Sir, – Your Editorial on the Belfast flag vote (December 5th) stresses the need for dialogue on such emotive issues. It was a surprise then that the events at Newry City Council on the same evening merited no coverage in your paper.There Sinn Féin and SDLP councillors voted to continue to call a children’s playground after IRA hunger striker Raymond McCreesh.
Sinn Féin constantly lectures unionists about compromise; inclusivity and dialogue,so why does it act in a contrary manner in Newry? I have some sympathy with your argument that the reduced flying of the Union flag reflects a changing political environment. I believe unionists in time can live with the Belfast decision and even see the arguments for it. That process will be hastened by a swift reversal of Newry City Council’s behaviour on Monday night.
One reason why the peace process has worked is that a majority within each community can point to successes; pains and compromises. Events in Newry are hopefully not a permanent reversal of the need to see the other’s point of view. – Yours, etc,