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Council contractors had police guard when removed 1916 memorial

The 1916 Easter Rising memorial erected without planning permission in Carnlough. Picture by Hugh Russell
The 1916 Easter Rising memorial erected without planning permission in Carnlough. Picture by Hugh Russell The 1916 Easter Rising memorial erected without planning permission in Carnlough. Picture by Hugh Russell

COUNCIL contractors had a police guard when they removed an Easter Rising memorial in Carnlough in the "early hours" because a previous attempt failed when they were warned off, it has emerged.

Nationalists hit out earlier this month when the unionist-controlled Mid & East Antrim Borough Council took down the monument which had been erected at Hurry Head without planning permission.

Now, a report to be presented to councillors on Monday night has revealed that when contractors first attempted to remove the stone they had to flee after being "approached by two men and advised to get off site".

It states: "The contractor refused to make a further attempt to remove the memorial unless accompanied by PSNI. On the basis that an initial attempt had been made, the PSNI agreed to accompany the contractor on Friday 17 June to remove the memorial.

"In order to avoid any similar approaches to the previous attempt, the contractor carried out the work in the early hours of the morning."

With nationalist politicians complaining that the council has not acted against loyalist memorials, the council report goes on to say that the "mixed reaction within the local community" needs to be understood in more detail.

"Concerns have been expressed regarding other alleged unauthorised memorials and there is a piece of work which now requires to be carried out which identifies any other unauthorised memorials."