'Law & Order' Memorial causes some trouble in Council chamber

However, the proposal for the memorial, contained in a motion penned by Cllr Robin Stirling, caused quite a stir when it was put to his colleagues at last Monday night’s monthly meeting.

Even before it’s presentation, Chief Executive Anne Donaghy told members that she had sought clarification on its acceptance from ‘Knowles’, the local authority practices guide, due to an objection being raised over the wording of the motion by an elected member.

Having found its general issues to be “of interest to the local populace”, she added, the motion had been found acceptable for debate but stressed that it was “sensitive” in nature.

There was, she stated, “no legal opinion” on the motion. In short, it read: “Ballymena Borough Council proposes that all the citizens of the borough and of Northern Ireland as a whole, owe an irreparable debt of gratitude to the RUC, George Cross and to the security forces in general. Our forces of law and order, dedicated to protecting the lives and properties of all citizens of the province, faced the murderous onslaught of Sinn Fein and the IRA, with unswerving bravery. Many became victims of the terrorists. Some made the supreme sacrifice, others survived, impaired in body and mind.

“As an enduring testament to the valorous service to the entire community, I propose that Council initiates procedures to progress the provision of an appropriate memorial within Council premises. In doing so, Ballymena Borough Council will acquit itself with honour and will mark, for future generations, the memory of those who displayed unprecedented moral and physical courage during what is euphemistically termed ‘The Troubles’, more truthfully defined as an unjustifiable sectarian campaign against the Unionist people”.

Putting the motion to the meeting, however, Mr Stirling came under verbal fire from Cllrs Declan O’Loan and Monica Digney when he made reference during his lengthy address to a Dublin based priest who, he said, had made pornographic films of children in his pastoral care.

While Cllrs O’Loan and Digney called for Mr Stirling to cease speaking “on a point of order”, he was allowed to continue by the Mayor, Cllr James Currie, who reminded the pair of elected representatives that ‘he was in the chair’.

Mr Stirling clarified that his reference to the priest was to lay the foundation for posing the question: “What moral authority had the politicians of the republic, the priests and citizens of that disgraced county, to indict the RUC?”

The councillor added that should his colleagues “shun a positive decision” on his motion, he was prepared to gain political support for a public campaign to raise the required funds for a monument “in a prominent place in our town”, with Bridge Street his favoured location.

He found a ready seconder in Ald. Roy Gillespie who stated: “It is from a great sense of loss to Northern Ireland that I second Cllr Stirling’s motion.

“The RUC served all the people of Northern Ireland from June 1922 until April 2002 with pride and integrity, even in the face of constant attack from SF/IRA both physical and verbal.

“Over 200 RUC members were killed and over 9000 injured by being bombed, shot and beaten to death. In the process of these wicked deeds, relatives and civilians were also killed.

“I feel that an appropriate memorial within council premises would be right and proper”.

Put to a vote, the motion was carried with 19 in support of it, three against and one abstention.

The meeting then agreed, on the advice of the chief executive, Mrs Anne Donaghy, to proceed on a memorial, “subject to legal and equality advice”.