A storm is brewing over the Chairperson of Newry Mourne and Down District Council wearing her chain of office at a Republican celebration on Easter Sunday.
Former Down District Council Chairman Councillor Billy Walker has expressed his anger at the new Chairperson of Newry Mourne and Down District Council wearing her official chain of office at a Republican celebration in Castlewellan on Easter Sunday.
Councillor Naomi Bailie attending the 1916 commemoration event did wear her chain of office and Unionists have responded calling for her to stand down as chairperson. Sinn Féin has reacted strongly defending her actions and in a statement to Down News, Councillor Naomi Bailie said that  she is “disappointed that this type of playground politics is taking up valuable Council time”.
Cllr Bailie added: “The new supercouncils were created to make council services better value and more efficient.
[caption id="attachment_55980" align="alignleft" width="350"]
Cllr Naomi Bailie pictured at the Republican commemoration in Castlewellan on Easter Sunday.[/caption]
“It is deeply disappointing that at a time when we have many new powers to get to grips with a better quality of life, Â some councillors are still fixated on petty playground politics and point scoring.
“In Mid-Ulster they are are initiating a call-in over flags while here in South Down there is now this attempt to manufacture a controversy over Easter parades. We have a lot of council business to get on with, and the people want to see the council working for them not wasting its time by humouring Henry Reilly’s blatant electioneering.
“Let me be clear on this. I was invited to the event by CASCA, the organisers of the parade, as Chairperson of the Council. They invited me officially through the Council. All Council protocol was followed and I was happy and honoured to accept. Council officials are also preparing a response confirming that the invite followed all council procedures.
“As Chairperson I will endeavour to represent everyone in our community and consider all invitations sent to me. As a Republican I will certainly not be apologising for standing with the hundreds of thousands of people across Ireland and beyond who attended commemorations to remember our patriot dead.
Councillor Billy Walker (DUP) said: “I will be presenting a motion to council at the next full meeting calling for a vote of no confidence in Cllr Naomi Bailie as Chairperson of Newry Mourne and Down District Council in relation to her attending the Republican celebration on Easter weekend. A chairperson has to act impartially and represent the views of all the people in the constituency. When I was chair of Down District Council I behaved to the highest political standard and had to act impartially, independent of my political views. If I had attended a Loyalist event wearing my chain of office there would have been an uproar.
“I believe that Naomi Bailie has been ill advised by her party colleagues. She should do the honourable thing and stand down from her office. A large percentage of Unionists and others in South Down will have already lost confidence in her as chairperson.
“This is a double-edged sword. I can easily arrange an invitation from the Orange Order for her to the Twelfth celebration in July.”
Councillor Henry Reilly (UKIP) who is to second Cllr Walker’s motion, said: “This has simply caused outrage.
“When I was mayor of the old Newry and Mourne District Council and if I were to for example attend a loyalist paramilitary event wearing my chain of office, I would have been in serious trouble. Naomi Bailie’s wearing of the chain on Easter Sunday at the Republican event in Castlewellan has just caused outrage across the board. It is very insensitive.
“If she wanted to attend the event, I have no problem with that, but she should have left her chain of office in the car. I am therefore seconding Cllr Billy Walker’s proposal at the full council meeting on 4 May calling for a vote of no confidence in the chair because of this. On the evening she was installed as council chairperson, Naomi Bailie indicated that she would ensure a copy of the 1916 Proclamation would be hanging on her office wall. Given that the Council building is supposed to be a neutral venue I am surprised that she can do this.
“It seems that Sinn Féin have also pressed ahead with their Irish language agenda and now we see a situation where receptionists at the Council have to have a working knowledge of Irish. This will certainly create equality issues I believe. How many Unionists would in fact speak Irish?
“Basically I have no problem with the legitimate use of the chain of office at events be they of the Orange Order or the GAA or the Royal British Legion. But I am concerned at Naomi Bailie using her chain of office in this context at a Republican event. This has really caused widespread concern.”
 A Newry Mourne and Down District Council spokesperson said that if the invitation to invite the chairperson to the Republican celebration had been made and the protocols were observed, Council procedures will have been followed.]]>
