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Sinn Féin accused of 'hypocrisy' in planning dispute

Sinn Féin's Michelle O'Neill, Martin McGuinness and Francie Molloy with Dmac's Declan McShane and Daniel McCusker at a publicity photo call at Stormont in 2013
Sinn Féin's Michelle O'Neill, Martin McGuinness and Francie Molloy with Dmac's Declan McShane and Daniel McCusker at a publicity photo call at Stormont in 2013 Sinn Féin's Michelle O'Neill, Martin McGuinness and Francie Molloy with Dmac's Declan McShane and Daniel McCusker at a publicity photo call at Stormont in 2013

SINN Féin has been accused of "hypocrisy" for supporting Dmac Engineering factory plans ­ while opposing similar proposals two miles away.

The party backed the plans by Dmac despite a history of planning and environmental issues on the site outside Coalisland, Co Tyrone.

Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness and MP Francie Molloy appeared in a Dmac press release endorsing the proposals.

However, it has emerged the party is meanwhile objecting to another firm’s plans for a similar factory nearby.

Blackrock Manufacturing seeks to extend its existing plant on Gortgonis Road for shot-blasting and paint-spraying facilities.

Mid Ulster MLA Michelle O'Neill wrote to planners last year objecting to the proposals.

She said she supported the concerns of residents including the impact on their "quality of life particularly in relation to the noise".

Documents also show Ms O'Neill met with senior planners in February to highlight residents' concerns.

Blackrock’s factory is on a site zoned for industrial use and planners have recommended that the proposals should be approved.

By contrast, Sinn Féin has backed a similar but larger development by Dmac.

Its factory would also be used for machinery shot-blasting and paint-spraying.

However, the nature conservation site off Annagher Road is not zoned for industrial use.

Dmac has also run a factory on the site in breach of planning laws since 2006.

The Department of the Environment recommended that the new plans were rejected, but the issue stalled and was passed to the new Mid Ulster council.

A council planning report states the proposal "does not accord with the development plan or regional policy" and would likely be refused by the Planning Appeals Commission.

Despite this, the report recommended approval and it was given the go-ahead by councillors.

UUP councillor Kenneth Reid, who sits on the new planning committee, said the differing positions showed Sinn Féin's "hypocrisy and unfairness".

SDLP Mid Ulster MLA Patsy McGlone claimed he has seen Sinn Féin court both sides of planning disputes on previous occasions.

He said councillors voting on planning cases under new powers transferred to local authorities must be consistent with planning policy.

"Politically it's Sinn Féin trying to play both ends off against the middle. Consistency has to be the order of the day," he said.

However, Sinn Féin's Ms O'Neill insisted the two cases are "very different".

"The Dmac application was for a new build which will create 80 jobs in the area. The Blackrock application was for a modification to the existing

facility which would extend the operating hours," she said.

"I met with local residents who are concerned about the closeness to their homes.

"We approach these matters on a case by case basis."