Mid Ulster councillor Clement Cuthbertson backs calls to remove Michelle O’Neill
A member of Mid Ulster District Council has joined the call to remove Michelle O’Neill as First Minister insisting “the law must apply equally, regardless of political position.”
DUP Councillor Clement Cuthbertson. who topped the poll for Dungannon District Electoral Area in the last local government elections, has pledged his full support for Michelle O’Neill’s removal from office.
In a statement, he said: “I stand firmly alongside Carla Lockhart MP and other colleagues in calling for Michelle O’Neill to be removed from her position as First Minister.
“There is no room for lawbreakers in an Executive whose primary responsibility is to make and uphold the laws of this country. The rule of law must apply equally to everyone, regardless of their political position or the office they hold.
“This is not simply about an Orange parade. It is about respect for lawful decisions, the authority of the courts and the fundamental principle that nobody is above the law.
“I fully support my colleagues who have had the courage to publicly stand by their principles and demand meaningful consequences.
“We have been told repeatedly that it cannot be business as usual and that there would be profound consequences. Those words must now be matched by actions.
“I do not want to see ordinary people punished through the unnecessary disruption of public services. There must, however, be political accountability, and I support the call for Michelle O’Neill to be removed from the office of First Minister while allowing the Assembly and other Ministers to continue their work.”
Councillor Cuthbertson added: “Principles mean very little if we are not prepared to stand by them when it matters most.”