27 June 2002 Edition
Anger over marching season emblems in Omagh
Omagh Sinn Féin Councillor Seán Begley said on Wednesday that the overnight erection of red, white and blue bunting and loyalist flags throughout Omagh town centre has caused widespread anger locally.
"Party colleagues and myself have been contacted from early morning by both rural and urban constituents, angered by what is being perceived as a display of blatant triumphalism," he said.
"Red, white and blue bunting and loyalist flags have been erected throughout the centre of Omagh, including Market Street and High Street, which is the main shopping area in the centre of the town and which has always been considered a neutral environment.
"People are rightly questioning the motivation of those who have erected them. Is this an attempt to heighten tensions in the area as we enter the height of the marching season?
"Whatever the motivation, it will have an adverse effect on the efforts of all those agencies and groups who are trying so hard to regenerate the town.
Begley said he would be asking the DRD Roads Service as a matter of urgency to remove the emblems from the town centre and has will raise the issue at the monthly meeting of Omagh District Council on Monday 1 July.
"Party colleagues and myself have been contacted from early morning by both rural and urban constituents, angered by what is being perceived as a display of blatant triumphalism," he said.
"Red, white and blue bunting and loyalist flags have been erected throughout the centre of Omagh, including Market Street and High Street, which is the main shopping area in the centre of the town and which has always been considered a neutral environment.
"People are rightly questioning the motivation of those who have erected them. Is this an attempt to heighten tensions in the area as we enter the height of the marching season?
"Whatever the motivation, it will have an adverse effect on the efforts of all those agencies and groups who are trying so hard to regenerate the town.
Begley said he would be asking the DRD Roads Service as a matter of urgency to remove the emblems from the town centre and has will raise the issue at the monthly meeting of Omagh District Council on Monday 1 July.