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3 December 2013

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Mystery of Union flag flown at Strabane Social Security Office after 14-year gap

‘The question remains as to who exactly issued the directive for this to happen in Strabane after a gap of 14 years and what was the motivation for doing so’


THE flying of the Union flag at Strabane Social Security Office in November – for the first time since 1999 – is now the subject of a Freedom of Information request after the minister and chief executive responsible for the office denied issuing an instruction for this to happen.

Both Social Development Minister Nelson McCausland (DUP) and the Chief Executive of the Social Security Agency denied that they had issued a directive for this highly controversial departure.

Michaela Boyle

Sinn Féin West Tyrone MLA Michaela Boyle (pictured) said:

“Following local concerns expressed to me about this turn of events, I contacted the Chief Executive of the Social Security Agency who categorically stated that he had not ordered it.

“I then submitted a series of questions to Social Development Minister Nelson McCausland (DUP), including asking whether he had issued the order. He responded: ‘I have not issued a Ministerial direction that the Union flag be flown on designated days on all DSD buildings.’”

So where did it come from?

Michaela Boyle said:

“I find it highly implausible that the Union flag was erected in the grounds of Strabane Social Security office on two separate occasions last month – for the first time in over 14 years – without orders from on high.

“So the question remains as to who exactly issued the directive for this to happen in Strabane after a gap of 14 years and what was the motivation for doing so

“I am now pursuing these questions with a direct FoI request to the Minister.”

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