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Row brews over plan to honour cleric
Friday, 19 September 2008
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Unionists in Limavady today said a proposal to grant a former Presbyterian minister — forced out of the North West in the 1980s — the freedom of the borough could “re-open old wounds”.
The proposal to confer the honour on the Reverend David Armstrong and Father Kevin Mullen has been put forward by SDLP councillor Michael Coyle.
Unionist politicians today said they think the plan is ill-conceived and will provoke anger.
Mr Armstrong received death threats after offering a Christmas handshake to Catholic Fr Mullen in 1984.
The proposal is to be debated at a special council meeting in two weeks but it has already stoked strong opinions in unionist circles, with one councillor describing the motion as “ill-conceived.”
Former mayor Ulster Unionist councillor Edwin Stevenson said that Protestants in the town could be forgiven for “questioning the motives of the proposal”.
“This is something that unionists in the town will be very angry about when it comes before council,” he said.
United Unionist Coalition Councillor Leslie Cubitt added: “I just can’t understand why we will be debating this issue.
“The tension in the town that followed the unfortunate incident over 20 years ago almost split church relations completely and set community relations back by at least five years.
“There is a very real possibility that bringing it back to the public platform could open fresh wounds. Because of this, I would find it extremely difficult to back the proposal.”
DUP Councillor Alan Robinson described the proposal as “odd and unprecedented”.
“There is no future in the past and to that end I am not sure why this motion has been put forward,” he said. “It is difficult to comment on something that happened so many years ago.
“I was just 12-years-old at the time of incident but as a public representative in 2008, surely it would be more appropriate to discuss issues that face people in Limavady today.”
SDLP councillor Michael Coyle, who made the proposal, said that it would be the first time the freedom of the borough has been offered to anyone.
"Both Reverend Armstrong and Father Mullen were ahead of their time and I think it is right that they are recognised," he said.
Mr Armstrong retrained as an Anglican minister and is now based at a Church of Ireland parish in Co Cork.
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www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/opinion/columists/gailwalker/a-despicable-rosetinted-view-of-ira-13974055.html
Folllow this link Paul McVeigh, it sums up your stupidity, and that of others fooled by word of mouth tradition and 'un-bias' media
Posted by Andy | 02.10.08, 11:08 GMT
Oh yeah Andrew it's everybody elses fault that Unionism is internationally seen as exclusive intransigent and bigoted. It is of course the fault of the huge Vatican/Commie/Irish America/BBC Republican lover conspiracy against wee Ulster which portrays Ulsters finest in such a bad way and has nothing to do whatsoever with blatant secterianism the like of which we've seen practiced by unionist councillors on Limavady council today.
People like Mitch don't need to come over, know why?, because disgracefully insular actions like vetoing a proposal to commend an act of Christian kindness show the world what narrow, backward, neanderthal thinking dwells withing some shades of Unionism
Posted by Paul McVeigh | 29.09.08, 23:44 GMT
In response to mitch, we have an appauling image abroad because of republican propaganda that filters across the atlantic because as it happens, alot of americans are irish catholics, who side up with similar people here to paint us in a bad light. Event though the IRA bombed and killed innocent men,women and children for years, they are still considered in the right. I dont critisize all americans as being red neck hill billys because that wouldnt be fair, so please dont brand all protestants as biogets when thats not the case. Your comments wouldnt sound so bias and uninformed if you hadnt put the protestant insult at the end. its people like yourself spreading lies that gives us said reputation. Come over and see for yourself bofore you start spouting non-benificial rubbish on the internet.
Posted by andrew | 24.09.08, 12:11 GMT
This is a disgrace, and once again shows that that bigoted, sectarianism is alive and well in Northern Ireland. And the Ulster Protestant people then wonder why they have such an appaling image abroad?!
Posted by Mitch, USA | 20.09.08, 08:44 GMT
How can the people of the north ever move forward is you resent such visionary people as mr armstrong, what he did took a great amount of courage, yet 24 years on cowards of your community are still bickering about it
Posted by Conroy | 20.09.08, 06:57 GMT
I think this is a great gesture and will go some way to compensate Rev Armstrong for his disgusting treatment those years ago. It is sad that the unionists cannot see this as nothing more than a reward for a brave man who attempted to break the mold of division in our community. Everyone should back it and stop the complaining!
Posted by Limavady voter | 20.09.08, 00:15 GMT
There is no future in the past? That is a bit rich coming from unionists. Their complete raison d'etre is the past (1641, home rule bill)!
It shows over and over again (see also devolution of police/justice powers) that some of them will only be satisfied when the last nationalist will have died or moved to the republic, so they can have their little petty kingdom!
Furthermore: to describe 2 persons of the christian faith shaking hands at Christmas as an unfortunate incident is something that makes the rest of the world wonder if some people in N.I. are deprived of their senses!
Posted by Jan Beets | 19.09.08, 22:54 GMT
Twenty years later and the unionist sectarian leaders in Ballygobackwards otherwise known as Limavady prove once again they still live in 1690.
Posted by eamon | 19.09.08, 20:05 GMT
Why did Fermanagh & Tyrone get the bad name of "the drary steeplesW emerging after the war - their quarrel intact? I think you should substitute "Limavady"!! Opening old wounds is one way to describe it - healing the hurt caused to David Armstrong is another way.
Posted by belfast Christian | 19.09.08, 18:46 GMT
I read somewhere recently a quotation from Ghandi... he was reported as saying " I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ".
Seems like Ghandi knew a thing or two about Limavady...
Posted by Exasperated | 19.09.08, 15:25 GMT
As a unionist voter in Limavady I applaud the efforts of Michael Coyle. The way these ministers were treated at the time was disgraceful, especially the way they were treatd by other so called 'Christians'. These 'Christians' should be given an opportunity to repent of their actions and follow Ian Paisley's example. This sort of healing is good for the community and for Limavady.
Posted by John Thompson | 19.09.08, 14:34 GMT
What a load of old sectarian and embarrassing nonsense coming from the mouths of unionists in Limavady. To say granting the freedom of the borough to a courageous man like Reverend David Armstrong, would ‘re-open old wound’ is ridiculous and will not fool any intelligent or decent-minded person. Grow up and stop dragging the past into the future. The rest of us not living on Mars don’t want it.
Posted by Billy for the Truth | 19.09.08, 14:13 GMT
Honestly, this is unbelievable! Sometimes I truly despair at so called Christians! A Christian man (of the cloth) receives death threats for extending Christmas greetings (a Christian festival) to another Christian man of the cloth TWENTY FOUR YEARS AGO and the same idiots still can't let it go. These people should catch themselves on big time. If there is a god I'm sure he/she would be dissapointed. These people aren't Christians, they are idiots. I'm honestly shocked that people can be so backward!
Is there not more pressing matters in society than this nonsense? Pensioners having to choose whether to eat or be warm for one!
Posted by Barry | 19.09.08, 14:02 GMT