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17/08/2021
BCC Leader Questions Funding Of West Belfast Festival Over 'Pro-IRA Singing'
The DUP leader of Belfast City Council has questioned the funding of West Belfast Festival over alleged "pro-IRA singing" at one of their events.
Councillor Ald Brian Kingston raised the issued after it was alleged that the crowed at a concert at the Festival chanted "ooh ah up the Ra".
Ald Kingston said: "The PIRA murdered and maimed thousands of people in Northern Ireland. For concert goers to celebrate the PIRA is sickening. If public funding was used to pay for such a concert then it should be recouped immediately.
"Belfast City Council stands for inclusiveness and a shared future. If people wish to sing about the PIRA, they should forgo the ability to receive any public money. For the Council to be associated with such offensive behaviour on the anniversary of the Omagh Bomb is disgusting and reprehensible.
"I will also be investigating what other commercial sponsors were involved in the event and asking them to publicly distance themselves.
"This is now an annual tradition where every year hundreds of teenagers, led by people who should know better, glorify the PIRA in song."
Councillor Ald Brian Kingston raised the issued after it was alleged that the crowed at a concert at the Festival chanted "ooh ah up the Ra".
Ald Kingston said: "The PIRA murdered and maimed thousands of people in Northern Ireland. For concert goers to celebrate the PIRA is sickening. If public funding was used to pay for such a concert then it should be recouped immediately.
"Belfast City Council stands for inclusiveness and a shared future. If people wish to sing about the PIRA, they should forgo the ability to receive any public money. For the Council to be associated with such offensive behaviour on the anniversary of the Omagh Bomb is disgusting and reprehensible.
"I will also be investigating what other commercial sponsors were involved in the event and asking them to publicly distance themselves.
"This is now an annual tradition where every year hundreds of teenagers, led by people who should know better, glorify the PIRA in song."
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