Anger at ‘insensitive’ SF posters next to cenotaph

SINN Fein has removed posters placed beside a war memorial ahead of Remembrance Day.

Unionists were angered after the signs appeared close to the cenotaph in Omagh.

UUP councillor Chris Smyth said the posters featuring Sinn Fein MLA Catherine Kelly and Barry McElduff, an MP, advertised a mental health seminar from nearly two weeks ago.

He had warned that the council would remove the signs if they were not taken down.

However, Ms Kelly said the notices would be removed and claimed the complaint was an attempt to score points.

“Sinn Fein placed posters at various main strategic thoroughfares in Omagh to highlight a mental health and suicide awareness seminar which our party hosted in the nearby Strule Arts Centre on Saturday,” she said.

“As well as providing information on services, the seminar was useful in helping to identify the gaps in mental health provision.

“It is disappointing that UUP councillor Chris Smyth has attempted to score cheap political points out of a poster advertising an event on mental health.

“Now that the event is over the posters are being taken down.”

However, Mr Smyth claimed

One ofthe controversial Sinn Fein posters (circled) close to Omagh cenotaph

that their presence was insensitive.

“This is the second year in a row that Sinn Fein has erected political posters in the vicinity of the cenotaph in Omagh,” he said.

“I work in the field of mental health and wish to put it firmly on record that I welcome any attempts by political parties to improve mental health in Northern Ireland.

“But at this very special time of remembrance it is at best insensitive for Sinn Fein, an organisation which supported the IRA’s terrorist campaign and which in recent times has further

traumatised victims by refusing to condemn the Enniskillen Remembrance Day bomb, to erect signs on the railings of the cenotaph so close to events which will be held during Remembrance Week.”

Mr Smyth said the cenotaph was a special place for those who had lost loved ones.

“I hate to see two issues that I am very passionate about, mental health and remembrance, brought down into the political arena by, at best, an incredibly insensitive action and, at worst, a direct attempt to wind people up,” he added.