DOWN Council has refused attempts by unionist politicians to reopen the debate on its controversial decision to introduce a new St. Patrick’s Day flag.
Two weeks ago, the council adopted a recommendation from its Good Relations Forum to introduce a new flag which contains the symbol of a Bishop’s mitre and crozier and includes the words ‘Downpatrick’ on one side and its Irish version, ‘Dun Pádraig’ on the other.
But there is widespread disagreement about what was actually agreed by the Good Relations Forum with unionists maintaining a flag with contains the symbol of a Bishop’s mitre and the words ‘Downpatrick, St. Patrick’s Country,’ was the preferred option.
At Monday night’s monthly council meeting, attempts by Ulster Unionist Robert Burgess and the DUP’s Billy Walker to have the flag debate reopened failed.
Council vice-chairman, Liam Johnston, of Sinn Fein, who was chairing the meeting, said the recommendation from the Good Relations Forum on the flags issue had already been dealt with.
Councillor Burgess said he was concerned that while the various debates about the St. Patrick’s Day flag were held at meetings at which the press were barred, the full detail of what took place was “splashed all over a newspaper.”
He continued: “I’m extremely disappointed that what was said in private on this issue ended up in the newspaper. That said, in my opinion, the only way forward is for Down Council to now abandon its secrecy culture. It’s time we conducted all our business in public so the ratepayers of this district can see exactly what’s going on and who is doing what.
“Every councillor is answerable to the people who elected them. If what’s said at a private meeting ends up in the press then none of our business should be conducted behind closed doors.”
Councillor Walker said he’s concerned the minutes of the Good Relations Forum were not debated at Monday night’s meeting. He insists there was agreement for the flag with the Bishop’s Mitre and crozier and the words ‘Downpatrick, St. Patrick’s Country,” before he discovered an alternative design with Irish on it was agreed.
Councillor Walker, who last week unveiled plans for an alternative St. Patrick’s Day parade “for unionists,” said his suggestion is gathering increasing support.
He added: “I won’t be silenced on the flag issue. I have a right to speak on behalf of the people I represent and who share my anger and concern about what’s happened.
“Down Council has refused to debate the minutes of the Good Relations Forum and the St. Patrick Day flag issue in particular and that’s wrong. As far as I’m concerned, all parties represented on the Forum backed the original design before nationalists and republicans changed their mind which has angered and disappointed many people across our district.”