Write a commentRaymond McCreesh Park in Newry will remain as is after a Special Council Meeting last night to discuss the matter.
The Newry, Mourne and Down council meeting considered an independent analysis of responses to a consultation on the naming of Raymond McCreesh Park in Patrick Street in Newry. The analysis followed a decision by the Equality Commission to rescind a May 2015 decision accepting the councils decision to retain the name of the park.
Three options were proposed at last nights meeting. 1: Retain the name, 2: Change the name 3: Review the use and management of the land occupied by the park involving the council's strategic review of play areas. Option three was chosen by a majority of councillors.
A Brief History
A sign naming the play park Raymond McCreesh Park after the Camlough born hunger striker had been unofficially placed there in 2001 and following community consultation the council had agreed to name the park after Raymond McCreesh later that year. What followed was Equality Commission communications in 2008 and following a complaint in 2009 leading to a 2012 agreement by the council to keep the name.
Welcomed by the people of Ballybot
Speaking after the vote Newry Councillor, Charlie Casey, has said that the decision of Newry, Mourne & Down District Council to retain the name of Raymond McCreesh Park will be welcomed by the people of Ballybot.
“Sinn Féin, and the overwhelming majority of people from the Ballybot area, believe that the name of Raymond McCreesh Park should remain unchanged.
"Last night's Council vote was a recognition of the esteem and respect in which Raymond McCreesh is held by the people of Ballybot.
"Currently Newry, Mourne and Down District Council are undertaking a Play Review Strategy for all recreational facilities in the district.
"During this, residents of the Ballybot area will be given the opportunity once again to decide the future of Raymond McCreesh Park through a public consultation.
"Sinn Féin support the right of the residents of Ballybot to determine the future of their local facilities, and to name them in any way they see fit."
Failing to heed the concerns of the Unionist community
Also commenting on the decision not to proceed with a process to change the name and instead pass the issue over to an ongoing council play strategy consultation, Slieve Gullion Cllr David Taylor expressed his strong disappointment and dismay
"When the initial decision was taken to name the play park at Patrick Street after convicted terrorist Raymond McCreesh, it was wrong on so many levels. I can only describe it as indefensible, morally incomprehensible and a two fingered salute towards those families who lost loved ones at the hands of the cruel actions of Republican terrorists during the period of the Troubles in Northern Ireland.
"The decision taken tonight has provided a very clear insight into the mindset of Republican and Nationalist representatives who have failed in their duty to do the right thing on this matter by supporting the changing of the name of the park to one that is neutral and accommodating for the entire population of our District.
"The clear fact is this issue has caused great hurt to the innocent victims of the troubles who experienced significant trauma because of the actions of people like Raymond McCreesh. The original decision taken by the former Newry & Mourne Council in naming a play park after a convicted terrorist, only served to compound that trauma and the ongoing failure by this Council to deal with the matter appropriately will only serve to deepen their hurt further.
"The perceived opinion of the Unionist Community towards Newry, Mourne & Down District Council is that the Council is considered to be a cold house for members of that Community and this opinion is backed up in the responses received during the consultation on the Raymond McCreesh Park issue.
Cllr Taylor continued "The challenge faced by Republican and Nationalist representatives at tonight's meeting was clear. Were they willing to continue to allow members of the Unionist Community to feel like they are second class citizens in our District or would they take the opportunity to offer an olive branch to Unionists, by taking the step to change the name of Raymond McCreesh Park to something more appropriate and welcoming to the entire community? Sadly, they have failed miserably in meeting this challenge!!
"We have heard much from Sinn Fein in recent times about promoting an equality and respect agenda, but it is abundantly clear that they cannot be taken seriously in this regard when their party actively promotes the naming of children’s play parks after convicted terrorists.
“Republicans commemorate Raymond McCreesh because of how he chose to die. The Unionist community cannot forget how he chose to live.
Cllr Taylor concluded "To pass this issue off for further discussion under the play strategy consultation with a view to possibly transferring land ownership to the local community does not actually deal with the matter in hand in terms of the naming of a children’s play park after a convicted IRA terrorist.
"There has been an abject failure on the part of Council to deal with this issue in an appropriate manner, I asked elected members to search their consciences on this matter, to do the right thing and rename this park immediately. Unfortunately, this has not happened and my thoughts are first and foremost with those innocent victims of the Troubles who have been let down by Newry, Mourne & Down District Council once again."
Reconciliation not political point scoring
Newry Cllr Michael Savage confirmed that there was no change in the SDLP’s position and that the party acted in the interests of the community.
“At the council meeting our councillors proposed option 3 to go forward to deal with the McCreesh Play Park issue. This is a common sense approach to the issue that would have the entire issue of the play park looked at through the play strategy.
“The SDLP did not vote against renaming the park but voted for an option suggested by the independent consultant, council directors and legal advice.
“Naming a public space, and particularly a children’s park, in this way is something which clearly caused hurt to victims and survivors. We must also recognise the hurt experienced by the McCreesh family and the pain that this protracted situation continues to cause them.
“The SDLP isn't interested in political point scoring on such a sensitive issue and nor should others be.
“We do not, in any way, want to add to the burden of those who have suffered. The politicking that has been played around these issues only serves to open the wounds of the past, wounds that we all have a duty to repair.
Cllr Savage concluded “Our decision last night was to deal with the issue appropriately without allowing the issue to descend into a political farce with two extremes pulling strips of each other.
“Anyone who wants to question the SDLP's integrity on standing up against violence only needs to look at our history. As a party who helped broker the peace we won't take lessons from anyone.
“We will continue in our sincere and genuine pursuit of reconciliation between people and communities across these islands.”
A slap in the face to victims
Newry and Armagh MLA, William Irwin said the decision was a slap in the face to victims.
“The events last night in Newry, Mourne & Down District Council were a slap in the face for innocent victims. Both the SDLP and Sinn Fein are very keen to lecture others about equality and they regularly cite the views of the Equality Commission. However, when it comes to the glorification of a brutal sectarian killer then both these parties are happy to ignore the Commission’s guidance.
In 2013 the then leader of the SDLP acknowledged the “hurt and distress” caused by his party’s Councillors voting to retain the name of an IRA terrorist. In 2015 the SDLP told us there was “an on-going discussion” with Councillors when they failed to vote to change the name. We need to hear from the current leader of the SDLP whether that “on-going discussion” continued until last night and whether he is happy that his party still causes hurt and distress when his Councillors openly admit they broke promises made on this issue.
There is little doubt that keeping Raymond McCreesh Park in place, albeit under community ownership fits the Sinn Fein ‘Trojan Horse’ definition of equality. Does the SDLP leader believe however, as his Council Group Leader appears to, that handing over this park to community ownership with its name still in place, represents “a solution to the dispute”?
Consulting on the issue for a potential sale of the park is not a resolution it is a fudge and it is offensive to any right-thinking person.”
