Sinn Fein yet to seek permission for hunger strike memorial

Catriona Loughran • Published 17 Sep 2009 09:00 Comments 1 Comment

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Sinn Fein have admitted they did not seek permission from the Housing Executive to erect a hunger strike memorial on their land in Newtownbutler at the weekend.

Last Saturday morning, the party erected a memorial at the entrance to Galloon Gardens to commemorate IRA hunger strikers without consent.

The stone wall measures 4ft x 5ft with the names of IRA hunger strikers including Fermanagh/South Tyrone MP Bobby Sands inscribed on a black and gold-coloured plaque.

In a statement released by the Housing Executive on Tuesday, the memorial was erected on their land "without the agreement, involvement or knowledge of Housing Executive staff."

Now Unionists are calling on the DSD Minister to "act immediately" to remove it.

Erne East Sinn Fein Councillor Thomas O'Reilly said the majority of people in the Newtownbutler area want this memorial.

"This monument marks a show of respect for all those who died in the hunger strikes of 1981 and commemorates our late MP Bobby Sands who many people in South Fermanagh worked extremely hard to get elected. We all have to share communities and tolerate each others cultures and traditions and this memorial is a symbol of our history and is in no way meant to be intimidating or should be deemed offensive by anyone."

He admitted that it was an audacious move in that the party did not seek permission of Housing Executive and replied: "We have yet to do that". he added: "We've had no objections" when asked did the party consult with residents of Galloon Gardens and the community about the erection of the memorial.

But UUP Councillor and MLA Tom Elliott is outraged by Sinn Fein actions and said it shows a "disregard to law and order and the respect of others".

"Basically what Sinn Fein are saying here is that they will do what they like and then seek to consult with people and relatives agencies after they do it. It's a shows a sheer disregard for people in the area and goes against everything they preach about such as human rights and respecting others. It's a hardened approach by them to win back Republican support they've clearly lost in the county."

He said there remains a section within the Republican community who continue to hark back to the past and remember individuals as heroes when really they were terrorists with no regard for innocent lives.

"The majority of people in the Newtownbutler area simply want to get on with their lives. Like everywhere else in Northern Ireland the last thing the area needs is monuments commemorating terrorists. Nobody wants that and I would call upon those who erected the monument to take it down. It is highly offensive to many in the Protestant and Unionist population, some of whom have suffered at the hands of terrorists".

One resident, who did not wish to be named, said the memorial gives a bad image to the town as it is clearly visible from the main street and fears it will drive people away.

DUP MLA Arlene Foster agrees with Mr Elliott that the erection of the memorial is a clear demonstration of the problems Sinn Fein are experiencing within Fermanagh.

"It is an attempt by the party to re-establish their republican credentials. We have seen a steady stream of Sinn Fein members in Fermanagh leaving the party and it is clear they are obviously under pressure from former supporters who are now looking towards the dissident republicans who are active, particularly in west Fermanagh. The erection of this illegal memorial to terrorists who died in prison is obviously their method of reasserting Sinn Fein's presence in the area."

Following discussions this week with Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie Ms Foster said she is "going to investigate the matter."

In its statement, Housing Executive continued, "The Housing Executive is committed to supporting local communities to remove sectional symbols and focus on more acceptable expressions of cultural identity, working in partnership. Our Community Cohesion Unit works with Councils, voluntary and statutory agencies in developing a community led partnership approach to this issue. The Housing Executive is currently considering what action may be taken regarding this issue and will be consulting with local representatives [before taking any further action] with a view to resolving this issue."

This article appeared in Impartial Reporter 17 Sep 09

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Seamus Black
Unregistered User
Sep 18, 10:17
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It's a bit like a dog marking its territory…

Time for all these "markers" to be removed and everyone let get on with their lives without fear, intimidation or reminders of terrorism and dead terrorists.

If Sinn Fein think this is being inclusive and creating a new future then they are miserably wrong and this is the party in Government!

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