Mid Ulster Council chair felt 'Council of Sanctuary' motion failed to live up to Christian values

The SDLP representative felt very strongly that Councillor Clement Cuthbertson’s motion, seeking to bring to an end Mid Ulster District Council’s status as a “Council of Sanctuary”, was at variance with the Biblical message of inclusivity, as embodied by Joseph and Mary who were granted makeshift accommodation in a stable, despite their status as “outsiders”.

Such was her depth of feelings on this issue that the Moyola councillor summoned the strength to return to the council chamber for the first time since the unexpected passing in September of her 18-year-old son Oisín.

Referring to the significance of that Christmas message, Cllr Johnston stated: “In a strange way, I have to thank Cllr Cuthbertson for bringing this motion tonight.

“I really did not want to come here tonight. I’ve spent today, like most days, experiencing the deepest of sorrows, but I felt compelled to get myself pulled together and come here in person, such was my disappointment at seeing such a motion, especially at this time in the Christian calendar.

“One week before we celebrate the birth of Christ, born far from his home; Mary and Joseph taken in by strangers; given refuge when they needed it.

“They weren’t told ‘We have no room for you, we must keep it for our own’.

“They weren’t told ‘There’s too many of you and you won’t socially integrate with us’.

“They weren’t told ‘You can’t have your baby here, because our health resources are needed solely for ourselves’.

“They were provided for. Yes, it was a stable, but it was much-needed shelter. It was indeed sanctuary.

“That’s the nature of the humanity that Christ teaches us to practise. Life, the most precious gift we have, should be protected and nurtured by all who proclaim themselves to be followers of Christ.

“We here on this island, who have been both immigrants and emigrants, should know this better than anyone else.

“Ulster was shaped undoubtedly by the economic migration of the 17th century, when Scots and English alike came in search of a better life.

“The Irish diaspora across the world today is a result of a mass migration driven by hunger and fear in the mid-19th century.

“Our failings in these six counties, when it comes to the provision of health, housing and education, is the failure of successive governments in Stormont that we, the people, elected time and time again.

“Our rush to poke each other in the eye, to get one up on the other, has created a diarchy that is both dysfunctional, divisive and falls short on delivering.

“In part the British government, held to such high esteem by some in this chamber, are to blame, for having underfunded this region for decades, and they continue to do so.

“This motion is worded in such a way that it almost says ‘We have enough ‘newcomers’, we welcome their contributions, but…’.

“There should be no ‘buts’ in compassion for our fellow man, woman and child.

“I doubt very much this motion will pass tonight, but it is a great pity that it was brought here at all.

“All life is precious regardless of race, ethnicity or religion. When we finally grasp that, when we all work together in the name of humanity, we will be living as Christ intended.

“Offering sanctuary to those who need it is the very essence of Christianity. We would do well to practise the faith we preach.”

Councillor Trevor Wilson (UUP) felt that there was no need for Mid Ulster District Council to be designated as a Council of Sanctuary: “The debate is very emotive, but I believe that our policies within the council that exist are good enough, we don’t need to go to a City of Sanctuary with that, because it allows others that haven’t been elected some say in the policies that we develop.

“I don’t have an issue with people coming to live and work here properly, and I have to say there has been a number of people from both sides of the community who have contacted not only myself, but Councillor [Meta] Graham as well, about concerns that they have with this.”

Councillor Deirdre Varsani (Sinn Féin) saw in Cllr Cuthbertson’s motion a reference to asylum seekers, something which the DUP representative later denied.

She commented: “I think certainly some of the language surrounding this, and some of the attempts to steer the discussions, are nothing short of disgraceful.”

Councillor Barry Monteith (Independent) suggested that anti-migrant sentiment was being fuelled online as part of an orchestrated campaign: “[Regarding] the issues raised in this motion about services and things you got there, this motion does nothing to alleviate that concern for anybody.

“The reality of it is that these services have been systemically, consciously and deliberately run down [over the past] 10, 12, 15 years, since about 2008/2007.

“Those are conscious and deliberate policy decisions made by the British Government to develop something to marginalise and to minimise support for those in need.

“[This is] then coupled with online right-wing propaganda, much of it emanating from outside of Ireland.”

As proposer of the motion, Cllr Cuthbertson asked to clarify a number of points prior to a vote being taken, as he felt his views had been misrepresented by some in the council chamber.

A vote was then taken on Councillor Cuthbertson’s motion, with DUP and UUP representatives voting in favour of it (12 votes) and Sinn Féin, SDLP and Independent representatives voting against it (26 votes). The motion consequently fell.