Loyalists have attempted to claim ownership of a roundabout in the centre of a Co Derry town from which a Union flag and pole were cut down earlier this week.
A notice setting out the claim was placed at the roundabout in the centre of Magherafelt by local loyalist William Lennox just hours after several Union flags were hung from nearby lampposts.
A spokeswoman for Mid-Ulster District Council, which has responsibility for the roundabout, confirmed that staff members who were putting up a security fence at the roundabout removed the notice which was nailed to a lump of wood.
The spokeswoman also claimed that council workers at the site “were subjected to vitriolic abuse by onlookers” and that a report has been made to the PSNI.
Loyalists with links to the British Truth Forum Northern Ireland were also responsible for putting an “unauthorised” flagpole at the roundabout in the early hours of Wednesday.
Hours later contractors hired by Mid Ulster District Council cut down the “unauthorised” flagpole and Union flag sparking a furious response from loyalists.
The council later said the decision to remove the hastily erected flagpole was taken on safety grounds.
A post on the British Truth Forum Northern Ireland Facebook page last night said a "pre-action protocol for judicial review letter, have been issued to Mid-Ulster District Council and Chief Constable of Northern Ireland".
Mr Lennox last night confirmed that he placed the sign on the roundabout which said the British Truth Forum “intends to lay claim to this land” if the owner fails to produce proof of ownership within seven days.
He said he was accompanied by outgoing DUP assembly member Keith Buchanan who acted as a witness. Mr Buchanan could not be contacted for comment.
Mr Lennox made headlines in 2014 after he interrupted a meeting of the old Magherafelt District Council as representatives debated a decision to withhold Christmas lights from a community group in Castledawson until agreement was reached on the flying of loyalist flags in the mixed town.
During the interruption he hurled abuse at Sinn Féin representatives and referred to the Magna Cara.
"Under Article 21 of the Magna Carta, we hereby take control of this council and we are putting every single one of the council on notice that you are sacked,” he said.
The Magna Carta, which dates to 1215, is regarded as a cornerstone in the development of English constitutional law, setting out the limits of royal powers.
His land claim comes after the Department for Infrastructure confirmed that the roundabout, which sits at the town’s main junction, is “unregistered”.
The spokeswoman said that adopted or maintained road surfaces are under the control of Transport NI but that “responsibility” for the roundabout in Magherafelt rests with the council under a licence granted to it to carry out the public realm work.
On Thursday night a large group of men, some wearing hoods, used ladders to put up Union flags on lampposts close to the roundabout as PSNI members looked on.
Both the DfI and council last night confirmed that Mid Ulster council has responsibility for lampposts in the public realm work zone.
However, it is not known if the council now intends to remove the latest flags.
A spokeswoman for the council said it is “liaising with its statutory partners and local community representatives to seek a resolution to the current issue”.
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.
Under the scheme a piece of public art, partly designed by local children, was due to be placed in the centre of the roundabout.
While the public art has full planning permission, the flagpole does not.
Sinn Féin councillor Sean McPeake last night dismissed the land claim.
“That’s the legal opinion of a man that once came into a council chamber and sacked the councillors on the back of the Magna Carta,” he said.
“I would be sceptical about the depth of his legal knowledge.”
DUP councillor Paul McLean said the erection of the new flags was the result of unionist frustration.
“As far as I am concerned the flag going up have now demonstrated the resentment towards the council.”
He also voiced concern that the pole had been cut down and the “manner it was done”.
Police confirmed they witnessed the erection of the flags.
Superintendent Mike Baird said: "Police were in the area and observed a small number of Union flags being erected on lampposts in the town centre (on Thursday night). Police were in attendance to ensure there was no breach of the peace and to identify if any criminal offences were committed."
