News

Sinn Féin call-in council plan to dispose of Raymond McCreesh play park

The childrens play park in Newry that is named after Raymond McCreesh Pic Mal McCann.
The childrens play park in Newry that is named after Raymond McCreesh Pic Mal McCann. The childrens play park in Newry that is named after Raymond McCreesh Pic Mal McCann.

SINN Féin has moved the halt Newry, Mourne and Down District Council's plan to sell off a controversial play park named after an IRA hunger striker.

The council announced last week that the Raymond McCreesh park site in Newry is "surplus to requirements".

Originally called Patrick Street play park, the re-naming of the park in 2001 angered unionists.

The council said that other public bodies would be offered first refusal on the site under what is known as a D1 process.

Read More

  • Newry council decides to off-load Raymond McCreesh park
  • Kingsmill victim's brother slams Sinn Féin event for IRA man Raymond McCreesh

Any decision on whether to retain the name would be for the new owner.

Sinn Féin said yesterday it planned to call-in disposal of the park

Councillors can request a call-in if they feel a decision was not properly reached, or would adversely affect a section of the community. A lawyer is then asked to examine the decision to determine whether it should be reconsidered.

Sinn Féin councillor Liz Kimmins said the disposal of the controversial park was undertaken "without community consultation" and was against the wishes of residents in the Barcroft and Ballybot areas.

"Despite the fact that ten play parks in Newry & Mourne Council (sic) area have been declared as surplus assets, Raymond McCreesh is the only one that has been fast-tracked for disposal," she said.

"Sinn Féin have decided to call-in the motion to sell off the park in order to allow for further investigation and to ensure the voices of residents are heard."