11 June 1998 Edition
Sinn Fein takes the chairs
Parties who traditionally opposed the election of Sinn Fein members changed tact and in the past weeks supported SF candidates for top posts in a number of councils in the Six Counties.
Lynn Fleming was elected deputy mayor of Derry despite the ill-tempered protestations of the new DUP mayor, Joe Miller. Fellow SF councillor, Cathal Crumley, said, ``we will take whatever measures necessary to ensure that Joe Miller is not permitted to undermine the civic responsibilities of the mayoralty by practising the failed bigoted politics of exclusion.''
In the past the SDLP had opposed Sinn Fein's promotion to the top posts on Derry council.
Brendan Curran and Sean Clarke won the chairs of Newry and Mourne, and Omagh councils respectively. And Sinn Féin gained two vice-chairs on Belfast city council; Tom Hartley, on the Arts Sub-committee and Gerard O'Neill on the Community and Leisure Sub-committee.
Ivan Barr, a Strabane councillor, is also the new council chair. He was elected under an arrangement with the SDLP where the two parties have agreed to rotate the two top posts.
Lynn Fleming was elected deputy mayor of Derry despite the ill-tempered protestations of the new DUP mayor, Joe Miller. Fellow SF councillor, Cathal Crumley, said, ``we will take whatever measures necessary to ensure that Joe Miller is not permitted to undermine the civic responsibilities of the mayoralty by practising the failed bigoted politics of exclusion.''
In the past the SDLP had opposed Sinn Fein's promotion to the top posts on Derry council.
Brendan Curran and Sean Clarke won the chairs of Newry and Mourne, and Omagh councils respectively. And Sinn Féin gained two vice-chairs on Belfast city council; Tom Hartley, on the Arts Sub-committee and Gerard O'Neill on the Community and Leisure Sub-committee.
Ivan Barr, a Strabane councillor, is also the new council chair. He was elected under an arrangement with the SDLP where the two parties have agreed to rotate the two top posts.