Christmas lights under threat due to flag row

Christmas may not be be on display in Castledawson this year, due to a row over flags

Christmas lights can only be released for Castledawson if a flags policy is agreed, Sinn Féin have said.

According to the Belfast Telegraph, Sinn Féin councillors in the Magherafelt District Council, have blocked a community group in Castledawson from receiving Christmas decorations this year.

The party have said that if a policy on flying the union flags in the town could be agreed upon, that the lights would be released.

Anne Ford, a DUP councillor, said that Sinn Féin were using the Christmas lights to make a political point, and that “the community group cannot be held responsible for flying the flags”.

She continued to say that the “people of Castledawson are very disappointed about what has happened. They feel let down”.

Sean McPeake, Sinn Féin group leader at Magherafelt District Council, has said that the lights were bought after a peace grant application by a community group in Castledawson last year.

He said that: “When the application came in, the town was bedecked in union flags”.

He continued by saying: “the Council decided to support the application,”.

However, as it was a “peace-led application”, a flag policy would need to e put in place in the town.

Councillor McPeake explained that there has been no movement on a policy in the last year, and as the lights are Magherafelt District Council property, they have no obligation to allow the community group to use them.

He followed by saying that they are “disappointed that nothing has happened on the flag issue”.