Councillor calls for removal of flags from outside Newry police station

A Newry City councillor is calling for Union Jack flags erected outside Ardmore police station to be taken down, saying their continued presence sends the wrong message to the local community. The flags have been in place since a march through Newry on 17 April.

Councillor Geraldine Kearns said the issue has been raised repeatedly with a number of bodies, including the PSNI, the Policing and Community Safety Partnership and the Department of Infrastructure, but the flags remain in place.

"These flags were erected as part of a march through Newry on April 17th, a month and a half ago. The flags remain flying and should be removed," said Cllr Kearns.

She said police stations should be accessible and welcoming to all. "Police stations are used by everyone in our community and should be open and welcoming places. The erection of these flags, right at the entrance of the station, sends a very different message to the community in Newry."

Cllr Kearns said local residents have been in contact to express their support for the flags being removed. "There is clear local community support for their removal. Numerous residents have contacted us asking for this to be done. Given that the march passed several weeks ago, it is long past time for these flags to be removed from the vicinity of the police station."