Sinn Fein MP resigns after posing with bread on Kingsmill massacre anniversary
Barry McElduff insists he did not "make that connection" between his video and the 1976 massacre in which 10 people were killed.
Monday 15 January 2018 12:17, UK
A Sinn Fein MP who posed with a loaf of Kingsmill bread on his head on the anniversary of the Kingsmill massacre has resigned.
Barry McElduff stood down as MP for West Tyrone, apologising and saying he had caused "deep and unnecessary hurt" to the victims' families.
Mr McElduff posted a video on Twitter on 5 January featuring a bread brand which shares its name with the south Armagh village where gunmen shot dead 10 Protestant textile workers during the Troubles in 1976.
He was suspended by Sinn Fein on Monday and investigated by police.
Mr McElduff said in a statement: "It is with great sadness that, after more than 30 years as an active Sinn Fein member and public representative, I am tendering my resignation as MP for West Tyrone.
"The reason I am doing so is because of the consequences of the Twitter video which has caused such controversy over the last week."
He insisted the post was not meant as a reference to the killings, saying: "Had I been conscious of the connection to the terrible atrocity at Kingsmill I would certainly not have posted that tweet.
"I genuinely did not make that connection, not for a second did I make that connection in my mind.
"Kingsmill was wrong, unjustifiable and sectarian. It should never have happened."
The controversial post had further disrupted efforts to restore a power-sharing executive to the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Sinn Fein Stormont leader Michelle O'Neill said Mr McElduff had realised his continuing public service was "compounding the distress" to victims of Kingsmill.
DUP leader and former First Minister Arlene Foster said it was the "right decision".
"He was not fit for public office and should have resigned in the immediate aftermath of posting the disgraceful video mocking and insulting the horrific terrorist events at Kingsmill," she said.
"Now is the time for Sinn Fein to learn the lessons from these dark events and to deal with the fact that it, and many of its individual members, continue to publicly glorify the murderous deeds of the past.
"This needs to end if we are to build a future based on integrity and respect."