Best family invited to discuss memorial plans

The family of soccer legend George Best are to be invited to Belfast City Hall this month to discuss the plans for a lasting memorial to the football star.

The Lord Mayor of Belfast, Wallace Browne will also invite representatives from Castlereagh Borough Council, the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure, and relevant sporting authorities to attend the meeting which is expected to take place before the end of the month.

Councillor Browne said: "There has been a lot of talk about a memorial to George Best and in order to progress the matter I will be inviting key players to the City Hall as soon as possible to discuss the best way forward.

"The Best family will have a key role in those discussions, as we want to be sure that they are happy with whatever is proposed. We also want to make the memorial accessible and something that the public can support and be proud of.

"George wasn’t just Belfast’s favourite son; he was a hero to people all over Northern Ireland so it is important we get the location right. We also have to consider how the public can play a role in all of this."

He said that media reports last week that Belfast City Council had agreed to place a statue in the grounds of the City Hall were inaccurate, but that there was total commitment to remembering George Best in a fitting manner and with the agreement of all concerned.

(EF/SP)