Tempers flare over TA centenary celebration proposal at council meeting
Thursday, 6 November 2008
by Julie Moore.
Omagh District Council's November meeting, held on Tuesday night, took an unexpected turn when a proposal for a centenary celebration for the Territorial Army (TA) was proposed.
Although much of the business had already been discussed - and some of the council members had already left the meeting - a proposal made by the council's three UUP party members sparked controversy in the chamber, with members of Sinn Fein refusing to allow the proposal to be acknowledged.
The proposal came just two days after the controversial RIR homecoming parade and contrasting Sinn Fein protest demonstration, held in Belfast.
Responding to the suggestion, made by Ross Hussey, for a chairman's reception to be held to mark the anniversary, the council chairman, Sinn Fein's Martin McColgan, said: "The fact is that Sinn Fein as a party is opposed to the Army, and I think it would be obvious that this was going to cause some kind of controversy.
“While we have always had a healthy political relationship in these chambers, I certainly would not be hosting a chairman's reception for the TA. I would go further to propose that this council does not host any reception for the British TA, through the front door or the back door."
Expressing their dissatisfaction at the comments made, Mr Bert Wilson and Mr Hussey, told council members of the history of the TA, describing the organisation as 'cross-border', with Mr Hussey adding, "It had Protestants, Catholics, believers and non-believers here, that is a historical fact. I would propose further investigations may have to be made in relation to the council's right to turn down a certain proposal because of that party's beliefs."
Tempers flare
As tempers began to flare, SDLP vice-chair for Omagh District Council, Dr Josephine Deehan, tried to calm the situation.
She said: "I am a pacifist and totally opposed to war as a means of solving any dispute - and that extends to the TA.
“However I, in particular, am very much in favour of a shared future agenda, and we should seek to promote that at every available opportunity. I think a way should be found to accommodate this request, I would not oppose a decision to mark this, and I would be prepared to take a lead role in that."
Describing the proposal as 'a very divisive suggestion', Sinn Fein councillor, Declan McAleer, said: "The people who have proposed this should have known that it was a hot potato, given the events we saw on streets of Belfast at the weekend. It shows compete misunderstanding of our background and our cultures."
Calls for a show of leadership to be shown, made by DUP councillor, Charlie Chittick, led to Sinn Fein retaliation as the meeting took a more personal turn, with West Tyrone MLA, Barry McElduff, adding: "We have relatives who have been murdered by the British Army. You have talked about leadership - I would ask that people show leadership and stop bringing motions which insult Sinn Fein and stop being provocative."
Unexpected reaction
Responding to Mr McElduff's comments, Mr Hussey said he had not expected the proposal to be met with such a reaction.
“It was not my intention to cause 'merry hell' here tonight, we can argue about who did what in the past, and we would be here all night. I have seen what has happened in the past and I don't want to be there again," he said.
“I did not mention victory parades or homecoming parades. All I am asking for is a celebration for the 100th anniversary."
With no resolution in sight, members turned to the council's chief executive, Danny McSorley, for guidance on a way forward on the sensitive issue.
Mr McSorley said that because the matter raised was a 'substantive issue', it would be best practice to allow full council to decide a solution.
Agreeing with this, SDLP councillor, Seamus Shields, said the matter should not have been raised during the 'other business' section of the council meeting.
“Some councillors have left this meeting, and to be discussing it now, without proper notice, is not giving it full respect," he said.
A decision was made to bring the issue forward to full council, to be addressed once again at next month's meeting.
Speaking after the debate, the UUP's Mr Wilson, former council chairman, said: "Our party see no reason why there should be any objections. I believe we have agreed to fund quite a few things that I wasn't in favour of. When I was chairman I went out of my way to accommodate all parties of the community and I would expect that to be reciprocated.
“We certainly have no intention of dropping the matter."
