'The public are not fools' - DUP hit out at infrastructure minister as she denies 'illegal Sinn Fein billboard' belongs to her party

Liz Kimmins was heckled in the chamber when she said that there “is no Sinn Fein billboard” at the site in Newry – pointing to more a more recent display showing a pro-Palestine message.

The infrastructure committee has been seeking answers about the display on the Camlough Road in the city, which has hosted Sinn Fein posters over recent years.

MLAs passed a DUP motion on Tuesday afternoon stating that the minister’s “failure to resolve this situation in favour of the public interest and rule of law represents a breach of the Ministerial Code” – and calling for the removal of “these illegal Sinn Féin displays without further delay”.

During the Assembly debate, DUP MLA Peter Martin – who chairs the infrastructure committee – told MLAs that before Ms Kimmins was in post, her infrastructure department said it had written to Sinn Fein about the billboard.

In recent correspondence, the minister said she had sought the removal of the billboard on two occasions, “once by email and once by letter” – but did not say who she had written to.

During the debate, Minister Kimmins said that officials would prioritise signs that are likely to “present a safety issue to road users” – saying that it was considered “low risk”.

DUP MLA Gareth Wilson said the minister’s “lack of action” showed it is “one rule for Sinn Fein and another rule for local Newry businesses”.

He said the public are not fools, and “can see a blatant disregard for policy and for the rule of law” – and that the issue “is a significant concern”.

Peter Martin said there was “a clear attempt by SF to distance themselves from ownership” of the billboard. He criticised the lack of information coming from the minister to the committee, saying he had to use Freedom of Information laws to obtain information that the minister would not provide.

MLAs passed the DUP motion by 56 votes to 25 – with SF voting against.