Member's statement: European Remembrance Day for Victims of Terrorism
Member's statement by Mr Jonathan Buckley on .
- MLA
- Mr Jonathan Buckley
- Party at the time
- Democratic Unionist Party
- Date
- 9 March 2026
- Type
- Member's statement
- Business
- Members' Statements
- Heading
- European Remembrance Day for Victims of Terrorism
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 5452847
Read the official Assembly record
Text
This week, we will mark European Remembrance Day for Victims of Terrorism. Any Member who took the time to be in the Senate Chamber in the past two hours heard at first hand the carnage, hurt and destruction that terrorism has wreaked on so many lives in Northern Ireland and further afield. Regardless of paramilitary affiliation, terrorism has caused a stain on our society and broken the heart of many families. It is a day to remember those whose lives were cruelly taken by acts of terror and to reflect on the duty that we share to support innocent victims and stand firmly against those who seek to impose their will through violence. Terrorism leaves a trail of destruction. For my constituency, today's date carries particular, solemn significance. Seventeen years ago, on 9 March 2009, Constable Stephen Carroll was murdered by republican terrorists whilst responding to an emergency call in Lurgan. Constable Carroll served in the Police Service of Northern Ireland, carrying on his proud legacy of service with the Royal Ulster Constabulary. He was a dedicated officer and a husband and father. He put on the uniform to protect the public and uphold the rule of law. Instead of returning home to his family that evening, he was brutally taken by those who sought to drag Northern Ireland back to darker days. I remember that killing, as do so many people of my age: a constable — a police officer — who had served so well, taken in the prime of his life. It shocked the community and was a stark reminder that those who are intent on carrying out political violence still exist in Northern Ireland. Today, in my constituency, we remember another local man who lost his life while serving others. Lance Corporal Stephen McKee, from Banbridge, a soldier with the First Battalion of the Royal Irish Regiment, was killed in Afghanistan on 9 March 2011. Like Constable Carroll, he was serving with courage and dedication when his life was taken by cowardly terrorists. Both men served others, both men represented the best of our community and both their families paid the highest price. As we mark the day of remembrance, we must honour the memory of all victims of terrorism.
374 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: 0.14 (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).
- No identity-based framing was identified (0.66).
- Subject area: Legacy of the Troubles, victims and paramilitarism.
- 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 | 0.11 | No |
| Sectarian or communal antagonism | 0.06 | No |
| Cultural grievance politics | 0.03 | No |
| Dog-whistle messaging | 0.08 | No |
| Controversy escalation | 0.10 | No |
| Legitimate policy scrutiny | 0.06 | No |
| Overall judgement | 0.14 | At or below not-flagging threshold |
| Option | Probability |
|---|---|
| No identity-based framing (chosen) | 0.66 |
| Reports or questions it | 0.00 |
| Criticises or condemns it | 0.32 |
| Adopts it | 0.02 |
| Subject | Probability |
|---|---|
| Legacy of the Troubles, victims and paramilitarism | 0.96 |
| Sectarianism, hate crime and community relations | 0.04 |
| No identity-related subject | 0.00 |
| Flags, emblems, symbols, names and memorials | 0.00 |
| Parades, bonfires and commemorations | 0.00 |
Assessed 21 October 2026 at 15:03 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.
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