Lord Empey has expressed his disappointment that for the first time in 97 years the Union Flag did not above City Hall to mark the Battle of the Somme.
Lord Empey said:
“It was an honour and a privilege to lay a wreath at Belfast City Hall in memory of the tens of thousands of men from Belfast and wider afield who made the supreme sacrifice at the Battle of the Somme in 1916.
“However it was notable that today was the first time in 97 years that the Union Flag did not fly above City Hall to mark the 1st July as the City remembered those who gave their lives in defence of this country. Unfortunately this is a consequence of last December`s Council decision to remove the Flag from City Hall.”