Ulster Unionist Councillor David Taylor has strongly criticised representatives of Sinn Fein for blocking a proposal for an area of recreational space in the Newry & Mourne District Council area to be designated specifically to honour the millions of people who lost their lives during World War 1.
Councillor Taylor said:
“Newry and Mourne District Council received a request from The Royal British Legion and Fields in Trust organisation to nominate a recreational space in the Council area designed specifically to honour the millions of people who lost their lives during World War 1.
“The objective of this programme was to encourage every Council in the UK to nominate at least one recreational space in their area as a Centenary Field to commemorate the significant milestone soon approaching in terms of the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War.
“I proposed that the Council should proceed as soon as possible with the proposal, however, this was subsequently blocked by Sinn Fein representatives.
“I am extremely angry that the narrow minded bigotry of Sinn Fein representatives has prevented people within the entire District, many of whom who had members of their families serve during World War 1, from being provided with a designated portion of ground where they could come and visit and be able to reflect upon the sacrifices paid by brave service personnel during The Great War. Sinn Fein seem unwilling to accept that tens of thousands of Irishmen, both Protestant and Catholic, from throughout the island of Ireland joined the British Army and fought in various theatres of war as part of many units including the 36th Ulster Division and the 10th and 16th Irish Divisions.
“The ultimate insult came when Sinn Fein representatives tried to draw equivalence and comparison between those individuals who inflicted a vile and grubby terrorist campaign upon the people of Northern Ireland and the brave service personnel of all religions who served during World War 1 to deliver many of the freedoms which we as citizens enjoy today. Not for the first time they brought shame and disgrace upon themselves.”