Politicians clash as courtroom symbols remain

A row over symbols has erupted between nationalist and unionist politicians, centred on a government proposal to keep in place Royal coats of arms in Northern Ireland court buildings.

The proposals, currently going through the House of Commons, allow for the Royal coat of arms to remain where they have "architectural measures" and for new courthouses to be built with crests. The provisions also allow for the flying of the Union Flags on certain designated days.

Nationalist politicians have reacted angrily to the news, with SDLP leader and Deputy First Minister Mark Durkin saying: "The Criminal Justice Review explicitly recommended that in order to create an environment where everybody can feel comfortable the interior of courthouses should be free of any symbols. It was also clear that there should be no symbols on the exterior of new courthouses."

He continued: "We are angry that the British Government is now proposing to undermine fundamentally even the modest recommendations of the Criminal Justice Review."

However, unionist politicians welcomed the plans. Jeffrey Donaldson MP pointed out that as Northern Ireland is constitutionally part of the United Kingdom it is "only right" that the symbols of the British state should be respected.

Unionists, who have bitterly opposed the removal of Crown symbols from courts as "an attack on Britishness", described these latest moves as a "significant victory."

The Criminal Justice Review, set up as part of the Good Friday Agreement, had recommended more than 300 changes to the way the law operates in Northern Ireland. It included a plan to reduce the role of the Crown in the justice system.

(GB)