Northern Ireland

Sinn Féin and SDLP councillors raise concerns about plans to commemorate RUC

Garda Commissioner Drew Harris, RUC GC Foundation Chair Prof Stephen White and PSNI Chief Constable Simon Byrne at the RUC 100th anniversary service in Belfast in May
Garda Commissioner Drew Harris, RUC GC Foundation Chair Prof Stephen White and PSNI Chief Constable Simon Byrne at the RUC 100th anniversary service in Belfast in May Garda Commissioner Drew Harris, RUC GC Foundation Chair Prof Stephen White and PSNI Chief Constable Simon Byrne at the RUC 100th anniversary service in Belfast in May

NATIONALIST councillors have raised concerns about plans to commemorate the RUC a century after its formation.

Members of Antrim and Newtownabbey council backed a DUP motion for a “tangible and lasting” commemoration in the borough.

However, Sinn Féin and SDLP representatives both voiced concerns.

The motion was approved after 27 councillors voted in favour with Sinn Féin voting against and three SDLP absentions.

The DUP's Sam Flanagan noted the RUC, which was formed in June 1922, was awarded the George Cross in 1999.

"Earlier this year, many in our society came together to mark the centenary of the RUC’s formation and policing in Northern Ireland,” he said.

"I thought it was appropriate to mark this in council and to reflect and commemorate this milestone. I know of a number of RUC families who lost loved ones. I know that pain is still there and still raw. The heroism of those officers will never be forgotten by any of us in Northern Ireland. it cannot ever be repaid. It took courage to be a member of the RUC. Those brave families deserve our recognition."

His party colleague and former RUC officer Paula Bradley told the meeting: "I wore that uniform for 10 years. Those were 10 years of fear."

"I also know that the RUC was not perfect, but like any organisation is not perfect, but the vast majority of the men and women I served with were honourable people. They were there to do a day’s work to protect society and uphold the law."

SDLP councillor Roisin Lynch said she recognised the strong emotion and strength of feeling brought by the motion and accepted the wish for a”tangible and lasting commemoration".

“We accept that everyone has the right to remember and commemorate the past in a way of their own but we do not feel we can support the motion. SDLP will abstain," she said.

She added that while the majority of officers were “ordinary people doing a job” there was also a "significant minority have been found to have been engaged in collusion or unjustifiable behaviour".

“While we understand the unionist community holds the RUC in high regard, we cannot ignore the issues that existed within the RUC based on institutional problems. Many retired RUC officers refused to co-operate with legacy investigations depriving relatives of truth and justice.

“The RUC did not command the confidence of all communities and it was right that it was disbanded.”

Sinn Féin's Michael Goodman also objected.

"We understand the RUC is particularly emotional and emotive organisation for the unionist community but the people who brought forward this motion many not be old enough to remember that not all communities supported the work the RUC did," he said.

"If this council wants to move forward issues like this, they need to be dealt with in a better way. Bringing motions like this into the chamber only creates division."