SDLP MLA says IRA man’s name should go from Newry playpark

Declan Sarsfield:

As a republican and a gaelgeoir, I believe this is not appropriate at all. As I said before, there are plenty of names to call a playground, like Tír Ná nÓg which means ‘land of the young’.

Stevie Loughran: Invade our country, terrorise our people and then have the cheek to call us terrorists ... brilliant.

Lydia Horsburgh: Wouldn’t expect anything less from the SDLP. I totally agree with Raymond McCartney’s comments. McCreesh was someone who had the courage to become a volunteer.

Terry Gibson: As a nationalist, this totally frustrates me. I’m afraid we got this wrong. A kids’ play park should be somewhere all the community could come to play. I thought we were moving forward, but when you see things like this it truly makes you wonder. Sharon Margaret: I think we have to remember that whatever our political views are, 10 families were devastated. Their grief has no time limit. As an Irish mother, I find this inappropriate.

Gary Ryan: What kind of mindset would want to take their child to play in a playground named after someone doing his kind of activities? Says it all. Strange world we live in when people think this is normal behaviour. Colin Thompson: Personally I don’t think that a children’s play park should be named after someone who may have been involved in horrific crimes, whether they be loyalist or republican. But for goodness sake, have we not moved on during these past 20 years? Newry has become a much more pleasant and accepting place to live for everyone. Why do these things still keep dragging us back to the bad old days? Garry Chalmers: Republican ‘til I die but think this needs looked at. Change the name as he should be afforded more respect from our own than having a park named after him.

Edward Forsythe: Yet some people are happy with streets or buildings named after Cromwell or SAS members.

Sean Foster: What’s the problem? He was an Irish freedom fighter who gave his life for his country.