Sturgeon '˜sorry' over IRA '˜freedom fighter' Tweet

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has apologised to relatives of three Scottish soldiers murdered by the IRA in Belfast after one of her party members described the terror group as 'Irish freedom fighters'.
By The Newsroom
Published 9th Feb 2017, 21:35 BST
Updated 1st Mar 2017, 09:43 BST
Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has apologised for comments about the IRA by one of her party's MSPs.Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has apologised for comments about the IRA by one of her party's MSPs.
Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has apologised for comments about the IRA by one of her party's MSPs.

The drama unfolded after John Mason, a Scottish National Party member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP), declined to support a social media fundraising campaign for a private prosecution of the IRA suspects in the murders.

Mr Mason replied: “...you say Irish Murderers. Others say Irish freedom fighters. I support Scottish soldiers if they do good but not if they do bad”.

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He initially defended his comments but after sustained pressure from this paper for comment from Ms Sturgeon, he apologised on Tuesday.

The three murdered Scottish soldiers: from left, Dougald McCaughey, John McCaig, Joseph McCaig from the Royal Highland Fusiliers. The trio were murdered by the IRA in March 1971 in north Belfast after being lured to their deaths on the pretext of being taken to meet girls at a partyThe three murdered Scottish soldiers: from left, Dougald McCaughey, John McCaig, Joseph McCaig from the Royal Highland Fusiliers. The trio were murdered by the IRA in March 1971 in north Belfast after being lured to their deaths on the pretext of being taken to meet girls at a party
The three murdered Scottish soldiers: from left, Dougald McCaughey, John McCaig, Joseph McCaig from the Royal Highland Fusiliers. The trio were murdered by the IRA in March 1971 in north Belfast after being lured to their deaths on the pretext of being taken to meet girls at a party

However, the next day the News Letter presented an email to the soldiers’ relatives, from the SNP chief whip to Mr Mason. It said other MSPs were being quizzed on the matter by constituents and highlighted the risk of “embarrassment” to Ms Sturgeon.

Mr Kidd called Mr Mason to a meeting, and the latter issued his apology some two hours later.

But the families said the email betrayed a “political motivation” for the apology. Ms Sturgeon then sent them a written apology on Thursday.