Investigation Into Playpark Named After IRA Man

The Equality Commission is conducting an investigation into a children's play park in Newry which was named after an IRA hunger striker.

Raymond McCreesh Park was named in 2001, but the local council voted to retain the name last December.

A report has linked McCreesh to the 1976 Kingsmills Massacre, in which the IRA murdered 10 Protestant men.

The Historical Enquiries Team said McCreesh was found with one of the guns that had been used in the massacre, when he was arrested on another IRA operation.

Unionists on Newry and Mourne District Council have objected to the name, but Sinn Féin and the SDLP voted to keep it.

Now the Equality Commission will consider whether the council has failed to comply with commitments made in its Equality Scheme.

Under paragraph 11 of Schedule 9 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 the Equality Commission is empowered to conduct an investigation where it believes that a public authority may have failed to comply with its approved Equality Scheme.

In a statement, the Commission said: "After consideration by its Statutory Duties Investigation Committee, the Commission is satisfied that it would be appropriate to have a belief that such a failure may have occurred in this instance. This is not a determination of whether or not such a failure has in fact occurred.

"The Equality Commission will not be commenting further upon the facts or issues involved in this case until the investigation is complete."

Section 75 of the NI Act 1998 requires public authorities to promote equality of opportunity between persons of different religious belief, political opinion, racial group, age, marital status, or sexual orientation.

Public authorities are also required to have regard to the desirability of promoting good relations between people of different religious belief, political opinion or racial group.

Ulster Unionist MLA Danny Kennedy welcomed the news.

"There is no doubt in my mind that the decision taken by the Sinn Féin and SDLP councillors in December to formally approve the naming of a children’s playpark after the IRA hunger-striker Raymond McCreesh, was deeply flawed, caused great offence and damaged community relations.  

"I said at the time that I honestly could not think of anyone less deserving of commemoration in any shape or form – let alone a children’s playpark - than Raymond McCreesh, and that those who voted for this should hang their heads in shame."

(IT/GK)