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13/02/2015
Newry & Mourne Council Votes To Retain IRA Playpark Name
Newry & Mourne Council has voted to retain the naming of a children's playpark after an IRA hunger striker.
Raymond McCreesh Park will continue to be called so, despite advice from the Equality Commission that it should reconsider.
The park in Newry's Patrick Street was named after the republican prisoner in 2001. Councillors voted this week to retain the name 15 to four. Sinn Féin councillors made the majority, with two independent councillors also voting in favour. One SDLP councillor abstained.
Raymond McCreesh died on hunger strike in the Maze Prison in 1981. His convictions included attempted murder, conspiracy to murder, possession of firearms with intent to endanger life and IRA membership.
Ulster Unionist Councillor David Taylor said: "The decision only serves to further compound the pain experienced by victims of Republican violence who had already endured many years of anguish and pain as a consequence of losing their loved ones to the evil actions of Republican terrorism.
"The proposal to proceed with such an insensitive decision will cause further trauma to the Protestant/Unionist community locally who bore the brunt of the despicable actions of the bigots of the Provisional IRA during the darkest periods of The Troubles.
"The SDLP were once again exposed. They were only represented by one member out of nine at the meeting. The absence of so many of their Council grouping demonstrates their abject failure to honour a commitment given by their Party Leader Alasdair McDonnell to support the removal of Raymond McCreesh Park."
(IT/JP)
Raymond McCreesh Park will continue to be called so, despite advice from the Equality Commission that it should reconsider.
The park in Newry's Patrick Street was named after the republican prisoner in 2001. Councillors voted this week to retain the name 15 to four. Sinn Féin councillors made the majority, with two independent councillors also voting in favour. One SDLP councillor abstained.
Raymond McCreesh died on hunger strike in the Maze Prison in 1981. His convictions included attempted murder, conspiracy to murder, possession of firearms with intent to endanger life and IRA membership.
Ulster Unionist Councillor David Taylor said: "The decision only serves to further compound the pain experienced by victims of Republican violence who had already endured many years of anguish and pain as a consequence of losing their loved ones to the evil actions of Republican terrorism.
"The proposal to proceed with such an insensitive decision will cause further trauma to the Protestant/Unionist community locally who bore the brunt of the despicable actions of the bigots of the Provisional IRA during the darkest periods of The Troubles.
"The SDLP were once again exposed. They were only represented by one member out of nine at the meeting. The absence of so many of their Council grouping demonstrates their abject failure to honour a commitment given by their Party Leader Alasdair McDonnell to support the removal of Raymond McCreesh Park."
(IT/JP)
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