The SDLP has voiced support for a council decision to cut down an “unauthorised” flagpole and Union flag put up in the centre of a Co Derry town last week.
Contractors hired by Mid Ulster District Council used cutting equipment to remove the flag just hours after it was put up in the centre of Magherafelt last Wednesday.
The following day a group of loyalists, some wearing hoods, erected Union flags on lampposts throughout the middle of the town as PSNI members looked on.
Hours later south Derry based loyalist William Lennox, who has links to the British Truth Forum Northern Ireland, attempted to claim ownership of the roundabout which sits in the middle of the town’s main junction.
A notice setting out the claim was later removed by council workers as they placed security fencing at the roundabout.
A similar flagpole and Union flag were removed by the council last year as part of a £1.9million public realm scheme recently carried out in the town.
As part of the scheme a piece of public art, partly designed by local children, was due to be placed at the centre of the roundabout.
While the public art has full planning permission, the flagpole does not.
SDLP councillor Martin Kearney last night praised the council for “taking swift and decisive action to remove the unauthorised potentially dangerous structure”.
Mr Kearney voiced anger at the manner in which the flags were put up.
“It is appalling that an unelected band of people are allowed to hijack a town centre in the middle of the night without facing the rigours of the law,” he said.
“It is also deeply disturbing that these illegal activities have been supported in the press and media by prominent and elected unionist politicians.”
Mr Kearney also called for calm in the area.
“It is now time for sensible heads to act and calm this situation down before it gets utterly out of hand,” he said.'
Unionists have condemned the council decision to cut down the flag.
