SDLP removes IRA sign and urges end to offensive symbols
SDLP members in Belfast have “decommissioned” an IRA sign, and called for reciprocal action to be taken on loyalist signs in the city’s shared spaces.
Councillor Tim Attwood posted an image of the sign, which was placed at the corner of the Falls Road and Northumberland Street, discarded in a bin.
The Blackmountain representative said his party had taken the action after receiving complaints. “Now let’s decommission offensive loyalist flags and banners from shared spaces across Belfast,” the SDLP man added.
Speaking yesterday, Mr Attwood explained he and a party colleague had taken the sign down on Saturday morning, after previous action to remove an IRA symbol from outside the Royal Victoria Hospital.
He said it was important to remove the IRA sign on the Falls Road as its position was around 20 yards from the peace line which is often visited by tourists.
“It is an illegal symbol from the past which should be done away with,” he commented.
“I think the broader message is that police should be acting to tackle illegal symbols and illegal flags. There is political leadership needed. Where there are illegal flags which cause offence — [at] churches, hospitals, schools — they should be taken down.”
Sinn Fein MP Paul Maskey backed the removal of “flags or banners which are designed to intimidate”.
“However, statutory bodies have the responsibility to ensure that flags or banners should not be used to mark out territory, or harass or intimidate residents,” he said.
“Sinn Fein also believes that flags should not be placed near churches, schools or premises and services which are shared by all the community.
“There is an onus on political unionism to show leadership on the issue of flags, particularly when some loyalist elements are placing flags in mixed developments in a bid to intimidate or raise community tensions.”
Last week banners depicting IRA atrocities were placed in a mixed housing area of east Belfast. Images including the Shankill Road and Bloody Friday bombings were placed around Cantrell Close and Global Crescent.
John McLean, chief executive of Radius Housing which manages the residential area, called for the images to be removed.
PSNI Chief Inspector David Moore said police had been in contact with Radius Housing, and understood “flying of flags and banners can cause frustration in some communities”, but it was not in a position to remove them unless they posed a “substantial risk to public safety”.