Member's statement: Holocaust Memorial Day
Member's statement by Mr Andrew McMurray on .
- MLA
- Mr Andrew McMurray
- Party at the time
- Alliance Party
- Date
- 27 January 2026
- Type
- Member's statement
- Business
- Members' Statements
- Heading
- Holocaust Memorial Day
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 5344942
Read the official Assembly record
Text
I rise to speak on Holocaust Memorial Day. I think back to a city break that I took to Berlin in 2018 with my wife. I cannot remember whether a visit was something that we had planned to do or whether we just came across it as we were wandering through Berlin, but we found ourselves at the memorial to the murdered Jews of Europe beside Pariser Platz. For those who have not been, I say that it is a collection of 2,711 columns.
Every column is of the same dimensions — approximately 3 feet by 7 feet — but they range in height, starting quite low at only 8 or 9 inches off the ground. When you start to wander amongst them and look across them, while they are still quite low, the columns do not seem to be of different heights going towards the centre. There is a slight slope to the ground, however, which drops the visitor towards the centre. As you start to walk in, the columns start to get taller, and, before you know it, they are 10 to 15 feet high, towering over you. Light struggles to get in at that point, and, while the columns are of a fairly uniform grid pattern, such an oppressive feeling is created; it is like a maze to get out of. I have often reflected on that darkness; the feeling of oppression; and being unable to see a way out, whether that be up, down, left or right. I also think of the gentle slope that took me to that point and the gentle, unthinking walk that led me to the centre. Before I knew it, I was in the middle of it. I attended an event last week, hosted by Open Doors. It was very moving. I am lucky that I can attend my place of worship freely every week. I am lucky that my faith does not come with repressions such as those that others have faced. Freedom from and freedom of religion are important pillars of our liberal democracy. In the fractious world that we live in, we see systems being challenged. Let us not forget the mistakes and horrors of our past. We see an increase in Islamophobia and antisemitic behaviours across our society. Today, on Holocaust Memorial Day, I remember those who were persecuted by virtue of their faith, cultural background, disability or sexuality. I reaffirm my desire to make physical the metaphorical structures that I may never use for those who need shelter in our society. Let us never find ourselves in the middle of those columns.
436 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Assessment
Jev’s structured answers met the documented threshold for “not flagged”.
- Overall probability that the activity is being used to promote, exploit or escalate an identity-based controversy: 0.07 (flagging needs at least 0.70; at or below 0.30 is not flagged).
- None of the five culture-war criteria was met (each was below 0.60).
- The text criticises or condemns the framing or division (0.77).
- Subject area: Religion and belief (including people of no religion), churches, faith communities and religious prejudice (including antisemitism and anti-Muslim prejudice).
- The overall probability was at or below the not-flagging threshold.
This is an AI-generated assessment of the text, made against published criteria. It is not a finding of fact about the MLA or their intentions. The Assembly record itself is the fact.
Jev’s structured answers
| Question | Probability | Met? |
|---|---|---|
| Identity framing | 0.14 | No |
| Sectarian or communal antagonism | 0.02 | No |
| Cultural grievance politics | 0.07 | No |
| Dog-whistle messaging | 0.02 | No |
| Controversy escalation | 0.07 | No |
| Legitimate policy scrutiny | 0.12 | No |
| Overall judgement | 0.07 | At or below not-flagging threshold |
| Option | Probability |
|---|---|
| No identity-based framing | 0.23 |
| Reports or questions it | 0.00 |
| Criticises or condemns it (chosen) | 0.77 |
| Adopts it | 0.00 |
| Subject | Probability |
|---|---|
| Religion and belief (including people of no religion), churches, faith communities and religious prejudice (including antisemitism and anti-Muslim prejudice) | 1.00 |
| No identity-related subject | 0.00 |
| Flags, emblems, symbols, names and memorials | 0.00 |
| Parades, bonfires and commemorations | 0.00 |
| Irish language, Ulster-Scots and language policy | 0.00 |
Assessed 21 October 2026 at 01:21 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.
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