Loyalist protection money
The Northern Ireland Office (NIO) is funding protection
measures for UDP and PUP members but has consistently
refused similar funds to Sinn Féin.
In recent years 14 Sinn Fein members as well as family
members have been killed, Sinn Fein offices have been
bombed, shot at and had rockets fired at them, private
houses and cars have also been attacked. In recent weeks two
republicans could have been murdered as a result of
under-car bombs.
Despite this very obvious risk which Sinn Féin members and
their families face, the British government refuses to
provide them with the resources to protect themselves.
North Belfast Sinn Féin councillor Bobby Lavery, whose son
Sean (21) was murdered during a UDA gun attack on the family
home on the Antrim Road, Belfast on 8 August 1993, hit out
at ``the double standards being applied by the NIO in
relation to the allocation of money for protection to
political parties.'' He added, ``Sinn Féin will be seeking
legal advice on this clear application of double standards
by the British government''.