Shared City Project shock

Jeanette Warke, who headed up the Shared City Project for the past 12 years, has said that she is to retire in the New Year - despite having twice appealed the decision by the City Council not to reappoint her.

Mrs Warke, who is also well-known for her work with the Cathedral Youth Club in the Fountain estate, said she was saddened to learn that she is not to continue with ongoing projects, but vowed that it would not deter her from fulfiling what she feels are her duties.

And she confirmed that she did not want to step down, but fought to be able to continue her work.

"As far as I am concerned it was actually 'enforced retirement' as I was, and still am very sad about it.

"I actually appealed it twice because I am deeply concerned about my ongoing work commitments," she said, adding: "I have two projects in particular that are ongoing and they are very important to me and I feel it is very important for me to fulfil my duty to the community and particularly to the victims of the Troubles, with whom I work very closely."

She continued: "I am also involved heavily in promoting good relations policies through my work in the city, and to be honest, yes, I was quite annoyed and upset about it.

"To be honest, after the initial shock of being told to go, you would think in this day and age that when you are promoting a shared city and good community relations that this was work that was important to continue with, and for me age didn't come into it," she said.

Saying she is keen not to let anyone down, she added:

"Hopefully what I intend to do is continue to work with some of the groups and I sincerely hope that I will not let anybody down.

"Even though I will not be officially employed with the Shared City team I will continue with my cross-community work and I feel very strongly that I will continue my work particularly in the Fountain area, because I believe it is an area that needs a lot of support.

"I have introduced a couple of projects working directly with parents, operational from June and they have been very successful. Through those programmes I have seen how much that the older people living here in the Fountain really need that kind of support.

"I have appealed this decision twice. I actually sat on two interviews and I was turned down both times.

"I feel very sad about it, particularly as I have put in 12 years of work into trying to promote a shared city and I honestly hope that people can see that that is what I have done and I hope I have achieved that."

Asked to comment on the future of the Shared City Project and Mrs Warke's retirement, which will occur in the new year, a spokesperson for the City Council said: "All staff matters remain confidential."

In relation to the Shared City Project, the Derry City Council spokesperson said it remains an important community project for Council.