There has been widespread condemnation from across the entire community and across the political divide following the circulation of a video of a group singing lyrics mocking the murder of Tyrone teacher Michaela McAreavey née Harte.
Mrs. McAreavey, the daughter of Gaelic football manager Mickey Harte was murdered while on honeymoon in Mauritius in 2011.
The video which began circulating on social media last Friday shows a group gathered at what appears to be a party singing in unison about the death of Mrs. McAreavey. The PSNI, Orange Order, and several organisations including sports clubs and businesses are conducting investigations into the video and those who appeared in it.
Tweeting in the early hours of Friday morning in reference to video footage, Fermanagh South Tyrone MP, Michelle Gildernew said: “Thank you to everyone who reported this to me tonight.
“A beautiful young woman was murdered on honeymoon and this is how loyalists 'celebrate' the Queen’s jubilee.
“I have reported this to the PSNI and will be taking further action.”
Mrs. Gildernew continued her call for the PSNI to take action while appearing on BBC Radio Ulster. Mrs Gildernew said: “Unless the PSNI take steps to deal with this, then sectarianism and bigotry like this will continue to happen, generation after generation.”
Mrs. Gildernew expressed similar disbelief to many others from across all communities in Northern Ireland when she said: “Nobody was calling it out, nobody was saying ‘stop that’. The level of acceptance is what saddens me the most…”
She added: “I accept that not everybody thinks like that - of course I do - I know that many unionists are absolutely horrified, but the problem is there are too many people for whom there is a level of tolerance for this kind of behaviour.”
Also speaking on radio last week was UUP MLA Tom Elliott, who is himself a member of the Orange Order who reiterated condemnation as issued from the UUP and from the Orange Order and said: “It was disgusting to hear it [the video]; it puts a new low in your life when you hear it particularly in relation to an innocent person who was murdered.”
Mr. Elliott added: “I think if they are members of the Orange Order there will be very, very severe repercussions, and disciplinary action taken. I have no doubt the Orange Order will do that in their own proper manner and through their own proper channels.”
Thus far, three members of the Orange Order have resigned from the organisation as a result of their involvement with the video.
Deborah Erskine, DUP MLA for Fermanagh South Tyrone posted a statement on social media and said: “Thinking of the Harte and McAreavey families. I can’t bring myself to watch such a video. Reading the reports have made me sick to the stomach. It’s disgusting and shameful. Those responsible should be totally and utterly ashamed. I welcome that the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland have called this shameful behaviour out.”
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