Nationalist bid to overturn vote on bonfire and Rising funding rejected
Posted By: March 19, 2016
OK TO BURN CATHOLICS— AND TO GET FUNDING FOR IT.
IMAGINE IF WHITE RACISTS WERE LYNCHING PRESIDENT OBAMA IN EFFIGY… IMAGINE THE
LEGITIMATE OUTCRY.
NOW IMAGINE IF A LOCAL TOWN WERE ACTUALLY FUNDING THE EFFIGY LYNCHING.
WELL, THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT IS HAPPENING TODAY IN NORTHERN IRLEAND.
OVER THERE, “ BURNING CATHOLICS IN EFFIGY” IS THE ORANGE EQUIVALENT TO LYNCHING BLACKMEN IN EFFIGY IN THE UNITED STATES—EXACTLY THE SAME.
EXTREME ORANGEMEN EVERY YEAR BURN GERRY ADAMS IN EFFIGY AT THEIR BONFIRES— AND LOCAL TOWN GOVERNMENTS FUND THE OBSCENITY— AS THIS ARTICLE FROM THE IRISH NEWS IN BELFAST REPORTS.
Brendan Hughes, Irish News (Belfast). Saturday, March 19, 2016
CONTORVERSY: An effigy of Sinn Fein’s Gerry Adams hangs from a bonfire at Ballycraigy in Antrim
A NATIONALIST bid to overturn controversial funding decisions on bonfires and the Easter Rising has been
rejected by a Co Antrim council following legal advice.
Councillors had requested a ‘call-in’ of Antrim and Newtownabbey council’s decision to continue to provide funding when loyalist bonfires use racist or sectarian displays.
They also challenged £50,000 of funding being set aside for the Somme centenary this year but none for the Easter Rising.
The ‘call-in’ procedure allows a contentious decision to be reconsidered if 15 per cent of councillors believe it was not properly reached or would adversely affect a section of the community.
Legal opinion was sought by the council as part of the procedure, but yesterday it said the legal advice has determined that the call-ins “do not have merit”.
“The legal opinion provided to the council is legally privileged and confidential and therefore will not be disclosed,” a spokeswoman said.
Sinn Féin councillor Anne Marie Logue urged the council to publish the legal advice received.
“The call-in decision will not stop us highlighting and challenging the blatant inequality for nationalist ratepayers in Antrim and Newtownabbey council,” she said.
“Legal advice which is in the interest of the public and paid for by the ratepayers should be made public.”
The dispute comes after the council had voted on a new policy to give funding to groups organising Eleventh Night bonfires to hold related family events.
The unionist-majority council backed funding sanctions over environmental issues such as the burning of tyres.
But a proposal to withhold money for offensive displays such as burning flags and effigies failed to gain enough support.
Separately, the council also failed to reach an agreement on allocating any funds for Easter Rising commemorations.
The council has earmarked £50,000 for events to mark the Battle of the Somme centenary.
A nationalist proposal to give £40,000 towards Rising events was defeated, while the DUP’s suggestion of zero funding was also dismissed.
A councillor working group’s proposal for £10,000 was also knocked back after being rejected by DUP and Sinn Féín councillors.
A NATIONALIST bid to overturn controversial funding decisions on bonfires and the Easter Rising has been
rejected by a Co Antrim council following legal advice.
Councillors had requested a ‘call-in’ of Antrim and Newtownabbey council’s decision to continue to provide funding when loyalist bonfires use racist or sectarian displays.
They also challenged £50,000 of funding being set aside for the Somme centenary this year but none for the Easter Rising.
The ‘call-in’ procedure allows a contentious decision to be reconsidered if 15 per cent of councillors believe it was not properly reached or would adversely affect a section of the community.
Legal opinion was sought by the council as part of the procedure, but yesterday it said the legal advice has determined that the call-ins “do not have merit”.
“The legal opinion provided to the council is legally privileged and confidential and therefore will not be disclosed,” a spokeswoman said.
Sinn Féin councillor Anne Marie Logue urged the council to publish the legal advice received.
“The call-in decision will not stop us highlighting and challenging the blatant inequality for nationalist ratepayers in Antrim and Newtownabbey council,” she said.
“Legal advice which is in the interest of the public and paid for by the ratepayers should be made public.”
The dispute comes after the council had voted on a new policy to give funding to groups organising Eleventh Night bonfires to hold related family events.
The unionist-majority council backed funding sanctions over environmental issues such as the burning of tyres.
But a proposal to withhold money for offensive displays such as burning flags and effigies failed to gain enough support.
Separately, the council also failed to reach an agreement on allocating any funds for Easter Rising commemorations.
The council has earmarked £50,000 for events to mark the Battle of the Somme centenary.
A nationalist proposal to give £40,000 towards Rising events was defeated, while the DUP’s suggestion of zero funding was also dismissed.
A councillor working group’s proposal for £10,000 was also knocked back after being rejected by DUP and Sinn Féín councillors.
