Family of IRA victim ‘disgusted' at Feile tribute to Bik McFarlane – days before 50th anniversary of Bayardo pub bombing
The band Shebeen played a song written by Brendan 'Bik' McFarlane in memory of hunger striker Bobby Sands during the Falls Park gig on Sunday night.
McFarlane, who died earlier this year following a short illness, was sentenced to life in prison in 1976 for his role in the attack on the Bayardo on Aberdeen Street, in the Shankill area.
The west Belfast bombing and shooting - which took place on August 13, 1975 - killed five people and injured more than 60 others.
Linda Boyle was 17 at the time and died as a result of her injuries one week after the attack.
Speaking ahead of the bombing's 50th anniversary on Wednesday, Ms Boyle's family said they 'can barely find the words' to express their feelings about the Feile tribute to McFarlane.
He was the IRA's Officer Commanding in the Maze Prison during the 1981 hunger strikes also and escaped in a 1983 breakout, remaining on the run until his recapture in 1986. He was released in 1997.
During Shebeen's Sunday night performance, his image was projected on a large screen before a crowd of 12,000.
'It's absolutely disgusting, especially as the 50th anniversary was only a few days away and those engaged in that sick tribute knew that,' Ms Boyle's family added
'Why do some within this society continue to stoke the fires, why do they want to continue to hurt the innocent? Haven't they had their pound of flesh already?
'It's so depressing that these things happen, and it's not an isolated incident. Almost weekly we see instances of glorification of terrorism and what's done about it? Brief outrage and then people go back to their own lives and priorities but what of the innocent victims of terrorism? Where do we go?
'We rejoice in how Linda lived and the values she represented, and no-one will ever take that away from us.'
The family described Ms Boyle as 'a stylish young woman who was caring and friendly and who had a real zest for life'.
'She would now be of retirement age and would be at a point where she should be relaxing and exploring a further chapter of life, Linda's storybook was ended before she got beyond her first chapter,' they said.
'But for the years we had her, she brought blessings to our family and to the community at large, she might have just been a girl, part of the statistics to others but to our family she was extraordinary, she was so special to us and her murder destroyed so much in our family. Her murdered extinguished so much joy, never to be fully replaced'.
In a statement, which made no reference to the row, Feile an Phobail Director Kevin Gamble said: 'This year's Feile an Phobail saw the biggest Feile ever held.
'This year, representatives from all communities were welcomed to Feile to have their voice heard, both as spectators and participants.
'All political persuasions attended and participated in various panel discussions, as did representatives from minority ethnic communities, and international visitors.
"Feile an Phobail includes all opinions and provides a platform for many different views."
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