There are days when you see or hear something and you are completely happy with it, no ifs or buts. I had that sensation a day or two back when I read that Barry McElduff was one of the Sinn Féin candidates selected to run in the elections next year for Fermanagh and Omagh district council.
Why does that please me so much? I think you know, but I’ll tell you anyway.
Barry resigned from Sinn Féin after the most vicious mainstream and social media attacks. His crime? He appeared on a grainy video with a loaf of bread on his head a few minutes after midnight. His enemies, seeing an opportunity, piled on. And Barry resigned.
The reason given was that the loaf was a Kingsmill loaf (you’ve probably got them in your local shop – to be honest, I wouldn’t have been aware Kingsmill was a bread brand, although you might) and because it was after midnight, it was the anniversary of the Kingsmill massacre.
But was Barry’s action deliberately provocative? I feel certain it wasn’t. Firstly, because I know Barry. I have seen him interact with unionist people and politicians in the Omagh district, and I’ve seen him interact with unionist politicians in Stormont. His manner was always warm, playful and respectful. Why would he suddenly decide to mock the victims of Kingsmill?
Secondly, few politicians have a death wish, and I’m sure that includes Barry. Do you think Barry deliberately decided to rub salt in the wounds of the loved ones of those who died at Kingsmill? And have it videotaped? Barry McElduff is an astute person, and he would know how his political enemies would react – and they’d be entitled to react as they did, if he deliberately was mocking Troubles victims. But because of his record of reconciliation with unionists and because he isn’t someone who’d wilfully end his own political career, I believe his loaf-on-head jape was totally free of malice.
Some people (mainly city people) don’t like Barry’s antics, and for that reason said “Good riddance”. Other people (mainly non-city people, and I’d include myself in that number) found his antics most of the time very funny. And I’d wonder what sort of world we live in when you’re penalized for your sense of humour.
The truth is – and those wished him ill know this – his political enemies saw a chance to hound him out of his position as an MLA, and howled to the high heavens until he resigned.
I am delighted to see his return, if only at a local level. Having been subjected to similar mainstream and social media frenzies, I sympathise with the injustice he experienced.
Adh mor ort, Barry – Good luck in those elections.
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