News

Housing Executive won't rule out memorial bid at UDA man's bungalow

Stanley Wightman, left, and Colin 'Bap' Lindsay who died in the sword attack in the Belvoir estate, south Belfast
Stanley Wightman, left, and Colin 'Bap' Lindsay who died in the sword attack in the Belvoir estate, south Belfast Stanley Wightman, left, and Colin 'Bap' Lindsay who died in the sword attack in the Belvoir estate, south Belfast

THE Housing Executive has refused to rule out proposals for a memorial garden where a senior UDA member was murdered in a samurai sword attack.

Colin 'Bap' Lindsay and his friend were killed in his bungalow in south Belfast's Belvoir estate last year.

In recent months the house has become a shrine to the 47-year-old with loyalist flags adorning the front of the Kirkistown Walk property.

Albert Armstrong (47), of Grays Park, Ballylenaghan Upper, is serving life with a minimum 14-year jail term for the double killing of Lindsay and 52-year-old Stanley Wightman.

Loyalists have suggested demolishing the property and creating a memorial garden, the Sunday Life reported.

The latest edition of the Loyalist magazine said: "Some locals have even suggested that the bungalow be demolished, and hope that maybe there could be a location nearby where a small memorial could be erected to the men that were murdered that day."

Other proposals include replacing the house with a community garden where "all the deceased of the area can be remembered without any political symbols used".

The Housing Executive, which owns the bungalow, said it had not been approached about any such proposals.

When asked whether the housing body would rule out the idea, a spokeswoman said: "No representation has been made to the Housing Executive regarding a memorial garden at this location so it is not currently a matter for consideration."