Facebook probes page ‘glorifying’ IRA murders

Facebook probes page ‘glorifying’ IRA murders

15 January 2020

FACEBOOK has confirmed that it is investigating a page which “glorified” the IRA murder of three UDR soldiers at Burrenbridge near Castlewellan in January 1980.

One of the three soldiers who died when a landmine containing one ton of explosive material was detonated was Private James Cochrane, from Downpatrick.

The other soldiers who died when two Land Rovers got caught up in the blast were Private Richard Wilson, from Newcastle, and Private Roy Smith from Comber. Four other UDR soldiers were injured in the terrorist attack.

On Monday of last week, a poppy memorial at the site where the soldiers lost their lives 40 years ago was destroyed. Police say two tyres were placed on wooden memorial boxes and set on fire.

On the same day, ‘South Down Unrepentant Republican’ posted a tribute on Facebook to the IRA men behind the Burrenbridge attack.

It praised those involved calling the killings a “striking blow of resistance against Britain’s military presence in Ireland”.

Slieve Croob UUP councillor Alan Lewis has condemned those responsible for destroying the memorial and contacted the PSNI and Facebook after seeing the social media post.

He said that social media sites needed to do more to tackle the spreading of hate speech on their platforms.

Cllr Lewis said: “There is free speech and then there is misuse of telecommunications for the purpose of promoting hate, sectarianism and terrorism.

“I’m no snowflake; I don’t offend easily but most of the posts on this page go beyond public decency and in some cases they openly promote terrorism.”

Cllr Lewis said that while the page had been temporarily removed by Facebook after reports by members of the public, it has since returned.

He declared: “It is time Facebook and the PSNI took action to ensure this page was permanently d.

“Facebook are quick to remove what they call right wing extremist pages and associated posts and fast to act when they believe users are intentionally causing offence. However, when it comes to Northern Ireland there seems to be an abdication of responsibility; a blind eye is turned to the promotion and encouragement of terrorist activity.”

Cllr Lewis described the social media post in relation to the murder of the three UDR soldiers as

“grotesque to the point of disgusting” and said he finds it “unbelievable” that there remain some within society who would take “pleasure in death and abhorrent triumphalism”.

He said that “every adult who likes, comments and shares posts which glorify acts of violence should be utterly ashamed of themselves” and called on police to identify those behind the South Down Unrepentant Republican page and take action.

Cllr Lewis added: “This page must be removed immediately”.

Police have confirmed that they are investigating the incident at Burrenbridge and are treating it as a hate crime. 

They have also issued an appeal for help and are keen to hear from anyone who can assist them with their enquiries to get in touch using the non-emergency 101 number, quoting reference number CCS 558 of 10/01/20, or use use the confidential Crimestoppers number, 0800 555111.

A Facebook spokesperson has confirmed that the company was “looking into” the South Down Unrepentant Republican page.