A CONTENTIOUS two-pronged proposal has passed at Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, which both condemned the response to correspondence on the ‘No More Delays’ campaign, and called on the South’s former Minister for Justice Charlie Flannagan to explain his comments following the RTE documentary, ‘Unquiet Graves’.

The Council had previously written to Secretary of State Brandan Lewis expressing concerns for victims represented by No More Delays, and some members were dismayed by the response.

Sinn Fein’s Councillor Stephen McCann said: “This shows the level of contempt the British government has towards victims of the conflict.

“The letter is flippant and outlines the intention to put state agents, informers and proxies beyond the reach of the law. That’s completely unacceptable.

“They operated with a licence to kill countless people, covered up by successive British governments, denying grieving families access to the truth.”

He described the response as: “A two-fingered salute to those who suffered at the hands of the British state” and proposed a replying outlining the anger caused.

Seconding, Independent Councillor Bernice Swift said the response was: “Despicable ... It disgracefully circumvented victims and highlighted due regard to the protagonists of the conflict, the RUC and UDR members implicated in 120 murders, as witnessed in ‘Unquiet Graves’.

“Collusion was evidenced with links to similarities in the Glenanne Gang. They were responsible for the murder of many innocent Catholics.”

Councillor Swift added to the proposal by demanding a response from Charlie Flannagan “on his inaccurate account of Unquiet Graves which were deeply unhelpful and ill-advised”.

Ulster Unionist Councillor Victor Warrington felt the descriptions given were: “Very one-sided”, pointing out all murder was wrong, and answers are needed.

“To give out names of those murdered in cold blood by Republicans would need a few hours to write them all down. It was two-sided.

“There are bad eggs in every basket, but please don’t label all members of the British Forces [as such].”

Councillor Errol Thompson, Democratic Unionist, and a former serving soldier remarked: “This is nothing I didn’t expect. I take great exception to some of the comments made by Councillors Swift and McCann.

“You cannot blame everybody for what some did. All murders are wrong.

“Terrorists carried out many murders and their families are still waiting on answers.”

Sinn Fein’s Councillor Sheamus Greene called on members to support an independent international Truth Commission where all sides sit down and tell what happened.

“I can’t understand why some parties are against that. What they are afraid of exposing, I have no idea,” he said.

Councillor Mary Garrity SDLP concurred with most speakers, and in respect of British Forces added: “There are some really rotten apples. You get that everywhere.

“There were terrible people on all sides and families on all sides have suffered.”

Sinn Fein’s Councillor Siobhan Currie, however, felt the issue was: “Systemic ... This actually goes to the heart of the British establishment.”

With division evident, the matter went to a vote, and Councillor Swift called on those who previously served with Forces to declare an interest.

Councillor Alex Baird, Councillor Howard Thornton and Councillor John McClaughry all declared, as did councillor Thompson, who enquired: “Are any other councillors going to declare as former members of a paramilitary organisation?”

There was no response.

The proposal passed 24-8, with four members not voting.