Guildhall IRA event 'an insult to victims'
PLANS to hold a dance in Londonderry's Guildhall to honour dead IRA members has caused widespread anger among unionists and evoked painful personal memories of republican atrocities, a councillor has said.
Ulster Unionist Alderman Mary Hamilton said she may now consider asking the council to take a decision on future events to be held in public venues such as the Guildhall.
Mrs Hamilton, who narrowly escaped death in the Claudy bombings of 1972 which killed nine people, said the republican event "showed a complete lack of respect and sensitivity to the victims of republican violence".
"I have personal experience of republican violence, but I have been lucky compared to many who lost their lives," she said.
"As someone who has been affected by the violence of the IRA, I feel deeply hurt and insulted by this, and so will many others.
"For this event to be held in a so-called shared civic space like the Guildhall shows a complete lack of respect or sensitivity to the victims of republican violence.
"I fully realise that they (republicans] lost family friends and relatives in the Troubles, but it is unacceptable that they should be holding a celebration in the Guildhall."
Plans for the "Derry Volunteers Commemoration Dance" in October were announced at a commemoration at the City Cemetery on Sunday.
Mrs Hamilton's husband Ernie, whose brother Ellis was killed by the IRA in 1972, said the event would be "dancing on the graves of the IRA's victims".
The councillor added: "I will be asking if the council should have a say on whether events such as this can be held in civic venues like the Guildhall. As it is, they have a right to hold this event here."
East Londonderry DUP MP Gregory Campbell said that the organisers "should be apologising, not commemorating".
"It's inappropriate to commemorate events like this anywhere but it is particularly inappropriate in the seat of civic authority," he said.
"Those who are organising this should be in the business of apologising, not commemorating.
"Commemorating events that involved IRA personnel murdering innocent people is not something that is worthy of a commemoration or dinner or any other event in the city centre."
TUV leader Jim Allister said the planned event was "totally unacceptable".
"The minority community in Londonderry will rightly feel grossly affronted by this," he said.
"How can they feel part of a city when an organisation which slaughtered their loved ones is permitted to use council property for such a function?"
A spokesperson for Derry City Council said: "The Guildhall is run on a commercial basis and is therefore available for general hire.
"The Guildhall is available to all communities and cultural traditions including political and religious groupings."
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Monday 28 May 2012
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