Church’s land application sparks debate at meeting
SINN Fein’s Seamus Greene has accused the Ulster Unionist Party of “trying to pull the wool over people’s eyes” in a row over a land application by a Brookeborough church.
The decision to support Brookeborough Elim Church in its application to acquire land owned by the Department for Infrastructure at Killarty Road in the village sparked much debate during a recent meeting of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council.
Councillor Greene, inset, asked that Council policies “be looked at” explaining how a “cross-community group lodged their letter through the relevant committee ... with ample time for scrutiny” but the Elim Church “came in late on the evening of a meeting”.
“That’s not how to run business,” he said, “I’m concerned the Council would issue a number of letters for the one project. A lot of people in Brookeborough are quite put out by what happened.”
In response, Ulster Unionist Councillor Victor Warrington, who proposed the matter, remarked: “If this involved a financial payout from
Council, yes, that would have been a stronger argument, but there is absolutely no financial implications.
“I was contacted by the
Elim Church about a letter of support. As we’d already issued one – which incidentally, I also proposed – for the community group, I contacted the Chief Executive to see if there was any conflict in supporting two groups, and I was told there was none.
“Councillor Greene says the crosscommunity group does good work, but so does the Elim Church.”
Democratic Unionist Councillor Paul Robinson said: “The community group and the Elim Church do great work. I don’t see why we can’t back both.”
Alliance Councillor Eddie Roofe agreed, stating: “If there were 10 different groups asking for letters of support then the answer is yes, if we thought they were worth it.
“It’s not up to us to make the final decision. To not offer backing would be wrong.”
In response, Councillor Greene said: “The Elim Church came at more than last minute.
“No matter what way we wrap it up, there’s only one cross-community group in Brookeborough.
“There are a number of churches, any of which could have requested this, and I would have the same opinion.
“There’s only a very small neutral space in Brookeborough, and it should only be filled by the cross-community group.”
Ulster Unionist Councillor Mark Ovens replied: “I hope I’m wrong on this, but I get the sense there’s quite an unpleasant undercurrent, and I think we all know what that is. I’d welcome clarification that it’s not the case.”
Councillor Greene hit back, saying: “Again, I’m absolutely disgusted with the Ulster Unionists. That’s typical of them.
“If anything Irish or Gaa[-related] is ever mentioned, they are the first ones to jump on the back of sectarianism,” he claimed.
Councillor Greene further claimed: “I’ll call it out – it’s sectarianism, and again they are trying to pull the wool over people’s eyes. I’ll not take that from the Ulster Unionist Party.”
The proposal for the original decision to stand went to a vote, which passed 15 – 2, with 12 abstentions.