Sinn Féin challenges DUP over homophobic motion

Sinn Féin is calling on the Equality Commission to investigate a DUP motion before Lisburn Council opening the way for council staff to refuse to carry out duties associated with same sex civil partnerships.

Councillor Paul Butler said the council had already been made a fool of itself over attempts to ban same sex couples from using the Cherry Room at Lisburn Council.

"If Lisburn Council passes this DUP motion it should be named not only the sectarian capital of the North but also the homophobic capital because the aim of this motion is to put pressure on council staff to refuse to work in civil partnership cases. Unionists on Lisburn Council seem intent on doing everything in their power to make Lisburn an unwelcoming place for same sex couples".

Meanwhile, Butler also challenged Kildare Council to cut links with Lisburn Council after DUP Councillor Paul Givan made disparaging remarks about the executed leaders of the 1916 Easter Rising at a monthly council meeting.

Kildare Council and Lisburn Council established a Sporting Exchange over the last year and in November DUP and UUP councillors travelled to Kildare.

At a December council meeting Givan said he was glad he went to Kildare as, he wrongly claimed, the leaders of the 1916 Rising were executed at the Curragh and this was what they deserved.

Butler said he is writing councillors in Kildare asking them to break off all links with Lisburn Council as many nationalists living in Lisburn and Kildare will be outraged at the comments.