Ulster Unionist Party Group Leader Councillor David Taylor has expressed his strong disappointment and dismay at a decision taken tonight by Newry, Mourne & Down District Council not to proceed with a process to rename Raymond McCreesh Park.
Instead, the Council has proceeded with an option to pass the issue over to an ongoing play strategy consultation within Council, which will explore the possibility of transferring the land where Raymond McCreesh Park is located, into the ownership of the local community.
Councillor Taylor said:
"I am extremely disappointed and dismayed at the direction taken tonight by Newry, Mourne & Down District Council in respect of the Raymond McCreesh Park issue. This matter has severely compromised the reputation of our Council for too long now.
"When the initial decision was taken to name the play park at Patrick Street after convicted terrorist Raymond McCreesh, it was wrong on so many levels. I can only describe it as indefensible, morally incomprehensible and a two fingered salute towards those families who lost loved ones at the hands of the cruel actions of Republican terrorists during the period of the Troubles in Northern Ireland.
"The decision taken tonight has provided a very clear insight into the mindset of Republican and Nationalist representatives who have failed in their duty to do the right thing on this matter by supporting the changing of the name of the park to one that is neutral and accommodating for the entire population of our District.
"The clear fact is this issue has caused great hurt to the innocent victims of the troubles who experienced significant trauma because of the actions of people like Raymond McCreesh. The original decision taken by the former Newry & Mourne Council in naming a play park after a convicted terrorist, only served to compound that trauma and the ongoing failure by this Council to deal with the matter appropriately will only serve to deepen their hurt further.
"The perceived opinion of the Unionist Community towards Newry, Mourne & Down District Council is that the Council is considered to be a cold house for members of that Community and this opinion is backed up in the responses received during the consultation on the Raymond McCreesh Park issue.
"The challenge faced by Republican and Nationalist representatives at tonight's meeting was clear. Were they willing to continue to allow members of the Unionist Community to feel like they are second class citizens in our District or would they take the opportunity to offer an olive branch to Unionists, by taking the step to change the name of Raymond McCreesh Park to something more appropriate and welcoming to the entire community? Sadly, they have failed miserably in meeting this challenge!!
"We have heard much from Sinn Fein in recent times about promoting an equality and respect agenda, but it is abundantly clear that they cannot be taken seriously in this regard when their party actively promotes the naming of children’s play parks after convicted terrorists.
“Republicans commemorate Raymond McCreesh because of how he chose to die. The Unionist community cannot forget how he chose to live.
"I pose these questions to Sinn Fein. Where is the respect offered to the innocent victims of the troubles in naming play parks after convicted terrorists and where is the equality of opportunity offered to members of the Unionist Community when undertaking such actions?
"The Council has proceeded with an option which is not viable and very clearly fails to actually deal with the issue of the naming of Raymond McCreesh Park. The Equality Commission must outline urgently its opinion as to whether Council has abided by the recommendations they made on this issue.
"To pass this issue off for further discussion under the play strategy consultation with a view to possibly transferring land ownership to the local community does not actually deal with the matter in hand in terms of the naming of a children’s play park after a convicted IRA terrorist.
"There has been an abject failure on the part of Council to deal with this issue in an appropriate manner, I asked elected members to search their consciences on this matter, to do the right thing and rename this park immediately. Unfortunately, this has not happened and my thoughts are first and foremost with those innocent victims of the Troubles who have been let down by Newry, Mourne & Down District Council once again."