Unionist anger as Sinn Fein blocks TA reception
UNIONISTS in Omagh say they are disappointed that Sinn Fein failed to support a motion for debate requesting a civic reception to honour Territorial Army soldiers to mark the TA's centenary year.
There were heated exchanges. The UUP motion fell, with a Sinn Fein majority vote.
Cllr Ross Hussey UUP, who proposed the motion, said it would recognise the service of citizens.
The debate followed rejection of the same request for a chairman's reception at last month's meeting raised under other business in the agenda, turned down by Cllr Martin McColgan, chairman.
Mr McColgan said he remained of the same view, that he would be unwilling to host the TA, as it is part of the British Army.
Mr Hussey said: "I am asking for a function to celebrate voluntary service of people from Omagh who have chosen to volunteer to serve as part-time soldiers.
"There is clear evidence many Irish citizens have chosen to join the British Army in recent years with as many as 20 per cent of the British Army being regarded as Irish," he said.
Mr Hussey said if councillors were unhappy, the event could be hosted in the Royal British Legion with council paying contribution costs.
A suggestion that the reception be hosted by the SDLP vice-chair of the council Cllr Dr Jo Deehan was also rejected, as well as a request from Dr Deehan for political and conscientious objectors to abstain from the vote on the motion. This latter request was described as "arrogant" by Barry McElduff.
Sinn Fein councillor Peter Kelly told the chamber he could not support the motion as he claimed that his brother Patsy was killed by members of the British Forces.
In 1974, Patsy Kelly, 33, a nationalist councillor from Trillick, was abducted and murdered.
His body was found three weeks later by fishermen at Lough Eyes in Fermanagh. His body had been weighted down.
Tom Buchanan DUP asked Mr Kelly to withdraw his "unfounded allegation".
Mr Kelly replied: "I have no intention of withdrawing it. The dogs in the street know it."
In addition Cllr Anne Marie McAnespie said she could not support the motion as she claimed a cousin, Aidan McAnespie, was singled out and "shot in the back of the neck by the British Army".
"He was from a Catholic family with republican values but he was not a member of the IRA," she said.
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Tuesday 29 May 2012
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