Finlay blasts back over Union Flags in Borough

Councillors Finlay and McLaughlin are both members of Ballymoney Borough Council.

Councillor Finlay said: “Councillor McLaughlin has called for the removal of what he describes as “Unionist flags” from the borough and Cloughmills in particular. He says that the situation in Cloughmills is an absolute disgrace, but the reality is that it is his statement which is the absolute disgrace. Who does he think he is?

“As we saw this summer in incidents Castlederg and elsewhere – his call for the removal of Union flags and other similar emblems will be dismissed with the contempt it deserves.

“Councillor McLaughlin wants to remove British and Protestant symbols and emblems from our streets. This, of course, comes as no great surprise given Sinn Fein’s stance on the flying of the Union Flag at Belfast City Hall.

“The Union Flag is the flag of this country, and while the murderous campaign of the IRA ended in failure, that flag still flies proudly over Ulster and will do so for many years to come.

“And it will continue to fly in Cloughmills as well. Meanwhile, if Councillor McLaughlin really wants to create neutral and shared spaces, let him address the ongoing presence of Republican flags and signs in Rasharkin.”