West Belfast Sinn Féin Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

Sinn Fein to take Mayor and Council to task over involvement in Stoneyford Eleventh Night Beacon

Published: 1 September, 2008

Sinn Fein to take Mayor and Council to task over involvement in Stoneyford Eleventh Night Beacon

Sinn Féin MLA Paul Butler has made a complaint against the Mayor of Lisburn and Lisburn council under equality legislation for their involvement in the eleventh night beacon in Stoneyford and the burning of his election poster.

Mr Butler said:

'Both the Mayor and the council through its Community Relations Officer were responsible for what can only be described as a sectarian event which has seriously damaged community relations'.

Mr Butler continued:

'I met with the Equality Commission about this matter and arising out of that meeting I have taken a section 75 Complaint under the equality legislation against Lisburn council and the Mayor for failing to comply with the council's equality scheme. I want the Equality Commission to investigate Lisburn Council for its failure to promote equality of opportunity and good relations.

'I was shocked to learn that the Mayor of Lisburn had helped light this eleventh night beacon given it had one of my election posters placed on top of the beacon. It is disgraceful that the Mayor of Lisburn associated himself with an event like this at a time when Catholics are being forced from their homes by a campaign of sectarian intimidation.