A COUNCIL has passed a motion condemning a "sinister" anti-Irish banner left outside a Co Down school despite a DUP member saying those responsible have "every right to their opinion".
The poster, put up outside Cumran Primary School in Clough last month, read "Keep Irish out of our kids classrooms. St Malachy’s not welcome at CPS. Signed, parents".
The PSNI has said they are treating the incident as a sectarian hate crime.
During an emergency motion at Newry, Mourne and Down District Council on Monday evening, Sinn Féin councillor Jim Brennan faced some unionist opposition to his motion, which urged the council to condemn "in the strongest possible terms the recent erection of intimidatory and anti-Irish signage" at the school.
The motion added it was a "clear attempt to threaten and intimidate school children and their families and is the latest in an ongoing campaign by some individuals to mark out territory and intimidate both people living in and travelling through the area".
It added that the targeting of the school was "particularly sinister" an called for anyone with information to contact police.
Mr Brennan said: "Such naked displays of hate have no place in the tolerant and inclusive Ireland many of us are working hard to build.
"It’s about time we said enough is enough and I am delighted that we have been given the opportunity to bring this motion, to give us the chance to collectively condemn this incident. As representatives and leaders in our communities we have a duty to stand against this type of racist behaviour and show leadership."
He added that shared education was a "valued and respected part of our education system".
However, DUP councillor Alan Lewis, who declared an interest as being on the board of governors of Cumran PS, stated his disappointment that no one at the school had been "consulted" on the emergency motion.
Mournes DUP councillor Glyn Hanna argued that people behind the sign had a right to express themselves.
He said: "I don’t believe that this motion should be brought forward to this council, it is waste of ratepayers money. Children should not be exposed to any sort of anything like this.
"I do not believe the word sinister should be used in the motion as it suggests some form of intent behind it. I don’t know who did it, but the people who put up this sign have every right to their opinion. Though, I don’t know what goes through their heads. The incident was regrettable."
Council chairperson, the SDLP's Michael Savage, said those behind the sign "have no respect for themselves, never mind anyone else".
