Northern Ireland

Newry council decides to off-load Raymond McCreesh park

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council has decided to off-load the Raymond McCreesh play park in Newry
Newry, Mourne and Down District Council has decided to off-load the Raymond McCreesh play park in Newry

A controversial play park named after an IRA hunger striker is set to be sold by the council that owns it.

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council have said the Raymond McCreesh park site is now "surplus to requirements".

Unionists were bitterly opposed to the naming of the park in memory of the IRA man who died during the 1981 hunger strike.

Originally called Patrick Street play park, it was renamed in 2001.

Other public bodies will now be offered first refusal on the site under what is known as a D1 process.

Any decision on whether to retain the name being up to the new owner.

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Sinn Féin councillor Liz Kimmins said the issue should go out for community consultation.

“It’s a well-used community asset and to be selling that on to public bodies is taking that away,” she said.

SDLP Councillor Michael Savage said: “During this process the local community will be asked to give their views on the options available and if the council and the community believe any of the proposals are a good fit then we will progress them."