A debate over marking the 50th anniversary of the Greenfinches has descended into “Punch and Judy politics” with councillors trading blows over IRA violence and UDR collusion.
The Greenfinches were set up on July 6, 1973 as unarmed recruits who assisted the UDR in female body searches during the Troubles.
Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council carried by a majority vote a motion “to recognise their (the Greenfinches) service in an appropriate way" on the 50th anniversary with a reflection in chambers on the recent shooting of PSNI officer John Caldwell in Omagh.
Read more: March in memory of UDR soldiers killed by IRA takes place in Belfast city centre.
But the debate ahead of the vote became acrimonious at times.
Killultagh DUP Alderman James Tinsley, who brought the motion to chambers, said: “It is a great honour for me to propose this motion and I trust it will gain unanimous support.
“I had prepared this motion last week and then the shooting of DCI Caldwell happened and everything came tumbling back. The Greenfinches were a key element in the UDR in preventing terrorist acts such as this and keeping people safe.”
The sentiment of the motion was broadly agreed upon in chambers with the Alliance party supporting the motion, but Alliance counillor Sharon Lowry said the party would like to see “an appropriate marking of the anniversary that is diverse and respectful for all”.
However, Sinn Fein members alluded to collusion of “up to 15%” of UDR soldiers with loyalists, responsible for such killings as “the Reavey brothers and the O’Dowds” in 1976 as well as “the Miami Showband” in 1975.
Sinn Féin Cllr Gary McCleave said: “The UDR was forced to disband due to the amount of collusion in their members. They were responsible for putting hundreds of weapons into loyalists’ hands.
“There are many ratepayers who will not agree with the motion and I would ask what the council will say to them?”
Lisburn South Ulster Unionist councillor Jenny Palmer responded: “I have to take a deep breath, to hear the insults and hypocrisy of Sinn Fein.
“About honouring men and women especially the Greenfinches, who kept us safe when the IRA were killing people. Lisburn was a garrison town and is now a garrison city, a very proud city. I am sorry if this offends those in Sinn Fein/IRA, but I certainly support the motion.”
The heated atmosphere in Lagan Valley Island chambers was blamed for preventing the council from working towards a “progressive society”.
Castlereagh South SDLP councillor John Gallen said: “For nationalists their interaction with the UDR was at times brutal, horrific and fatal. The collusion of the UDR with loyalist groups provided a steady flow of weapons to loyalist groups.
“There is no reason for this motion to be brought forward at council, it does nothing but poke each of us in the eyes. This is Punch and Judy politics, it does not provide for a progressive society.”
In support of the motion, reference was made by Independent unionist councillor Nathan Anderson to the killing total of “1,823 Roman Catholics” by the IRA compared to “zero by the Greenfinches”.
Castlereagh East DUP Alderman David Drysdale added: “There were 40,000 who served in the UDR. A percentage of 15% (collusion) was brought up tonight, but it was more like 5-10% who failed the standards.
“Is this the new Ireland that they are offering, where is the equality? They talk about a border poll, we haven’t dealt with the victims yet. You should all hang your heads in shame, the lot of you.”
The vote on the motion was carried 33 for and five against and will now go through equality screening.
Killultagh Alderman, James Tinsley ( DUP ) who brought the motion to chambers, said: "It is a great honour for me to propose this motion and I trust it will gain unanimous support.
"I had prepared this motion last week and then the shooting of DCI Caldwell happened and everything came tumbling back.
"The Greenfinches were a key element in the UDR in preventing terrorist acts such as this and keeping people safe."
The sentiment of the motion was broadly agreed upon in chambers with the Alliance party supporting the motion, but Cllr Sharon Lowry said the party would like to see "an appropriate marking of the anniversary that is diverse and respectful for all".
However, Sinn Fein members alluded to collusion of "up to 15%" of UDR soldiers with loyalists, responsible for such killings as "the Reavey brothers and the O'Dowds" in 1976 as well as "the Miami Showband" in 1975.
Cllr Gary McCleave (SF) said: "The UDR was forced to disband due to the amount of collusion in their members.
"They were responsible for putting hundreds of weapons into loyalists' hands.
"There are many ratepayers who will not agree with the motion and I would ask what the council will say to them?"
Lisburn South councillor, Jenny Palmer (UUP) reacted:" I have to take a deep breath, to hear the insults and hypocrisy of Sinn Fein.
"About honouring men and women especially the Greenfinches, who kept us safe when the IRA were killing people.
"Lisburn was a garrison town and is now a garrison city, a very proud city.
"I am sorry if this offends those in Sinn Fein/ IRA, but I certainly support the motion."
The heated political atmosphere in the Lagan Valley Island chambers was highlighted as preventing the council from working towards a "progressive society".
Castlereagh South councillor, John Gallen (SDLP) said: "For nationalists their interaction with the UDR was at times brutal, horrific and fatal.
"The collusion of the UDR with loyalist groups provided a steady flow of weapons to loyalist groups.
"There is no reason for this motion to be brought forward at council, it does nothing but poke each of us in the eyes.
"This is Punch and Judy politics, it does not provide for a progressive society."
In support of the motion, reference was made by Independent unionist councillor Nathan Anderson to the killing total of "1,823 Roman Catholics" by the IRA compared to "zero by the Greenfinches".
Castlereagh East Alderman, David Drysdale (DUP) added: "There were 40k who served in the UDR.
"A percentage of 15% (collusion) was brought up tonight, but it was more like 5-10% who failed the standards.
"Is this the new Ireland that they are offering, where is the equality?
"They talk about a border poll, we haven't dealt with the victims yet.
"You should all hang your heads in shame, the lot of you."
The vote on the motion was carried 33 for and five against and will now go through equality screening.
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