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'I'M SPEECHLESS'
Devastated widow of soldier killed in IRA blast slams ‘horrible and insensitive’ Extinction Rebellion Cenotaph protest
THE devastated widow of a soldier killed in an IRA blast has slammed Extinction Rebellion protestors for hijacking the Cenotaph.
Distraught Dianne Rose branded veteran Donald Bell – who served with her late husband – “horrible and insensitive” for his Armistice Day stunt.
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Bell, 64, was seriously injured by an explosion in Northern Ireland which killed Diane’s husband, Vernon, and left fellow soldier John Charles Simpson dead in 1974.
Bell staged a climate change protest with NHS nurse Anne White, 53, who is also a Buddhist monk, yesterday placing a banner that read: "Honour Their Sacrifice, Climate Change Means War" next to the Cenotaph.
Heartbroken Mrs Rose, now 74, told The Sun: “I just can't believe what this man did - today of all days, Remembrance Day which is so special for anyone who has lost someone who was in the services.”
Five other soldiers, two civilian workers and a policeman were also hurt in the explosion at Stewartstown, County Tyrone more than 40 years ago.
“I'm speechless, I really am,” Mrs Rose added.
'HORRIBLE AND INSENSITIVE'
“What a horrible and insensitive man. What makes it worse is that he was in the Army himself.
"He was there the day Vernon and his bodyguard John were killed.”
"It just doesn't make any sense. Why protest at the Cenotaph? It has nothing to do with climate change.
"It's there to remember military personnel who have lost their lives and it shouldn't be hijacked.”
The Prime Minister’s spokesman said the timing of the protest was “profoundly disrespectful”.
The head of the Metropolitan Police, Dame Cressida Dick has ordered a review of how the incident was policed, saying the short protest was “clearly very offensive to many people”
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The stunt sparked widespread fury from civilians and service personnel alike.
Victoria Cross holder Johnson Beharry - who won Britain’s highest gallantry medal for saving soldiers’ lives in Iraq - said the XR protestors had "disrespected his fallen comrades".
"If we hadn't sacrificed our lives they would not be able to go and protest today. They should remember that," he fumed.
“They are disrespecting our fallen,” he added.
"There is a time and a place for everything. Yes, they have a campaign and a reason to protest.
'DISRESPECTING THE FALLEN'
"But I would not have chosen a day like today, which is actually Remembrance Day to disrespect our fallen like that.”
George Cross holder Chris Finney, 36, who hauled his wounded mates out of a burning vehicle in Iraq, said: “It is terrible they are hijacking remembrance. It just undermines what they are about.”
“I totally agree we need to do something about climate change, but it looked to me like they were clambering over wreaths. That is just going to make people turn away from them.”
And former Para Dan Jarvis, who is now the mayor of Sheffield, slammed the protest as a “misguided and disrespectful stunt”.
“Remembrance is a solemn moment to reflect on the past and the sacrifice made by those who fought and died to protect the Britain we live in today,” he said.
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“This will do nothing to advance efforts to tackle the greatest challenge we face, climate change.”
Major Gen Jonathan Shaw, a former commander of British forces in Iraq, added the protest was “deeply regrettable”.
“Climate change is the crisis of our age. The cause is a very good one but the way they are going about it will alienate people. It’s inappropriate, it’s stupid,” he said.
Shadow defence secretary John Healy, said of the protest: “Armistice Day is a sacred day of Remembrance, and the Cenotaph is our focus for national commemoration.
“Climate change is important, but nobody should seek to hijack the memory of those who gave their lives for our freedoms.”
'INAPPROPRIATE AND STUPID'
Veterans minister Johnny Mercer tweeted: "Climate change matters, but the Cenotaph on Armistice day should be about one thing only - showing our respect for the sacrifice of the fallen who died to protect our freedoms today."
A Royal British Legion spokesman said: "War memorials and graves honour the memory of every member of the Armed Forces who has made the ultimate sacrifice and deserve to be treated with the utmost respect.
“While we respect the right of others to express their opinions within the law, we believe the Poppy Appeal is a time for remembrance, and not for political protest."
Major General Richard Barrons, a former joint chief of the armed forces, urged the protestors to respect the military's sacrifice.
"It is a good thing if organisations like Extinction Rebellion recognise the sacrifice made over centuries by our Armed Forces.
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If they protest in a way that is disrespectful for the many people for whom this is a vital act of remembrance then I think they have made a mistake."
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The Cenotaph was unveiled on Armistice Day 1920. The Unknown Warrior’s coffin was drawn past on a gun carriage, escorted by most senior military men in the land.
The procession paused at the newly unveiled Cenotaph for a two minute silence and King George V laid a wreath on the coffin before it finished its journey to the Abbey.
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British Armed Forces veteran Donald Bell explains why he took part in Extinction Rebellion's hijack protest at the Cenotaph on Remembrance Day
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