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| Tom Elliott calls for ban on naming facilities after people convicted of terror offences | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Ulster Unionist MLA Tom Elliott plans to introduce legislation to prevent public facilities being named after people convicted of terror offences. | |
| He will launch a private member's bill on Monday. | He will launch a private member's bill on Monday. |
| Mr Ellliott's bill also includes anyone convicted of membership of a proscribed organisation. | Mr Ellliott's bill also includes anyone convicted of membership of a proscribed organisation. |
| He said the recent furore over the naming of a children's play park in Newry, County Down, meant the legislation was needed. | He said the recent furore over the naming of a children's play park in Newry, County Down, meant the legislation was needed. |
| Councillors in Newry and Mourne recently voted to retain the name of the play park named after an IRA hunger striker. | Councillors in Newry and Mourne recently voted to retain the name of the play park named after an IRA hunger striker. |
| Raymond McCreesh, from Camlough in south Armagh, was one of 10 IRA prisoners who died in the hunger strike in the Maze Prison in 1981. | Raymond McCreesh, from Camlough in south Armagh, was one of 10 IRA prisoners who died in the hunger strike in the Maze Prison in 1981. |
| His convictions included attempted murder, conspiracy to murder, possession of firearms with intent to endanger life and IRA membership. | His convictions included attempted murder, conspiracy to murder, possession of firearms with intent to endanger life and IRA membership. |
| Councillors voted in February to retain the name. | Councillors voted in February to retain the name. |
| On Monday evening they will vote again on whether or not to retain the name. | On Monday evening they will vote again on whether or not to retain the name. |
| Eight out of nine SDLP councillors failed to attend the committee meeting when the vote was taken. | Eight out of nine SDLP councillors failed to attend the committee meeting when the vote was taken. |
| The motion to keep the name - in place since 2001 - was passed by 15 votes to four. | The motion to keep the name - in place since 2001 - was passed by 15 votes to four. |
| "For years Sinn Féin and other groups have been glorifying terrorists who were responsible for some of the most brutal murders in Northern Ireland," Mr Elliott said. | "For years Sinn Féin and other groups have been glorifying terrorists who were responsible for some of the most brutal murders in Northern Ireland," Mr Elliott said. |
| "Such actions only serve to polarise and divide communities as well as having a hugely negative effect on the victims and the families of victims, who were created by those who are being glorified. | "Such actions only serve to polarise and divide communities as well as having a hugely negative effect on the victims and the families of victims, who were created by those who are being glorified. |
| "There is currently no legislation in place to restrict this happening and the recent furore which has centred on the naming of a children's play park in Newry after the convicted IRA terrorist Raymond McCreesh is concrete proof that such legislation is required. | "There is currently no legislation in place to restrict this happening and the recent furore which has centred on the naming of a children's play park in Newry after the convicted IRA terrorist Raymond McCreesh is concrete proof that such legislation is required. |
| Mr Elliott said legislation would introduce "clarity" and "certainty" for local councils, government departments and agencies, and create "uniformity" across Northern Ireland. | Mr Elliott said legislation would introduce "clarity" and "certainty" for local councils, government departments and agencies, and create "uniformity" across Northern Ireland. |
| "Failure to introduce legislation will simply prolong the current situation where naming decisions can negatively affect community relations and risk further division along political and religious lines," he said. | "Failure to introduce legislation will simply prolong the current situation where naming decisions can negatively affect community relations and risk further division along political and religious lines," he said. |
| The consultation process will run for six weeks until Monday 13 April. | The consultation process will run for six weeks until Monday 13 April. |