What happened Lord Morrow’s outrage over glorification of terrorist McCaughey?
14 February 2011
Statement by TUV Fermanagh South Tyrone candidate Alex Elliott
“On the 21st October 2010 many South Tyrone newspapers and regional papers published the story of the disgraceful misuse of the Mayor’s Parlour in Dungannon Council for the glorification of terrorism and the unveiling of a portrait of IRA terrorist Martin McCaughey, who met his just deserts 20 years ago.
http://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/local/outrage_over_function_for_ira_man_1_1867937
“The press also reported the response of outgoing MLA, Lord Maurice Morrow, who expressed his anger and called for an investigation by The Equality Commission into the use of Council property for such a perverse purpose.
“So what did Maurice do as a follow-up? Under schedule 9, paragraph 10 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, the Equality Commission can investigate a complaint of an alleged failure by a public authority to comply with its approved Equality Scheme. Almost four months has now passed, but on making contact with the Equality Commission I am advised no such official complaint has been made by Lord Morrow. Why not? Was all his ‘huff and puff’ in the papers not worth the ink and paper it was written upon, a bit like his ‘not in the lifetime of this Assembly’ assurances over policing and justice?
“When a public representative such as Maurice speaks on behalf of the people of Fermanagh/ South Tyrone, we expect him to act and deliver on their behalf. If, maybe because every day he props up IRA/Sinn Fein in government, he lacked the will to carry through on his complaint, then it begs the question as to depth of his objection in the first place. Was it merely for the short-term publicity?
“I believe the people of Fermanagh/South Tyrone expect and deserve more in their unionist representatives. In May, of course, they’ll get the chance to decide.”
