SINN FEIN OPPOSE MALLON HONOUR
FREEDOM OF THE TOWN CEREMONY WILL STILL PROCEED ON JUNE 8TH
SINN Fein members’ attempt to block Seamus Mallon being honoured as a Freeman of Drogheda failed at last week’s meeting of Drogheda Borough District Council.
Cllrs Kenneth Flood, Joanne Byrne and David Saurin all voted against Mayor Pio Smith’s proposal, backed by all other local councillors, to award the 81-year-old former Northern Ireland deputy first minister the status of freeman of the town.
The ceremony will now go ahead on June 8th.
Chairing the meeting in Cllr Smith’s absence, Deputy Mayor Richie Culhane outlined the qualities that made Mr Mallon a suitable candidate for the honour.
“For over 40 years, Seamus Mallon has been a central figure in the civil rights movement in Northern Ireland, as well as deputy leader of the SDLP throughout the darkest days of the troubles,” said the Fine Gael councillor in a statement.
“He is a great Irishman, who has always served the people of our island, regardless of creed or religious persuasion, and he epitomises the view that we are stronger together.”
However, the Sinn Fein councillors felt there are other, more deserving people connected with Drogheda and Co Louth, who also worked on the peace process and would be a worthier recipient.
“We have a TD for Louth,” said Cllr Kenneth Flood, who said the former President of their party, Louth TD Gerry Adams would be “a better candidate than Seamus Mallon”.
A Sinn Féin statement said they felt it was wrong to signal out one person for their contribution to peace.
“Sinn Féin Councillors in Louth voted against the freedom of Drogheda for Séamus Mallon as they felt it was wrong to elevate one person who was involved in the peace process above all the others who were also important to ensuring a lasting peace in Ireland,” the spokesperson said.
Other members didn’t agree and threw their support behind the proposal.
“I think he is a great choice and it is timely that we should honour those who showed such leadership,” said Independent Cllr Frank Godfrey.
“As a border county, his actions have changed Co Louth, and to enter his name in this book is a huge accolade, which is highly overdue,” added Cllr Kevin Callan.
As the sole councillor for Fianna Fail in the town, Cllr Tommy Byrne said he fully supported the proposal. “He is a giant of a man, and it’s only right we recognise the work he has done for the country,” he said.
Seamus Mallon is the 34th person to receive the freedom of Drogheda, joining such luminaries as SDLP leader John Hume, President Michael D Higgins and former President Éamon de Valera.
This is the first time the recipient has split the vote, and even the decision to suspend standing orders at the meeting, to include the proposal as an emergency motion, was put to the vote by the Sinn Fein representatives.
Mr Mallon, who will be 82 in August, was the first Deputy Minister of Northern Ireland from 1998 to 2001, and SDLP deputy leader from 1979 to 2001, and was one the chief brokers of the Good Friday Agreement.
He has spoken in the past of his difficulties with Gerry Adams, saying that despite recognising the former Sinn Féin leader’s political achievements, he is someone Mr Mallon will never respect.
“I just can’t be in the same room with him,” he told the Irish Times in February.
“I don’t want to be. I’ve spent my life getting on with people and liking people that I didn’t agree with. There’s just something about him that I recoil from. He has his hand in too many awful events, too many.”