An ex-IRA gunrunner and former Sinn Fein ard comhairle member has been assaulted while saying the rosary at a Pride parade.
Gerry McGeough was punched in the face by a woman as he stood with eight men praying and holding a statute of the Virgin Mary as an LGBTQ march made its way through Cookstown on Saturday.
Mr McGeough (63) later described those parading as “glorifying the sin of sodomy” and lambasted Sinn Fein for taking part in the event.
Before punching him, the woman approaches Mr McGeough to say something before the attack.
She was arrested immediately by police who witnessed the assault.
The ultra-Catholic nationalist group, Siol na hEireann, later claimed Mr McGeough had suffered a heart attack on Sunday morning.
Footage of the incident is circulating on social media.
The PSNI said a 44-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of common assault following an incident in the James Street area of the town on Saturday. It is understood she was released pending a report to the Public Proseuction Service.
Molly Farrell of Mid Ulster Pride told The Irish News she was unaware of the incident.
“We had made it clear from the beginning that we remain peaceful and don’t engage with protesters,” she said.
“I don’t imagine it was anybody who was part of the parade.” She added that she was “very sorry to hear what happened” and that the parade itself had been a great success.
Continue reading @ Belfast Telegraph.
