5 July 2001 Edition
Illegal Orange Arches challenged
The Department of Regional Development, run by DUP Minister Gregory Campbell, is to face legal action over the erection of Orange Arches in Magherafelt in County Derry and Glengormley, County Antrim.
Sinn Féin Councillor Seamus O'Brien has applied for a judicial review against an Arch that was erected in Broad Street in Magherafelt. On one side of the Arch is the figure of Oliver Cromwell, flanked by Ian Paisley and William McCrea.
According to O'Brien, who sits on Magherafelt Council, the political makeup of the council and of Magherafelt has changed in the past 15 years. Nationalists now hold ten seats compared to six unionist seats, with Sinn Féin in the majority, as the party has seven councillors.
``Nationalists have objected to this arch since it was first erected in 1984 and despite the demographic and political changes in the area, Orangemen have insisted on erecting it. It is on the basis of these changes and of the wishes of the people that I am challenging the Department of Regional Development to outlaw these Arches,'' said O'Brien.
Sinn Féin's John Kelly has complained that nationalist council workers were forced to prepare metal supports for the Arch. ``There was a veil of secrecy over this work to ensure that the Arch was erected before the judicial review was heard,'' he said.
The review is due to be heard in Belfast High Court this week.
Meanwhile, Sinn Féin's recently elected Newtonabbey councillor, Briege Meehan, has challenged the DRD over an Orange march that was erected in Glengormley on the outskirts of North Belfast last week.
According to Meehan, the first ever Sinn Féin councillor to sit on Newtownabbey Council, ``the RUC moved in and protected the loyalists as they erected the Arch''. Meehan contrasted the RUC's attitude with their behaviour during the election campaign, when they stood by and allowed loyalists tear down Sinn Féin posters. ``On one occasion, in the centre of Glengormley, loyalists attacked Sinn Féin activists as they put up election posters and the RUC looked on,'' she said.
Like Seamus O'Brien, Meehan also intends to take a judicial review against the DRD.
Sinn Féin Councillor Seamus O'Brien has applied for a judicial review against an Arch that was erected in Broad Street in Magherafelt. On one side of the Arch is the figure of Oliver Cromwell, flanked by Ian Paisley and William McCrea.
According to O'Brien, who sits on Magherafelt Council, the political makeup of the council and of Magherafelt has changed in the past 15 years. Nationalists now hold ten seats compared to six unionist seats, with Sinn Féin in the majority, as the party has seven councillors.
``Nationalists have objected to this arch since it was first erected in 1984 and despite the demographic and political changes in the area, Orangemen have insisted on erecting it. It is on the basis of these changes and of the wishes of the people that I am challenging the Department of Regional Development to outlaw these Arches,'' said O'Brien.
Sinn Féin's John Kelly has complained that nationalist council workers were forced to prepare metal supports for the Arch. ``There was a veil of secrecy over this work to ensure that the Arch was erected before the judicial review was heard,'' he said.
The review is due to be heard in Belfast High Court this week.
Meanwhile, Sinn Féin's recently elected Newtonabbey councillor, Briege Meehan, has challenged the DRD over an Orange march that was erected in Glengormley on the outskirts of North Belfast last week.
According to Meehan, the first ever Sinn Féin councillor to sit on Newtownabbey Council, ``the RUC moved in and protected the loyalists as they erected the Arch''. Meehan contrasted the RUC's attitude with their behaviour during the election campaign, when they stood by and allowed loyalists tear down Sinn Féin posters. ``On one occasion, in the centre of Glengormley, loyalists attacked Sinn Féin activists as they put up election posters and the RUC looked on,'' she said.
Like Seamus O'Brien, Meehan also intends to take a judicial review against the DRD.