Opinion

Editorial: Welcome unity on flags

IT is rare for our political parties to take a united position on flags, much less to be in agreement on two flag issues on the same day.

In Derry, unionist representatives have joined condemnation of the flying of Parachute Regiment flags ahead of the 50th anniversary of Bloody Sunday, after this paper reported on the distress caused to bereaved families by their appearance on approach roads into the city at Newbuildings and Drumahoe.

It is difficult to conceive of a more egregious example of a public display intended to cause gratuitous offence.

The trauma of Bloody Sunday remains real for relatives of those killed by Paratroopers and for the city as a whole as the milestone anniversary is marked this weekend.

The dignity displayed by families over the last five decades stands in stark contrast to the attitudes of those who have chosen this time to insult their loved ones' memories.

Responding to yesterday's report, UUP leader and former British army officer Doug Beattie said flying the flag "does nothing but hurt the victims who still grieve to this day and shows a total lack of respect and compassion".

The Parachute Regiment itself said it was "totally unacceptable and disrespectful", while DUP assembly member Gary Middleton also said the erection of the flags was designed to be offensive and they should be removed.

Less convincing was the Department for Infrastructure's response, which spoke of intervening when there is a hazard to road users. The unwillingness of authorities generally to remove illegal or offensive displays on public property is a long-standing cause of frustration - and in this case there is surely no excuse for inaction.

Elsewhere, there has also been a rare outbreak of agreement on flying of the union flag at Belfast city council.

Councillors voted last week not to raise the flag on the designated day marking Prince Andrew's birthday, given he is facing a US civil action over contested sexual assault allegations.

Mr Beattie agreed yesterday it would be inappropriate and the DUP has now shifted its position to indicate it would support the flag being flown on an alternative date.

It would be naive to think that consensus in these cases might herald a more mature approach to the wider issue of flags that blight our landscape. But in a divided society where tribal loyalties still run deep, it is right to acknowledge when the right decisions are made.