THE NEW BRITISH Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell has apologised for remarks he made about the IRA more than 10 years ago.
Appearing on BBC’s Question Time last night, he said, “If I gave offence, and I clearly have, from the bottom of my heart I apologise, I apologise.”
In 2003, speaking at an event commemorating hunger striker Bobby Sands, he said that he thought that IRA members should be “honoured”.
He said that he “accepts it was a mistake to use those words”, but that he had done so with the intention of facilitating the peace process in Northern Ireland.
Since being appointed by new Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn, McDonnell has intense criticism over his comments.
He went on to add:
If it contributed to saving one life, or preventing someone else being maimed, it was worth doing because we did hold on to the peace process.
Last night he also apologised for joking in 2010 that he would go back in time and assassinate Margaret Thatcher if he could.
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