Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald has apologized for the 1979 IRA assassination of Lord Mountbatten, the uncle of the Duke of Edinburgh.
Speaking after Prince Philip’s funeral, she told Times Radio that she was sorry that Mountbatten, 79, was killed when his fishing boat was blown up by an IRA bomb.
Asked if she would be willing to apologize to Prince Charles, who viewed Mountbatten as almost a grandfather, she said: “The army and armed forces associated with Prince Charles have carried out many, many violent actions on our island.
“I can say of course I’m sorry it happened. Of course, this is heartbreaking. My job and I think Prince Charles and others would absolutely appreciate it, my job is to lead ahead, now, in these times. ”
She added: “I think all our tasks are to make sure that no other child, no other family, no matter who they are, suffers the same trauma and suffering that was too common in all parts of this island and beyond.
“I have an absolute responsibility to make sure that no family is facing this anymore and I am happy to reiterate that on the weekend when your queen buried her beloved husband.”
Mountbatten was killed while fishing on the coast of Mullaghmore, Sligo County, where he had spent his vacation in his summer home at Classiebawn Castle. His 14-year-old nephew, Nicholas Knatchbull, a crew member of 15-year-old Paul Maxwell, was also killed while on holiday in Enniskillen, and Lady Doreen Brabourne, the mother-in-law of Mountbatten’s 83-year-old daughter.
The apology is a change of tone from that of McDonald’s predecessor, Gerry Adams, who, while expressing regret for the murder, previously said Mountbatten knows the risks of traveling to Ireland. The IRA claimed that Mountbatten was a legitimate target.
Her comments come six years after Adams and Prince Charles shook hands during a historic meeting at the National University of Ireland, Galway, in 2015. Speaking afterwards, Adams stood by his comment that Mountbatten “knew the danger.”
Charles went to Mullaghmore on the same visit, where he spoke of “the anguish of such a deep loss.” He added: “By this awful experience, however, I now deeply understand the agonies endured by so many others on these islands, by any faith, denomination or political tradition.”