Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Italian city’s bid to name street after Bobby Sands
Proposal for tribute to hunger striker
AN Italian city is to debate naming a street after “lover of freedom” Bobby Sands following a proposal by one of its councillors.
Luca Rocci is to put the motion to a meeting of L’aquila City Council when it gathers on Monday.
The politician said the gesture would be a fitting tribute to the IRA icon on the 40th anniversary of his death.
Mr Rossi added: “Forty years have passed since the ultimate gesture of Irishman Bobby Sands who, imprisoned without trial, lost his life after a gruelling hunger strike.
“Motivated by the desire for freedom for his Ireland, Bobby Sands has taught a generation that ideals such as liberty and independence should not be taken for granted, but earned on a daily basis.
“Inspired by his gesture and ideals, I have presented a proposal to identify a street that can be named or renamed in his honour.
“This will be discussed on May 10 next during the meeting of the city council.
“It will be a good way, on the 40th anniversary, to celebrate a lover of freedom and the highest values which must underline political initiatives: love of country, liberty and democracy.” Rocci thanked his council colleagues for their support in bringing the motion, though it is not clear how many are prepared to vote in favour of it. His city, L’aquila, was devastated by an earthquake in 2009. If the move is approved, it would join Paris, Tehran, the northern French city of Nantes and the New York state town of Orangeburg in having streets named after the Derry native. Authorities in Iran’s capital renamed Winston Churchill Street outside the British Embassy in his honour following Sands’ death in 1981.
The Foreign Office reacted by building an entrance on the opposite side of its compound so the embassy’s official address would not carry the name of the hunger striker.