SF fails in bid to stop council selling off play park named after IRA man
SINN Fein’s attempt to stop Newry, Mourne and Down District Council selling off a play park named after IRA man Raymond McCreesh by using a ‘call-in’ procedure has failed.
In October, the party said it would use the call-in process to challenge the local authority’s decision to dispose of Raymond McCreesh Park in Newry.
The mechanism allows elected members to request that an issue be re-examined if they feel the initial decision was not handled correctly, or will have an adverse impact on a section of the community.
The play park has been a source of controversy since it was renamed after Camlough man McCreesh in 2001.
He was reportedly in possession of a rifle used in the 1976 Kingsmill Massacre, in which 10 Protestant workmen were killed, when he was captured later that year. He died in the 1981 hunger strike.
Newry, Mourne and Down District Council said last month that it had decided to sell the play park as it is now “surplus to requirements”.
Last night, UUP Slieve Gullion Councillor David Taylor welcomed the fact that the call-in process had upheld the council’s decision. “The call-in was rejected — legal advice came back to say it didn’t have any merit,” he told the Belfast Telegraph.
“They found that the decision taken by the council was fine.
“I would welcome the fact that the call-in bid has been unsuccessful. I think it was clear that Sinn Fein’s decision to do it was an attempt to delay and frustrate the process of disposing of the play park facility.”
However, Mr Taylor pointed out that the fact that the call-in bid was unsuccessful “doesn’t guarantee” that Raymond McCreesh’s name will be removed from the play park.
“Whether it will be renamed depends on who ends up buying it,” he continued.
“I believe it will be offered to government departments first, and if they express interest they will take it on. I’m very confident no government department will retain that name.
“My concern is to ensure that, whatever happens, the name is removed.”
Mr Taylor added that naming the play park after McCreesh had had a “negative impact” on community relations.
“Victims found that their local authority had a park named after someone who was in the IRA,” he said.
“It has caused a great deal of concern in the wider community and impacted negatively on community relations.”