein made him feel sick.

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"Paisley should stay away from our commemoration," he told the Sunday Tribune. "He'd probably want to bring (Martin) McGuinness with him if he could. Seeing them chuckling at Stormont turns my stomach."

Mr McDowell's wife Lily also suffered extensive injuries in the La Mon bombing. The majority of those killed or injured were attending the Irish Collie club's annual dinner dance.

The club's then vice chairman Hugh McGucken said he could not stand to see the First minister at the memorial service.

"If Paisley comes to our commemoration, I'll walk out," he told the newspaper. The commemorative event is being held in Castlereagh Borough Council offices on February 17th.

It is expected that senior DUP members will be invited to attend. DUP deputy Peter Robinson was a long standing member of Castlereagh council before his recent decision to resign his seat.

His wife Iris, the chair of Stormont's health committee, is still a Castlereagh councillor.

PA