Republican Sinn Féin hold Easter commemorations across County Derry

Republican Sinn Féin laid numerous wreaths at Republican graves in County Derry and the city over the Easter weekend.

On Saturday, party representatives attended The Loup, where Mickey McGonigle laid a wreath at the grave of Sean Larkin.

Wreaths were also laid in Bellaghy on Saturday evening at the graves of Francis Hughes and Thomas McElwee, Dominic and Mary McGlinchey's grave and also the grave of their son Declan McGlinchey.

On Sunday morning, numerous wreaths were laid at graves in St Patrick's Chapel, Dungiven.

Thomas Kealey laid a wreath at the O'Carolan and Kilmartin grave while Mick Kelly laid a wreath at the grave of Thomas Toner.

A wreath was laid on the grave of Kevin Lynch, who died on hunger strike, by his sister Bridie Lynch.

A wreath was also laid on the grave of Vol. James Kealey by Jim Farren, who was accompanied by James' brother Thomas Kealey.

Later on Sunday, Republican Sinn Féin members travelled to Derry where wreaths were laid at the monument in the city cemetery and at the grave of Sean Keenan.

During the commemoration, the proclamation was read by Saoirse McElhinney, from Letterkenny, and a decade of the rosary was recited by Hester McElhinney.

The Easter statement was read by Martin Kelly, from Omagh, while the oration was delivered by Ciaran Dolan.

Before ending proceedings by singing Amhrán na bhFiann, Republican Sinn Féin's honorary vice president, Mickey McGonigle spoke to those assembled.

During his speech, the Republican Sinn Féin man was critical of First Minister Michelle O'Neill.

Speaking about the Sinn Féin vice president, Mr McGonigle said he did not agree with her stance on 'recognising the King and Queen of England'.

He also hit out at Michelle O'Neill for her attendance a PSNI passing out ceremony in February and also for 'standing for God Save the King' at Windsor Park in the same month.

Mr McGonigle said: “I listened to Michelle O'Neill talking on tv some time ago calling herself an Irish republican. She's no Irish republican when she did all that.”

The Republican Sinn Féin man continued by calling on all republican families to ban Sinn Féin from holding commemorations at the graves of republicans in the future because 'they are not entitled to be there'.

Mr McGonigle concluded his speech by referring to Sinn Féin as 'the same type of republican party as Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil at Leinster House'.