Northern Ireland legacy: Armagh Banbridge Craigavon Borough Council confims review into UUP motion to honour UDR Greenfinches, blocked by Sinn Fein

By Adam Morton
Published 14th Feb 2023, 12:57 BST
Updated 14th Feb 2023, 13:02 BST
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Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council has confirmed that a decision to honour the UDR Greenfinches is to be subject to an official review - or 'call in'.

​The contested motion, which was brought forward by UUP Alderman Glenn Barr at last month's full council meeting, called for recognition of the “significant” role that UDR women or ‘Greenfinches’ played in the “defeat of terrorism in Northern Ireland”.

Ald Barr’s motion was seconded by his UUP party colleague, Alderman Ian Burns and supported by other UUP members as well as the Alliance Party and the DUP. However the SDLP and Sinn Fein opposed the motion.

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Now, a spokesperson for the council has confirmed the decision reached is to be reviewed due to a valid call-in - understood to have been requested by Sinn Fein, which accused the UDR of sectarian killings and collusion.

UUP Alderman Glenn Barr had a motion passed to recognise the service of UDR women Greenfinches during the Troubles. However Sinn Fein has challenged the council decision with a call-in procedure.UUP Alderman Glenn Barr had a motion passed to recognise the service of UDR women Greenfinches during the Troubles. However Sinn Fein has challenged the council decision with a call-in procedure.
UUP Alderman Glenn Barr had a motion passed to recognise the service of UDR women Greenfinches during the Troubles. However Sinn Fein has challenged the council decision with a call-in procedure.

A council spokesperson said: “Members have been notified that a call in has been received following the Council’s decision at its meeting held on 30 January 2023 in relation to a notice of motion asking Council to explore a lasting tribute to the Greenfinches of the Ulster Defence Regiment CGC."

She noted that the process, set out in Section 41 of the Local Government Act (NI) 2014 requires the council to reconsider any decision if 15% of council members ask for it.

The justification must be either that the decision "was not arrived at after a proper consideration of the facts and issues” and/or that the decision would "disproportionately affect adversely any section of the inhabitants of the district”.

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The law requires the council to secure an opinion from a practising lawyer before reconsideration of the decision, if it is claimed it would adversely affect inhabitants of the district.

Speaking following confirmation of the call-in, Alderman Barr said he was “disappointed” the council will now have to spend thousands in legal fees but said he was confident that everything was “legally in order”.

"I would expect that whatever the legal opinion, it will come before the full council for consideration and a further vote,” he told the News Letter.