A LEADING local authority has backed down over plans to fly a merchant navy ensign which includes a Union flag in a nationalist town after it was threatened with legal action.
Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council confirmed that it has dropped plans to fly the British merchant navy flag in the seaside Co Antrim town of Ballycastle on ‘merchant navy day’.
The U-turn came after independent councillor Padraig McShane, who lives in the town, threatened to take action against his own council in a bid to block the move.
It was expected the flag would be flown in the nationalist town after a request by Seafarers UK - a charity which helps former sea workers and their families.
The flag was due to be flown from the harbour as there is no flagpole at the town’s council office.
The council last night said it would not be flown in Ballycastle and also confirmed it would not fly in Limavady either.
But a spokeswoman added that it would fly from council offices in Coleraine and Ballymoney - neither of which are coastal towns.
She said: "Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council confirms the navy ensign flag will not be flown in Ballycastle, nor in Limavady. However, it will be flown in Ballymoney and in Coleraine".
It is understood the flag will be flown on September 3.
Mr McShane welcomed the council’s decision.
"Equality and respect must accompany councils every decision including where it provides and supplies services," he said.
"If the DUP-UUP axis in the chamber continues to fail areas in the new borough with a sizeable nationalist majority it will find itself in the courts again post haste.
"Other councillors interested in equality should be challenging this in other areas of the borough."
There was controversy earlier this year after unionists revealed plans to fly the Union flag on some council buildings, including its Ballycastle office, on every working day of the year.
That proposal is currently going through an equality impact assessment.
Mr McShane said that the Union flag has never been flown from council buildings in Ballycastle and that the majority of local people would be opposed to the move.
Michael Brentnall of Robert Murtagh and Company solicitors said the council decided not to fly the flag in Ballycastle while it waits for the "delivery of an equality impact assessment."
