Lord of the Dance
Talkback song to introduce Gerry Adams has enraged victims of IRA violence
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Talkback song to introduce Gerry Adams has enraged victims of IRA violence

MP JIM SHANNON has voiced his concern over the use of a certain song before Gerry Adams appeared on a show.

The show in question was BBC's Talkback where Gerry  Adams appeared on one segment of the programme.

Before his entrance on the show, however, Garth Brook' If Tomorrow Never Comes played to welcome him on to talk about his life and legacy now that he's retiring from the Sinn Féin party.

It was revealed Adams is a big fan of Brooks and that's the reason why the clip was used, however, Strangford MP and victims campaigner Jim Shannon has said the choice of song was inappropriate.

According to Belfast Telegraph, constituents of Shannon's area had contacted him to voice their concern about the song linked with IRA history.

Shannon said: "I think the choice of music was inappropriate, given the record of the IRA campaign, and the deaths it was responsible for.

"Tomorrow never came for the men and women of the RUC, the men and women for the UDR, of the Army, never came for the prison officers or the civilians.

"It was inappropriate and wrong - a bad choice."

Responding to criticism, the BBC gave a statement clarifying they did not mean any offence to people affected by violence carried out by the IRA.

A spokesperson for the BBC said: "Today's Talkback programme was a wide-ranging discussion on the political career of Gerry Adams on his final day as President of Sinn Fein.

"It featured contributions from invited panellists and callers and reflected differing viewpoints and insights, including his enthusiasm for the music of Garth Brooks.

"We are, of course, aware Mr Adams remains a controversial figure, which is why his connections to the IRA were scrutinised during the course of the programme. No offence was intended to anyone who was a victim of IRA violence."