Brexit Party candidate denies being 'insensitive' following condemnation for her past defence of IRA bombing

‘My political views have never made me insensitive to pain and suffering,’ say former revolutionary communist Claire Fox

Claire Fox with Nigel Farage (AFP/Getty Images)

A candidate for Nigel Farage’s Brexit Party has responded to criticism from the father of a schoolboy killed in an IRA bombing condemned her “absolutely disgraceful” past views about the terrorist group.

Claire Fox, now a candidate for the European Parliament, was a member of the Revolutionary Communist Party (RCP), that defended the deadly bomb attack in Warrington on 20 March, 1993.

Three-year-old Johnathan Ball was killed by the blast and Tim Parry, 12, died in his father Colin's arms five days later in Liverpool’s Walton Hospital. Another 56 were injured.

Mr Parry OBE, said Ms Fox should explain her “comments”, referring to the viewpoint published by her RCP party at the time.

He said: “What she said at that time is highly inappropriate. For somebody to come out with comments I believe she made, and being an apologist for the IRA is absolutely disgraceful. If this woman would care to explain her comments back at that time to me and my wife, I would like her to do so. She should disavow these comments if that’s her position and say, ‘I was wrong, I was foolish.’”

Ms Fox said she had “genuine feeling” for all involved in the Troubles.

“My political views have never made me insensitive to the pain and suffering caused to the innocent victims of events such as the Warrington bomb,” she said.

The Brexiteer was a leading member of the far-left party which published a newsletter in April 1993, days after the bombing, defending “the right of the Irish people to take whatever measures necessary in their struggle for freedom”.

Ms Fox is now the Brexit Party’s top candidate in the North West of England at the European elections.

If the polls are correct, she is likely to become Warrington’s MEP.

A spokesman for the Brexit Party said Ms Fox does not deny she did hold those views in the past, but they were made more than 20 years ago and she supported a peaceful solution and the Good Friday Agreement, which brought an end to the violence.

In separate statement, Ms Fox said: “I feel the greatest sympathy for the Parry family. The loss of their son was tragic and must have been terribly painful, as for all victims of violence during the Troubles. My personal politics and views are well known and I have never sought to disguise them, though on this issue they have remained unaired for many years.

“Whatever the rights and wrongs, the history of Ireland has been marked by tragedy and I acknowledge that without hesitation and with genuine feeling for all involved.

“My political views have never made me insensitive to the pain and suffering caused to the innocent victims of events such as the Warrington bomb. In fact, I have always been inspired by the humane conduct of Mr Parry in the way he responded with compassion and dignity to the tragic loss inflicted on his family.”

Warrington councillor Dan Price said Ms Fox was “totally unfit for office”.

Mr Price, one of Change UK’s candidates for the upcoming elections, said: “Since Fox’s candidacy was announced and her history has surfaced, I’ve been approached by lots of people in Warrington who are furious she could soon be representing them. I live in Warrington, I know the Parry family and I’ve seen first-hand the work their peace foundation has done.”