Republican street parties over the death of Margaret Thatcher branded ‘ghoulish’

PETROL bombs were thrown at police in Derry/Londonderry on Tuesday night during a ‘ghoulish’ street party following the death of Baroness Thatcher.

Scores of people gathered at Free Derry Corner on Monday after news broke that the former Prime Minister had passed away.

It has been announced that her funeral will take place next Wednesday, April 17 in St Paul’s Cathedral, London.

The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh will also attend, breaking royal protocol.

Trouble broke out in the area at around 7pm when the missiles were thrown at police.

A PSNI spokeswoman said no-one was injured and no damage was caused. Investigations are continuing into the disturbance.

Graffiti appeared on the gable wall, while lanterns were lit and cars carrying Irish tricolours were driven through the Bogside.

In west Belfast, a crowd assembled on the streets outside the Sinn Féin office in the Lower Falls on Monday night around 10 pm, where music was played and passing motorists sounded their horns.

The gatherings were arranged over social networking sites.

TUV leader Jim Allister said: “What an insight into the depravity of IRA supporters: their ghoulish street parties to celebrate the death of Mrs Thatcher.”

Stormont Junior Minister and DUP MLA Jonathan Bell has described the celebratory scenes as not only disappointing, but deeply inappropriate.

“The response from Sinn Féin and republicans to the death of our former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, whom the IRA sought to murder, was both disappointing and disgusting,” the Strangford MLA said.

“While many will differ on policy, such is the nature of the democratic process, all right thinking people will regard the carnival celebrations following Baroness Thatcher’s death deeply inappropriate. At a time of bereavement there should be human compassion for those in mourning.”

It comes amid similar events in Great Britain, including in Glasgow where more than 300 people took part in an impromptu “party” organised via Twitter.

Margaret Thatcher has been remembered as a figure who divided opinion.

The 87-year-old has long been vilified in republican circles, in particular for her handling of the IRA hunger strikes inside the Maze prison in the early 1980s.

Lady Thatcher became a top target of the IRA – and the grouping attempted to murder her in the deadly Brighton bomb blast of 1984.

Five people lost their lives when the Tory conference was targeted. Her close colleague Norman Tebbit and his wife were injured.

Paying tribute on Monday, First Minister Peter Robinson described her as one of the greatest political figures of post-war Britain, saying the country is “indebted” to her.

But Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams was scathing in his assessment and accused her of doing “great hurt to the Irish and British people during her time as British prime minister”.