SDLP poised to '˜re-examine all decisions' on IRA park name

The leader of the SDLP grouping on Newry, Mourne & Down Council has reaffirmed his party's position that a public facility should not be named after an IRA hunger striker.
The park was named after violent republican Raymond McCreesh in 2001The park was named after violent republican Raymond McCreesh in 2001
The park was named after violent republican Raymond McCreesh in 2001

Councillor Colin McGrath said: “I think the SDLP perspective is quite clear; we don’t believe in naming play parks and other public spaces after anybody that was involved in the Troubles.

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“If the judicial review says that [the procedures] weren’t followed correctly then we are back at the drawing board and then at that stage I think we need to re-examine all the decisions right from the start.”

The name ‘McCreesh Park’ had the support of the SDLP group on the old Newry Council.

However, last night Mr McGrath said: “We as a party, like everybody else in Northern Ireland, are looking to move forward and look to the future.”