Unionists thanked by GAA after condemning poster calling it “sporting wing of the IRA”

Mid Ulster District Council’s chairman Cathal Mallaghan called on councillors to find a way to tackle the levels of hate crime in the area.

He made his comments during a discussion of an anti-GAA poster erected in the Coolhill area of Dungannon.

Independent councillor Barry Monteith said members of Dungannon GAA clubs have received messages of support from the unionist community.

“On speaking to members of Dungannon GAA over the past number of days they have asked me to recognise the support they have received from members of the unionist community,” said Mr Monteith.

“A lot of GAA folk want it expressed that they recognise this is a minority view in the unionist community and they recognise the support they receive from the unionist community.”

Dungannon DUP councillor, Clement Cuthbertson, condemned the poster but said it was time for the GAA to “weed out sectarian elements involved in the sport”.

“I have no trouble talking about the poster in question, it is wrong and should not be displayed,” said Mr Cuthbertson.

“But let me say this, the GAA governing body need to look at and weed out the sectarian elements involved in their sport.

“We all know about the competitions named after terrorists, the sectarian singing on the bus in Aughnacloy, the use of terrorists on club badges, and let’s be clear, a terrorist is a terrorist, should it be in the recent Troubles or 100 years ago, it is all wrong.”

Mr Cuthbertson continued: “Let’s talk about all the posters in Dungannon and you can laugh if you want chair, let’s talk about the posters and blatant glorification of terrorists along the Newell Road and Donaghmore Road that are up 365 days a year.

“Let’s also talk about the recent disgusting events in Dungannon during the so-called anti-interment celebrations, the republican white line protests which are not only sectarian but also can be described as anti-Semitic.

“Let’s talk about the young pizza delivery deliver who got a block to the side of the head, everyone will have seen his photograph on the front page of the paper.

“The racist attack on a home in the area and the smashing of business windows, let’s talk about all of this.”

The council’s chair Mr Mallaghan said some of the remarks made by Mr Cuthbertson were “totally ridiculous” but he did agree, in part, that a conversation should be had about all the posters.

“We should talk about all these signs of hate across our district,” he added.

“We should make that the work of this council over the next number of months and even as a target to see what we can do.

Ulster Unionist councillor Walter Cuddy said the chair’s idea “is a good step forward”, adding that the “world has moved on”.

DUP group leader, councillor Paul McLean said his party would “happily take part in that discussion”.