Assembly warned over 'atrocity memorials'

Sinn Fein demands for equality of symbols and emblems at Stormont would lead to memorials celebrating IRA violence, it was claimed tonight.

Unionists, opposing a motion from Conor Murphy (Sinn Fein, Newry and Armagh) claimed it would open the door for republicans to commemorate atrocities from the last 30 years.

Paddy Roche (NIUP, Lagan Valley) was concerned that acts of violence such as Bloody Friday or the Remembrance Day bombing would be commemorated at Stormont.

‘‘The suggestion that this sort of activity should ever be commemorated would be in any normal political system literally unthinkable.

Bob McCartney (UKUP, North Down) said he would be happy to see a commemoration of constitutional nationalists.

‘‘I for one would willingly support some memento or mark of respect to the late Paddy Devlin.

‘‘But if we would examine what would be proposed on behalf of Sinn Fein/IRA.

‘‘Should we have some sort of artistic representation of a bomb being planted outside Harrod’s or the Old Bailey, blowing to destruction an innocent consultant anaesthetist?’’

Mr Murphy said statues and plaques currently at Stormont clearly reflected the historic desire to create a Protestant parliament for a Protestant people.

‘‘There are many unionist symbols built into the fabric of this building.

‘‘All of this reflects the historical background of this location and although as an Irish republican I have no allegiance to that, I am not proposing that they should be eradicated.’’

He called on the Assembly Commission to report on how the building and estate could reflect the nationalist as well as unionist position.

‘‘Anyone who supports the Agreement should accept the dominance of one community over another as being consigned to the past and that new political institutions should reflect this reality.’’

However the Assembly supported a DUP motion which said that any additional symbols and emblems should reflect the history of Stormont.

Gregory Campbell (DUP, East Derry) said he had no objections to nationalist politicians being commemorated.

‘‘This building and estate was not the exclusive preserve of the unionist tradition. There were many people who frequented this building who were nationalist.’’

‘‘If the Commission are of a mind to examine what possibilities could emerge in order that the parliamentary history as it affects the entire community can be replicated.’’

Dr Esmond Birnie (UUP, South Belfast) supporting the amendment asked whether the purpose of the Sinn Fein motion was to build or destroy symbols.

‘‘We would argue that there is a case for addition rather than subtraction or destruction - the historical architectural vandalism of symbols.¾

Alex Attwood (SDLP, West Belfast) supporting the motion, suggested that the symbols within the building should reflect the experience of nationalism since partition.

‘‘Should this building not record the nationalist experience under the Special Powers Act, the nationalist experience of being excluded from Government about the nationalist experience of internment that was endorsed by the parliament that once sat here?’’ he added.