A Sinn Féin Cumann in Fermanagh have been called on by Unionists to change their name.

The Joe MacManus Cumann in Garrison is named after an IRA member who was shot dead in 1992 by part-time UDR soldier, Eric Glass, at a house near Belleek.

MacManus and other IRA members ambushed Mr. Glass, who was also a dog warden. Despite suffering gunshot wounds to the leg, Mr. Glass survived the attack and managed to get into the house and call for help.

Last Sunday, as part of a walk during Irish Unity Weekend, Sinn Féin MLA Jemma Dolan and members of the Cumann held up a banner with a picture of MacManus on the top of Benbulbin, Co. Sligo. The picture was posted on Ms. Dolan’s social media.

This was met with anger from DUP MLA Deborah Erskine, who tweeted: “IRA man MacManus attempted to murder Eric Glass – a dog warden & P/T solider. A SF branch in Fermanagh is named in his honour. Recognising that there was an alternative to killing innocent people would be leadership.”

This last sentence is in relation to controversial comments from Sinn Féin’s Deputy Leader and First Minister designate, Michelle O’Neill, who said earlier this month that the IRA had no alternative to violence during The Troubles.

‘Crass’

Mrs. Erskine continued: “The constant glorying [of] IRA terror is crass. SF should change the name of their branch, instead of organising tasteless photo ops.”

Kenny Donaldson, Director of Services at victims and survivors organisation, SEFF, said: “Joe McManus was legitimately shot by former UDR soldier Eric Glass after Mr. MacManus and three other Provisional IRA terrorists sought to steal his life.

“Sligo-born Joe MacManus was used by The Provisional Republican Movement, and they are continuing to use him for their own squalid revisionism.

“Joe MacManus was part of an illegal terrorist organisation who murdered men, women and children, Protestant, Roman Catholic and other; Unionist, Nationalist and other; with large swathes of these murders motivated by sectarian and ethnic hatred.

“The Provisional IRA also murdered those within their own ‘claimed community’ who stood in their way and who did not subscribe to their exclusivist ideology and outlook.”

Mr. Donaldson said Mr. Glass is a “man of honour and of integrity”, before adding: “He cared more for the life of Joe MacManus, who he was forced to eliminate or be eliminated, than those who now use the name of Joe MacManus within the name of a so-called political branch.”

When contacted by this paper over the comments about the Joe MacManus Cumann, a Sinn Féin spokesperson said: “Under the Good Friday Agreement, everyone, including Irish republicans, have the right to remember their dead with dignity and respect.

“Local activists in Garrison have named their Cumann after Joe McManus.”