Aontú has announced that Michelle O’Neill, the First Minister-elect, will be attending the coronation of Britain’s King Charles “as a subject”. This high-profile event will see Ms O’Neill join 2,000 other guests from around the world at the ceremony. Despite being an Irish republican, Ms O’Neill will attend the service out of respect for those in Northern Ireland with a British identity for whom the event is of great importance. While some have criticized the decision to attend, claiming that the coronation is a waste of money and unlikely to build bridges between communities, Aontú’s Peadar Tóibín emphasized the importance of pluralism and reconciliation in creating a more inclusive society. Nevertheless, Mr Tóibín criticized King Charles for his links to the Parachute Regiment, which carried out many killings in Northern Ireland, and suggested that many people who have suffered at the hands of the British Armed Forces during the Troubles would be offended by Ms O’Neill’s attendance. Sinn Féin has yet to comment on the matter.
