Exiled Protestant minister may be offered freedom of Limavady

A Protestant minister, now based in Co Cork, may be offered the freedom of the Northern town from where he was forced in the 1980s.

The Rev. David Armstrong had been intimidated out of Limavady in Co Derry after developing good relations with his Catholic counterpart in the early 1980s.

Armstrong is currently based in Carrigaline, Co Cork but in the 1980s he was a Presbyterian minister in Limavady.

He went to the re-opening of a local Catholic chapel, been blown up by loyalists and he and the local parish priest, Father Kevin Mullan, went to each other's Christmas services.

Armstrong said the applause was so loud he thought the roof would be blown off again a second time but his own congregation later passed a vote of no confidence in him. He was labelled 'The Papal Minister' and was verbally abused and threatened.

Limavady SDLP councillor Michael Coyle is proposing both Fr Mullan and the Rev. Thompson be given the freedom of the town.