Council hacks away 1916 memorial

Posted by Jim on June 19, 2016

Nationalist politicians have hit out after a 1916 Easter Rising monument
was removed by a unionist-controlled council in a midnight raid.

It is understood Mid and East Antrim Borough Council employed a
contractor to remove the controversial memorial close to Carnlough
Harbour.

Unionists had criticised the memorial, branding it “provocative” after
it was erected in the County Antrim village in March.

Sinn Féin and SDLP representatives last night criticised the removal of
the structure, describing the actions of the council as a “shameful and
disrespectful act”.

Sinn Féin MLA, Oliver McMullan said the “forcible removable” of the
memorial had caused “considerable hurt and anger” in the village. “This
monument in Carnlough was erected earlier this year, like hundreds of
others across Ireland, to mark the centenary of the 1916 Easter Rising,”
he said.

“Mid and East Antrim Council confirmed today they have removed the
memorial, claiming it had not received council approval. This is a
shameful and disrespectful and one-sided act.

“There are loyalist memorials dotted throughout the council area. We are
simply asking that all memorials should be respected and treated
equally. This action has caused considerable hurt and anger in the
Carnlough area.

SDLP councillor Declan O’Loan said the council’s actions were
“hypocritical”, highlighting the “plethora of huge paramilitary murals”
throughout the district.

He said he did “not support the erection of any memorial on public
property without authorisation” but breaches of planning rules required
“sensitivity and patience”

“The council action was hasty. The public sees a plethora of huge
paramilitary murals in very prominent locations across Mid and East
Antrim.

“All sorts of loyalist flags hang in their hundreds with impunity. The
hypocrisy of the situation is obvious, and it makes the nationalist
community very angry.”

He added: “Acting in the dead of the night shows that the council knew
very well the resentment there would be towards its action, even from
those who had nothing to do with the memorial”.