A COUNCILLOR has called for action to be taken against republican symbols affixed to road signs in an Antrim village.
John Finlay expressed his annoyance about the continued presence of republican slogans in Rasharkin, bolted on to road signs belonging to the Department for Regional Development.
The Ballymoney DUP man received a letter from the department’s minister Danny Kennedy, in which he branded them “unlawful” and said he understood Mr Finlay’s frustration.
But he said: “The PSNI preference is to secure agreement for their removal within the community, to avoid risking Roads Service personnel and the wider village community.”
To do otherwise “could result in the erection of further signs and flags throughout the village and lead to increased tensions”.
Councillor Finlay said: “It is vital that the law be upheld... Action must therefore be taken, and taken soon.”
The DRD said there is a “multi-agency protocol” in place for such eventualities. This “recognises that an effective resolution to the flags issue is more likely to be achieved through the co-operation of local communities.”
The PSNI said: “Each case must be judged on its own merit, and police officers have worked and will continue to work tirelessly with all the interested parties, local representatives and the community to try to find solutions that accommodate everyone.”
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