NI Secretary Asked To Support 'Terrorist' Memorial Bill

The Ulster Unionist Party’s Justice spokesperson Tom Elliott MLA has called on the Secretary of State Theresa Villiers to support a Private Members Bill that would prohibit the naming of publicly funded property after "terrorists".

"I am currently in the process of bringing in a Private Members Bill at Stormont which would prohibit the naming of publicly funded property after terrorists and ensure there can be no repetition of the situation which arose in Newry where the local Council voted to name a children’s playpark after an IRA terrorist," Mr Elliot said.

Following an inquiry last year, it was decided that a playground in Newry would remain named after Raymond McCreesh, a Provisional IRA hunger striker who died in the Maze Prison.

"Currently there is no legislation in place that restricts the naming of publicly funded property," he said.

"A lot of local councils have a written policy which is sometimes not adhered to, and some have no policy at all in place. We need a uniform approach across the whole of Northern Ireland.

"The proposed bill outlines that an ineligible person to name a public property after, is anyone that has been convicted and served a sentence of a certain length in Northern Ireland or anywhere else and/or has been convicted of being a member of a proscribed organisation."

Tom Elliot's announcement follows a recent interview in the Belfast Telegraph, in which the Secretary of State said she regretted not being more outspoken against the naming of the Newry Park at the time.

(IT/CD)