Cllr Warren Robinson hits out at 'terrorist statue' comments

Independent Councillor for Ballyarnett Warren Robinson has reacted with dismay after comments were reportedly made by DUP Councillor Graham Warke which called for the removal of the monument which marks the graves of local hunger strikers Patsy O’Hara and Michael Devine.

Councillor Robinson, whose uncle Neil McMonagle, an INLA volunteer is also buried within the Republican Socialist plot said:

“I was part of the committee who in 1999 and 2000 ran a series of fundraising initiatives and public events in order to build a fitting tribute to the two Derry hunger strikers who died during the prison protest of 1981," said Cllr Robinson

"I was on that committee with members of both the O’Hara and Devine families and in a very short space of time we managed to raise over £20,000 from the people of this city to build this fitting tribute.

"This is very much a people's memorial to the hunger strikers. This project was wholeheartedly and enthusiastically supported by the ordinary people of this city who simply wanted to build a fitting tribute to the hunger strikers and their comrades from this area.

“The issues raised by Councillor Warke are totally irrelevant as these have been dealt with by Council in 2000.

"I attended, on behalf of the commemoration committee, a Derry City council meeting at that time in which a report was presented to councillors confirming that we as a committee followed all guidelines, received the necessary permissions and had acted totally in line with council policy.

“I have spoken to some of the other families who have loved ones buried within the Republican Socialist plot in the city cemetery and they are saddened and dismayed that once again their pain and anguish has been compounded because a politician has once again attempted to use the final resting place of their loved ones to gain cheap headlines.

“Councillor Warke is simply attempting to get a cheap headline with his calls for council to remove this memorial.

"This was attempted sixteen years ago and was unsuccessful then. His calls will not gain any support outside of his narrow political base and he knows full well that any attempt to interfere with this memorial will be rejected and that by raising this dormant issue he is simply stoking ugly sectarianism and I would caution against this.

"People have moved on and the dead within our shared cemetery should be allowed to rest in peace.”