Council row over ratepayers’ money used in clean-up of city war memorial

RESTORATION work has begun on the cenotaph in Londonderry — despite efforts by some councillors who tried to block council funding for materials and labour.

Independent republican member Gary Donnelly described the war memorial at the Diamond as “grotesque” and argued that he would be equally opposed to Derry City and Strabane District Council funding for the republican memorial at the City Cemetery.

However, unionists have unanimously backed the work currently being carried out on the memorial ahead of this year’s Armistice Day commemorations on November 11.

Explaining his objections, Mr Donnelly said: “I have nothing against anyone honouring their dead, but I do have a problem with council paying to clean up the war memorial at the Diamond.

“We are constantly being told council can’t and won’t pay for any number of back lanes to be cleaned up even though they are infested with rats because they are not council property. I would not expect the council to pay to clean up a memorial to republican dead, even though the city cemetery is council property.

“So why is council money being wasted on this grotesque memorial at the Diamond?

“This memorial depicts a soldier stabbing someone and that is grotesque.

“But sometimes when we say things like that and it’s the truth you are labelled as sectarian.”

DUP councillor Graham Warke said the cenotaph belonged to everyone in the city.

“Despite efforts of independent councillors to block the restoration work and insult the men from the city it commemorates, I am delighted it has started and will be completed in time for this year’s commemorations,” he said.

“This memorial belongs to the people of Londonderry and remembers all the men from this city from both traditions who lost their lives in the two World Wars. It is only fitting that council has taken ownership for the maintenance of the memorial and I look forward to the rest of the work being completed.

“The DUP on the council has fought hard to get funding for this restoration.

“It is wholly appropriate that the war memorial is maintained to the highest possible standard.”