Belfast City Council ban on Govan Protestant Boys and lodge ‘over the top’

George Dorrian was commenting after the council’s Strategic Policy and Resources Committee (SP&R) voted to sanction the lodge and band after an impromptu march around the premises in October last year.

During a centenary dinner function organised by the George Telford Memorial lodge from Belfast, the Govan Protestant Boys band paraded through the city hall building and posted a video of the incident on Youtube.

Although the three DUP councillors on the committee – including Cllr Dorrian – voted against the ban, it was passed by nine votes and will now go forward for ratification by the full council on March 2.

Cllr Dorrian said: “We just thought that this was over the top. The people involved apologised and that should have been the end of it.”

He also said the way the council was treating the band and lodge was not consistent with the approach taken towards other city hall users who fell short of expected standards.

“Incidents have happened in the past where actual damage has been caused to the city hall and no one has been banned,” he added.

At the time Sinn Fein councillor Ciarán Beattie said he had contacted the council’s chief executive to “demand answers as to how and why this was allowed to happen”.

He described the incident was “disgraceful”, adding: “This sends out the wrong message of the changing Belfast and city hall which is supposed to be a shared space and open to all.”

He said that the council was investigating whether there had been a “breach of protocol”.

A council statement released on Friday said: “Belfast City Council regrets that this incident occurred and has reaffirmed its commitment to promoting equality and good relations, and ensuring council facilities are welcome and open to all.

“As a result of the investigation into breaches of city hall’s terms and conditions of use, members have agreed to the recommendation to review the existing terms of conditions to ensure they are in line with council’s equality obligations.

“Members have also agreed to consider sanctions against groups who fail to comply with the terms of use of council facilities and banned George Telford Memorial Grand Lodge and Govan Protestant Boys from booking City Hall in future.”