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Belfast’s Sinn Fein Mayor will be absent from Remembrance

By Emily Moulton
Friday, 7 November 2008

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Unionists have reacted with anger after it emerged that Belfast Lord Mayor Tom Hartley will not take part in the city’s Remembrance Day commemorations this weekend.

The Sinn Fein councillor, who laid a wreath in memory of those who died during the Battle of the Somme outside Belfast City Hall earlier this year, is in the Republic on a series of engagements.

Yesterday, Belfast’s first citizen met with Irish President Mary McAleese at Aras an Uachtaran, while today he is expected to be in Limerick to meet the city’s Mayor. He then will travel to Waterford on Saturday and Kilkenny on Sunday.

The Belfast Telegraph was unable to contact Mr Hartley about why he would not be at the service on Sunday, but a Sinn Fein spokesman explained that he was on a four-day visit in the Republic and that the series of engagements had been arranged for a number of months.

DUP Belfast City councillor Diane Dodds described the explanation as “weak” and “disgraceful” adding that as Mayor he should be taking part in the city’s own commemoration.

“If Sinn Fein is throwing that up how weak and disgraceful and how disrespectful is that?” she said. “Tom Hartley is someone who has an interest in history, knows — and this is the 90th anniversary of the Armistice — that unionists and nationalists fought side by side and died for the cause of freedom and democracy.

“Tom Hartley in the past has gone to France to take part in the commemoration and has made television programmes about it. This is a disgrace that he cannot commemorate the 90th anniversary of the Armistice; that he cannot commemorate those unionists and nationalists, Protestants and Catholics, those who died in defence of democracy.

“If he can do it in France, why can he not do it in the city he is Lord Mayor of?”

In 2002, Mr Hartley travelled to France and Belgium with the late PUP leader David Ervine to commemorate the 50,000 Irish soldiers who died during World War One. The visit was filmed for a TV documentary.

In July, when Mr Hartley laid a wreath at the city’s Cenotaph, he said the gesture would build upon initiatives taken by former Lord Mayor Alex Maskey former Deputy Mayor Joe O'Donnell, both of whom he said had reached out to the unionist people of Belfast.

“It clearly shows that republicans are committed to engaging with the unionist and Protestant people and that we are prepared to meet them on common ground no matter how difficult it is for us as republicans to do so.”

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28 Comments

What is the big deal? He has an engagement somewhere else. Is this not what a deputy mayor is for? The comments below just go to show that the unionist community can't wait for a nationalist mayor to make the slightest slip up so they can get on their high 'white' horse to condemn him. Look back in history to the successive Unionist mayors who did not represent the sizeable nationalist community that they were supposed to. I'm sure you lot weren't forming a line to to publicly condemn them on those occasions.

Posted by Barry | 09.11.08, 12:39 GMT

It is always good to see republicans unabashedly displaying their vacuous mind, devoid of any intellect and totally bankrupt of all historical detail. Two points. A) “anybody from the UUP/DUP at this year’s Easter parades?” Don’t be silly! That rubbish is best left to a bunch of misinformed malcontents who, in their lack of historical understanding, celebrate the division of Ireland. C) “cheer for the fallen mercenaries of the Empire?” Yeah, we remmember the Enniskillen poppy day massacre, and I for one will remind you lest ye forget. As for ‘mercenaries’ far, far more Irishmen, real mercenaries, fell fighting for the empire’s of France and Spain than ever did fighting for the British empire. A fact republicans ignor and the reason? Because France and Spain were Catholic empires whereas, the British empire was a Protestant one. When republican perspicacity is examined carfully it is clearly revealed for what it truly is, green bigotry!

Posted by Wizard | 09.11.08, 10:10 GMT

Maybe too embarassing for him to attend such a solemn and dignified ceremony, compared to the people he represented.

Posted by canuck | 07.11.08, 22:48 GMT

It just goes to show that he is the mayor ONLY for the nationalists, NOT for ALL the people of Belfast.

Posted by CannuckCol | 07.11.08, 22:44 GMT

I wonder how many unionists will attend the 100th anniversary of the Easter Rising in 2016, commemorating a battle when Irishmen fought for their own country instead of fighting England's wars. Furthermore, don't the unionist people of Ireland have nothing else to celebrate but violent war and aggression? Last week's military display shows the true nature of unionist thought. Their bitterness is clear for all to see, and their lack of pride in their own culture a disgrace.

Posted by cecil Harbinger IV | 07.11.08, 22:23 GMT

I am a bitter Loyalist living abroad and I don't like the Idea of Belfast, my home town, having another Sinn Fein Lord Mayor. Having said that, Mr Harley has shown respect for all of the soldiers who died in the World Wars. He is aware that young men from the original UVF and Irish Volunteers fought side by side at the Somme and a lot of these men lost their lives. I don't think that he is away on some junket and showing disrespect, but maybe he is trying to do something good for everyone in Belfast. I say that we should give the man a break. I was distraught when another Loyalist told me that Alex Maskey had been a good Lord Mayor. People must move on.

