Sinn Féin’s Declan Kearney has expressed extreme disappointment at the refusal of unionist councillors on Antrim and Newtownabbey Council’s Community Development Committee to accept the need for modest changes to the Bonfire Management Programme aimed at eradicating hate crimes.

The South Antrim MLA said,

“A recent meeting of Council’s Community Development Committee had the opportunity to adopt changes to the Bonfire Management Programme as proposed by my Party colleague, Cllr Annie O’Lone. It is a matter of extreme disappointment that unionist councillors rejected these proposals. 

“The proposed changes to the current policy were intended to strengthen Council’s responsibility to tackle the proliferation of hate crimes which continue to be a feature of particular 11th July bonfires in the Borough, including some which consistently violate the Bonfire Management Programme criteria. 

Speaking on the proposal put to the Community Development Committee, Cllr O’Lone said,

“The proposed changes would have replaced the aim of reducing the display and burning of flags, images and effigies at bonfire sites, and asking organisers to merely ‘refrain’ from such hate crimes. Instead, the suggested change in policy sought a zero tolerance towards all such displays, and sanctions for any breaches.

“While the Bonfire Management Programme since 2016, has succeeded in bringing about improvements at sites across the borough, it has failed to address the perceived weakness in Council policy, which effectively tolerates and empowers those who still persist in engaging in the burning of flags, emblems and effigies on bonfires, all without consequence.”

Declan Kearney added,

“There is a strong perception that Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council has failed to act against, and acquiesces in the face of repeated hate crimes taking place at locations associated with, or in the vicinity of events which receive Council funding. This is unacceptable and an affront to many ratepayers in the Council area. 

“The annual occurrence of this behaviour without challenge is untenable. It should not be normalised, nor allowed to continue with impunity. These hate crimes are in violation of the rule of law and respect for good relations; they do not represent a legitimate expression of culture.

“There was an onus on unionists at last week’s committee meeting to go beyond mere words of condemnation and ensure an appropriate enforcement of Council policy in line with the spirit of what the Bonfire Management Programme was originally set up to achieve, based upon mutual respect, good relations, anti-racism and anti-sectarianism. 

“The refusal to do so is a missed opportunity and a setback for community relations. Continued capitulation to bigotry incentivises more bigotry and hatred, and is in clear violation of the right to shared space, inclusion, and respect for all sections of our community.”