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01/12/2011
Mayor 'Sorry For Offence' Over Cadet Award
The Belfast Sinn Fein Lord Mayor Niall O'Donnghaile has said that he has no issue apologising for any offence caused by his refusal to present a Duke of Edinburgh's award to a 15-year-old girl - who is also a member of the military Cadet Forces.
He has this afternoon defused a growing row at Belfast City Hall as unionist councillors earlier came together to demand a special council meeting to discuss the actions of the Lord Mayor of Belfast, Niall O'Donnghaile.
In a statement issued through Sinn Fein, he said: "As Mayor I have consistently sought to reach out to unionism and loyalist and to be a Mayor for all the people of Belfast.
"My decision to attend the recent Duke of Edinburgh awards ceremony was taken with this in mind.
"I have never and would never go out of my way to cause offence to anyone.
"In any society moving out of conflict we all need to be very conscious of how we deal with sensitive issues," he added.
"Balancing these considerations is not simple. We all need to be tolerant of our different traditions and aspirations.
"I accept that my decision not to present an award to a British Army Cadet has caused genuine annoyance.
"I apologise to anyone who has been offended and in particular the young woman involved and her family. That was clearly never my intention," he concluded.
City Hall officials were today due to be asked for a special meeting by members of the Democratic Unionist Party, Ulster Unionist Party, PUP and independent unionist alderman, Frank McCoubrey.
The demand said: "This council is appalled that the Lord Mayor politicised the Duke of Edinburgh Awards presentation in City Hall on 28th November by refusing to present an award to a young member of the Armed Cadet Forces; affirms that the civic position of Lord Mayor is about representing and respecting everyone within this city and calls on the Lord Mayor to publicly apologise for his actions and the gross offence caused.
"Failure to do so immediately would render his position untenable and he should resign."
(BMcC/GK)
He has this afternoon defused a growing row at Belfast City Hall as unionist councillors earlier came together to demand a special council meeting to discuss the actions of the Lord Mayor of Belfast, Niall O'Donnghaile.
In a statement issued through Sinn Fein, he said: "As Mayor I have consistently sought to reach out to unionism and loyalist and to be a Mayor for all the people of Belfast.
"My decision to attend the recent Duke of Edinburgh awards ceremony was taken with this in mind.
"I have never and would never go out of my way to cause offence to anyone.
"In any society moving out of conflict we all need to be very conscious of how we deal with sensitive issues," he added.
"Balancing these considerations is not simple. We all need to be tolerant of our different traditions and aspirations.
"I accept that my decision not to present an award to a British Army Cadet has caused genuine annoyance.
"I apologise to anyone who has been offended and in particular the young woman involved and her family. That was clearly never my intention," he concluded.
City Hall officials were today due to be asked for a special meeting by members of the Democratic Unionist Party, Ulster Unionist Party, PUP and independent unionist alderman, Frank McCoubrey.
The demand said: "This council is appalled that the Lord Mayor politicised the Duke of Edinburgh Awards presentation in City Hall on 28th November by refusing to present an award to a young member of the Armed Cadet Forces; affirms that the civic position of Lord Mayor is about representing and respecting everyone within this city and calls on the Lord Mayor to publicly apologise for his actions and the gross offence caused.
"Failure to do so immediately would render his position untenable and he should resign."
(BMcC/GK)
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Mayor Slammed Over Army Cadet Presentation
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Two politicians have hit out at the Sinn Fein Lord Mayor of Belfast following his actions at a Duke of Edinburgh Awards Scheme ceremony at the City Hall this week. The Ulster Unionist Mike Nesbitt and Strangford representative said: "The Lord Mayor of Belfast once again demonstrated his inability to represent all the citizens of the City.
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Ireland WeatherToday:Gale, coastal severe gale, northwest winds ease from late afternoon. Scattered showers will fall as snow over the hills at first, becoming isolated from mid-afternoon. Maximum temperature 7 °C.Tonight:Showers, scattered in the evening, will clear by midnight leaving the night dry with clear spells. Cloud will spread east towards morning. Minimum temperature 2 °C.