Posted by MARC | 07.11.08, 21:05 GMT

Why am I not surprised, shows why he shouldnt be mayor

Posted by MREID | 07.11.08, 20:24 GMT

Let me get this straight. So Sinn Fein aren't fit to be in government but ARE fit to be at the Remembrance ceremony? Not only that, but they SHOULD be there? With questions like that to answer in Northern Irish politics it's not a wonder no one seems able to come up with any answers.
I'll wear my poppy with pride because I want to. If other people don't want to wear one then fair enough I say. And if they don't want to go to the remembrance ceremony then that's fair enough too. For such rights did the people we'll be remembering die.
I know he's the mayor, but Northern Ireland is different, we're in transition and unity on all things will not come all at once - even with city mayors.
Come on fellas, will you really all miss him that much?

Posted by Graham | 07.11.08, 20:18 GMT

Couldn't care less, though surprised at Tom who I believed to be from the more politically astute wing of Sinn Fein. Just goes to show that divisions run as deep as ever. I've re-read Eamon McCann's article and he speaks so much sense. Sinn Fein obviously didn't learn from their mistakes last week. If they had ignored the parade instead of ignoring the wreath-laying they would have done so much for community realtions. Lets face facts - in my lifetime there will never be full integration of education, proper government at Stormont dealing with real issues, genuine equality or a United Ireland - because it requires trust, co-operation and the people to be united in their thinking. Why would those who support the Union with Britain (from all religions) ever trust nationalists to deliver any fairness in Irish Unity.

Posted by Paedar | 07.11.08, 19:22 GMT

Sinn Fein leaders have learned quickly from the past antics of the Democratic Unionist Party leaders.

Posted by trevorros | 07.11.08, 18:53 GMT

Typical unionist rubbish. It's not good enough that Republicans lay wreaths and call for respect for British dead? Now, they're a disgrace unless they actively cheer for the fallen mercenaries of the Empire?
This ceremony does not commemorate the deaths of those working class people who were conscripted (at the point of a gun) to fight for the King / Kaiser and Tsar. It's used by Unionists to celebrate the glorious victories of the British Empire (a fight for democracy? Tell that to the people of Ireland, India and the rest of your imperial subjects).
Republicans are doing their part in reconciliation by ignoring the cermeony and not objecting to it. Don't expect us to join Unionism in this Empirefest.
As for being a 'Mayor' for all the community, when has a Unionist mayor represented the nationalist/republican people of Belfast? Anybody from the UUP/DUP at this year's Easter parades?

Posted by Belfast Republican | 07.11.08, 18:43 GMT

My grandfather was wounded in the Somme (a Shankill man) many of his friends were killed surely the Mayor of our City should show some respect. He told me they fought side by side with the Irish Volunteers and also watched each others backs. For the first time in many years I am feeling more British than Irish.

Posted by Ern | 07.11.08, 17:06 GMT

Did anyone expect anything different?Sinn Fein made it perfectly clear last weekend what they thought about the unionist people of this country,they have nothing but hatred for anything british.They talk of equality and truth,lets hear the truth from them as to why the lord mayor of Belfast will not be in the city on this special day to remember the brave men of this island both protestant and catholic who fought side by side in 2 world wars to protect the freedom that they take for granted.Or maybe like in the film we can,t handle the truth?

Posted by steve | 07.11.08, 16:29 GMT

I'm afraid this is typical (Mr Hartley's decision not to attend the rememberance ceremony) of his pseudo interest in the Great War and those brave British and Irish men- and his expressions of interest in British/Irish military history.

Posted by St Mary's man. | 07.11.08, 15:39 GMT

Let him be for goodness sake, he's somewere else and ye know he'll be thinking of those who died so stop trying to make a big deal of it!

Posted by Flim | 07.11.08, 15:24 GMT

I, with respect to Tom Hartley, cannot condone his disrespect of war dead. In this time of renewal of attitudes from all sides I feel he has let the council and politicians down by not attending.

It's not a flexible date and happens at the same weekend every year I don't wish to knock the Lord Mayor but it's part of his job as leading citizen.

Posted by desmere | 07.11.08, 15:20 GMT

I am disappointed the Lord Mayor will not be at the Remembrance Day ceremony. I think this was an opportunity to show the parity of esteem they always talk about to others. I had grandfathers in the first world war and am also catholic. The clue is in the word world. It shows how small minded our politicians still are in this small country.

Posted by Jackie | 07.11.08, 14:33 GMT

So much for reaching out to all the people of Belfast. Not only Protestants and unionists died in the wars. Tom Hartley shold be in Belfast for the Remembrance Ceremony. The Sinn Fein comment about previous arrangements is a lame excuse!

Posted by David | 07.11.08, 14:04 GMT

I hope he stays away. Only people who really care should be at the ceremony.

Posted by bill, lisburn | 07.11.08, 13:46 GMT

I guess the Sinn Fein Mayor of Belfast forgets that he is there to represent all sections of the Belfast community of every religion and race. Things never seem to change and the Irish men and women who died in the Worlds Wars have as much claim to be Irish as any other person born there.

Show the way forward Mr Mayor for all your citizens in extending the hand of friendship and understanding to those remembering their deceased relatives and friends. I do not thing your political beliefs will be hurt in any way if you participate

Posted by Derek | 07.11.08, 13:01 GMT