Minister 'among Troubles bravest'

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A clergyman denied a civic honour by a local council has been described as "one of the bravest people to emerge from the Troubles".

SDLP East Londonderry MLA John Dallat welcomed Rev David Armstrong and Father Kevin Mullan to Stormont.

Mr Armstrong was forced to leave Limavady in the 1980s after exchanging Christmas greetings with Fr Mullan.

Last month, unionist councillors in the town blocked a motion to award them the freedom of the town.

The men were invited to Stormont by Mr Dallat who said they had "challenged society to take that extra step on the real road to peace, reconciliation and genuine respect for diversity".

"Judging by the calls I have received - many of them very emotional - there must be an opportunity for the public, in both communities and others, to have their say in welcoming David Armstrong home to Limavady," he said.

"For the last 25 years Father Kevin Mullan has stood by him through thick and thin.

"It is now time for the rest of the community to stand up and say sorry for what happened in the past, to explain that we were powerless to act but now want to help heal the wounds of one of the bravest people to emerge throughout our troubled history."

Mr Armstrong left Limavady, where he was a Presbyterian minister, after receiving loyalist death threats over the Christmas message of goodwill.

Now a Church of Ireland clergyman, based in County Cork, he said the rejection of the motion had been disappointing.