Unionist anger at Duffy ‘meeting’
UNIONISTS have hit out at a council’s decision to allow its property to be used by dissident republican supporters.
Wednesday night’s meeting at the North Lurgan Community Centre, run by Craigavon Borough Council, will announce whether prominent republican Colin Duffy, who is on remand in Maghaberry prison charged with the murders of two soldiers in Antrim two months ago, will stand in the European election next month.
DUP group leader on Craigavon council Stephen Moutray said there would be outrage at the meeting, never mind it being held on council property.
“The people of Northern Ireland will be rightly repulsed by the views held by Duffy and his supporters,” he said.
“It takes a strange and sick logic to support the stance which Duffy has adopted on the recent attacks in Northern Ireland.
“I understand why people will be outraged that Duffy was able to hold a meeting in their community centre. It is very questionable how appropriate it is for such events to be held in council property.”
Mr Moutray said he would be challenging the rules allowing such a meeting in a council-owned facility.
“Council property is governed by a set of rules and anyone hiring the property must adhere to those rules. The council holds a significant number of facilities which can be hired by the community for a wide variety of purposes, including party political meetings.
“However, this event clearly has very significant connotations. As the DUP group leader in the council, I will be seeking a thorough review of the guidelines governing how facilities are hired and managed.”
He said supporters of the dissident republican had nothing to offer any voters and they should be opposed at every turn.
“Duffy and Co want to destroy Stormont and the progress we have made in Northern Ireland. His supporters want to drag us back to the past.
“The suggestion of people voting for Duffy-style politics is deeply worrying and should highlight the need for the police to take a strong stand against dissident republicans.”
The council defended its decision to permit Mr Duffy’s family to use the facilities, saying if they were used for political purposes, they could take further action.
In a statement, the council said: “Anyone booking a room at any of the council’s facilities is made very aware of our terms and conditions.
“Council officials have been reassured that this meeting will not be political and as with all other bookings, we have to take people’s word on this. If we find out to the contrary, then we can take further action”.
Last month, the Republican Network for Unity (RNU), an umbrella organisation representing a number of dissident republican groups, told the News Letter that Mr Duffy would stand for election.
Ciaran Cunningham, an RNU member from Belfast, said that Mr Duffy would stand as an independent candidate.
“Colin Duffy intends to stand as a candidate in the upcoming European elections,” he said.
“He will be standing on an end-28-day-detention ticket and an anti-internment ticket. A steering committee has been set up to direct the election campaign and RNU fully endorses that committee.”
However, since then there have been conflicting messages about whether Mr Duffy will indeed stand.
He has until Thursday to submit nomination papers and a £5,000 deposit to the Electoral Office
