THE SINN FÉIN MP at the centre of the controversial 'Kingsmill' video has resigned after 30 years with the Party.
The west Tyrone MP featured in a now-deleted video showing him balancing a loaf of Kingsmill bread on his head posted to a social media account on the anniversary of the massacre.
Kingsmill is a well-known brand of bread in Northern Ireland and also shares a name with the south Armagh village that witnessed one of the most notorious incidents of the Trouble.
On January 5 1976, Republican gunmen stopped a van carrying textile workers on their way home, identified the Protestant occupants, lined them up at the side of the road and shot them.
Only one of the 11 men gunned down survived the attack.
McElduff announced his resignation this morning after informing the Leader of Sinn Féin Michelle O'Neill of his intention last night.
Previously, the party suspended him for tree months following widespread condemnation of the video.
This morning, he said it was with 'great sadness' he was announcing his resignation, but was doing so because of the consequences of the Twitter video.
“The deep and unnecessary hurt this video caused the families of the victims of Kingsmill is my greatest regret. I again offer my profound apology to those families and to the wider victims community," he said.
McElduff said he 'genuinely did not make the connection' between the video and the anniversary of the Kingsmill Massacre, saying: “Not for a second did I make that connection in my mind."
“Kingsmill was wrong, unjustifiable and sectarian. It should never have happened.
“There was no intended reference to Kingsmill in my tweet. But I do accept that there are many people who do not believe this to be the case.
"I accept also that this view of what happened is deeply damaging to the reconciliation process that is so important to consolidating the peace process and to healing the pain and hurt of the past," he added.
He said he cannot undo the pain caused, but continuing his role as an MP will 'compound that sense of hurt and impede any reconciliation process.'
“I am an Irish republican and believe whole heartedly in the reunification of our country and an agreed Ireland in which we heal the wounds of the past together.
“Reconciliation is essential, but that message is not being heard at this time.
“I do not wish to be a barrier to reconciliation and healing and in that spirit I again offer my sincere apologies to the survivors and families of those murdered at Kingsmill.”
Responding to his resignation, Michelle O'Neill said she respects McElduff's decision to resign and not 'be a barrier' to reconciliation.
“Barry has served Sinn Féin and been a formidable champion for the people of West Tyrone at local government, Assembly and Westminster level over the past 20 years and has done so with great commitment, energy and determination," she said.
“For this I want to personally thank Barry and his family, Paula, Niamh, Blannid and Patrick."
