Row erupts over burnt out bins

She was speaking after she said the Council should help the woman out as the bins had been destroyed as part of well-publicised vandalism in the Altananam/Broombeg area of Ballycastle.

When it came to a vote Cllr McShane’s two Sinn Fein colleagues backed her call but the rest of the councillors voted against.

Opponents said they had sympathy with the woman’s case but said if they reverse the Council policy it could set a precedent.

Currently ratepayers have to pay for any replacement bin or bins.

Cllr McShane said the woman in question had her blue and black bins destroyed by fire at a time when there was also allegations of stone-throwing directed at the Fire Service. The councillor condemned the incidents.

She said the woman who lost both bins is a single parent who “can ill afford to get by, never mind 70”.

Cllr McShane said she recognises Council has a policy of people having to pay for replacement bins but said given the “hard economic” climate she asked if they could make an exception in this case.

Council Chief Executive Richard Lewis said that although he could sympathise with the case they had to ask themselves “where do you draw the line”.

Independent councillor Seamus Blaney said around 12 or 13 years ago he brought a similar case up to the Council regarding a pensioner who had her bin burnt out but she had to pay for a replacement.

Cllr McShane said special consideration should be given for the woman in Altananam area because of the circumstances of the trouble in the area.

The councillor said the disturbances involved “people from outside the estate who came in and caused this wanton vandalism and people have to pick up the cost”.

Independent councillor Randal McDonnell asked if house insurance would cover the cost of the damage to the bins.

Council officer Aidan McPeake said their staff do tell people to put such cases through their house insurance for compensation..

Cllr McShane said the Council should show “some sympathy” for the case and SDLP councillor Madeline Black said that whilst she is sympathetic they had to stick to their policy.

Ulster Unionist Helen Harding said: “I think we all feel badly about this but if we agree to do this we are setting a precedent.”

Cllr McShane said it was “regrettable” that the Council would not replace the bins and when she made her proposal for the Council to pay in this case there were three votes for and nine against.

That prompted her to slam it as a “very unfortunate” decision and she said when new rates are set she hoped councillors will not waste money on conferences or on ‘twin town’ arrangements.