A COUNCIL proposal to write to King Charles offering congratulations on his accession to the throne has been defeated.
The issue had been raised at the Policy and Resources Committee of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council. Members had been discussing of the additional public holiday on May 8 to mark the king's coronation.
Ulster Unionist councillor Matthew Bell welcomed the forward planning and proposed that the council "write to His Majesty King Charles III in mid or late April and congratulate him on his coronation and offer the council’s support as our head of state".
However, independent member Emmet McAleer said: "I don’t think it’s fitting for a council to be congratulating someone for what is an accident at birth, so I will dissent".
Tommy Maguire of Sinn Féin recorded dissent on behalf of his party and said that "we wish no ill-will, but we certainly don’t wish to be congratulating to such a position and we do not recognise that authority".
Independent Bernice Swift added: "I would go further than the two speakers before me. I don’t think this is appropriate whatsoever". She called for the matter to go to a vote and said that "more than dissenting, I will be voting against."
Committee chairman Errol Thompson agreed a vote was required given the emerging dissent.
Mary Garrity of the SDLP said the issue was becoming controversial and added: "I have agreed to many letters being sent by this council that I really haven’t wholeheartedly endorsed, but in the sentiment of peace I went along with them.
"However I would have reservations over the proposed letter to King Charles to be held off until April."
Having gone to a vote the proposal was defeated 17 to 16.
