Sunday, October 16, 2011

CoI Bishop of Derry & Raphoe condemns intimidation of Presbyterian Minister

The Church of Ireland Bishop of Derry and Raphoe has condemned graffiti written on a wall in Derry City threatening a Presbyterian clergyman who spoke at a Sinn Féin Árd Fheis recently.   

The graffiti daubed on walls in The Fountain area of Derry City, was written about Presbyterian Minister Rev David Lattimer who made history last month when he spoke at a Sinn Féin Árd Fheis in Belfast, becoming the first Protestant clergyman to do so. 

Speaking at the Árd Fheis, Rev Lattimer praised Northern Ireland's Deputy First Minister and Sinn Féin Deputy Leader Martin McGuinness's role in the Northern Ireland Peace Process.  He also described Mr McGuiness as,  “a great leader in modern times.” 

However Rev Lattimer was heavily criticised by some Unionist politicians for attending the Árd Fheis.

Condemning the attack on Rev Lattimer, Bishop Ken Good condemned those responsible. He said, “In Northern Ireland we have witnessed and endured too many times when intimidation has been used as an insidious means of dealing with internal disagreement within a community.” 

“Cowardly and anonymous words, specifically intended to intimidate and undermine other people, have done great damage, not only to those directly concerned but to us all.  When differences of viewpoint exist within a community, maturity and civility requires of us that we express our disagreement in ways that are not destructive either to person or property.”

The graffiti attack on Rev Lattimer has also been condemned by a number of members of Sinn Féin.

Rev Lattimer had become friends with McGuiness, who is currently a candidate for the Presidency, through community work in Derry City. 

Recently Mr McGuiness, a Roman Catholic, attended the rededication of Rev Lattimer's Church in Derry.