Michell O’Neill’s decision to attend the coronation of Britain’s King Charles is a ‘courageous and difficult’ move for Sinn Féin, according to Shane Coleman.

The party’s leader in the North yesterday confirmed that she had accepted an invitation to the event, noting that she is “committed to being a First Minister for all, representing the whole community, and advancing peace and reconciliation through respectful and mature engagement”.

“We are living in a time of great change,” she said.

“A time to respect our differing and equally legitimate aspirations and focus on the opportunities the next decade will bring.

“I am an Irish Republican. I also recognise there are many people on our island for whom the coronation is a hugely important occasion.”

I have accepted an invitation to attend the coronation of King Charles lll.

We are living in a time of great change. A time to respect our differing and equally legitimate aspirations, and focus on the opportunities the next decade will bring.

I am an Irish Republican. I also…

— Michelle O’Neill (@moneillsf) April 26, 2023

On Newstalk Breakfast this morning, presenter Shane Coleman praise the move – noting that it was especially difficult considering King Charles’ military connections.

“I wouldn’t underestimate how courageous and how difficult a decision it is for Sinn Féin,” he said.

“King Charles was the head of the Parachute Regiment and we know what happened at Bloody Sunday so it is hugely emotive - and understandably so - for nationalists in the North.

“So, it’s not an easy decision for Sinn Féin to make but I think it is a sign of how far we’ve come.

“It is 25 years since the Good Friday Agreement and we’ve had Martin McGuinness meeting the Queen and so on, so it is a sign of how far we’ve come.”

"Dead right"

Fellow presenter Ciara Kelly said failure to attend the coronation would have shown an Irish “inferiority complex” given the history between the two islands.

“I think she is, in fairness, dead right,” he said.

“I think it does show respect for unionism and their love of the UK and their identifying themselves as British citizens.

“Even more than that I think it shows a sense of self that we are not cowed by the UK’s pomp and ceremony – that we are on an equal footing with them as we see ourselves.

“That Irish heads of State and Irish senior political figures can go there as guests and not feel some kind of sense of inferiority complex – because that is the flipside of this, if she didn’t go, I think that would have come across as churlish, as begrudging and as displaying some sort of inferiority complex.”

Ciara said she “like probably most people in Ireland” has zero interest in the British monarchy but insisted failure to attend the ceremony would have shown “complete disrespect and some kind of a chip on the shoulder”.

Amnesty

Ms O’Neill has also faced criticism for her decision, with former Sinn Féin member and Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín saying she was wrong to accept the invite.

He noted that the British Government is soon expected to pass new laws offering British soldiers amnesty for crimes committed during the troubles and that King Charles is the former Colonel in Chief of the infamous Parachute Regiment.

He labelled the British monarchy as a head of State an anachronism that has no place in a modern society.

The President Michael D Higgins is also attending the event, making him the first Irish head of State to attend the coronation of a British monarch.