A senior Ulster Unionist Party member was today accused of inconsistency after he condemned Sinn Féin for the sale of pro-IRA merchandise on its new website.
Mr David McNarry protested to the Chief Constable Hugh Orde yesterday about the website after its launch by Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams.
However, he was accused today by a Democratic Unionist rival in Strangford of "talking tough but acting weak" on republicans.
Newtownards Alderman Mr George Ennis said he was astonished Mr McNarry had called for the removal of the website yet supported the UUP's participation in government with Sinn Féin while the IRA was active.
"I am utterly confounded at David McNarry's inconsistency," he said. "T-shirts sold on the Sinn Fein website bearing logos like 'Sniper at Work' and 'IRA - Undefeated Army' are reprehensible and ought to be removed but David and his party shared political power with Sinn Féin at a time when its cohorts in the IRA were actually carrying out some of the acts that this merchandise glorifies.
"It is obvious that Mr McNarry and the UUP occupy a topsy turvy world where they talk tough but act weak," Mr Ennis added.
Mr McNarry revealed he had alerted the US Consulate in Belfast to the merchandise, which was sold on a link to the Sinn Féin bookshop.
PA