DUP Councillors on Nnewry Mourne and Down District Council will not nominate a representative to a proposed cross-party working group on the Council.
Councillors Harry Harvey (Group Leader), William Walker, Glyn Hanna and Garth Craig feel “our views are being treated with contempt by nationalist and republican councillors.”
Councillor Garth Craig said that it would be “a pointless exercise given the way that the opinion of the Unionist councillors has been disregarded in the past.”
He highlighted the recent bilingual signs erected at the Council boundary in areas which are predominately Unionist. Whilst condemning any act of vandalism on signs, Cllr Craig referred to views expressed by Cllr William Walker on the Good Relations Forum warning of the potential for this happening. However, he said these were brushed aside by “a republican agenda which insisted that the signage goes ahead even though the Unionist community felt alienated by this action.”
Cllr Craig added: “This is contrary to the manner in which any policy should be implemented especially where it impacts on the Unionist community. Whilst we do not have any difficulty with those who want to learn the Irish language, there is a lack of tolerance for those who do not wish to use it.”
