Sligo Civic Reception for Paisley is shameful

Monday November 16, 2009 20:35

by North West Red - Independent

Call for boycott of civic rceeption for Paisley in Sligo

Cathaoirleach of Sligo County Council Gerry Murray to hold a civic reception tomorrow for the former DUP leader Ian Paisley in Tubbercurry, County Sligo

http://eirigisligeach.blogspot.com/2009/11/sligo-civic-....html

Sligo éirígí activist Gerry Casey has described the decision of the Cathaoirleach of Sligo County Council Gerry Murray to hold a civic reception tomorrow for the former DUP leader Ian Paisley as "shameful and beyond belief". He has also called on local politicians to boycott the event.

The civic reception is to be held in the Teach Laighne offices in Tubbercurry in County Sligo tomorrow (Tuesday Nov 17).

Casey said: "The decision of the Cathaoirleach to honour Paisley is astounding. This is a man who has built his political career by encouraging and supporting sectarianism, bigotry and human rights abuses against the nationalist community in the six counties. That Cllr Murray believes that holding a civic reception for this man is acceptable is truly despicable and beyond belief."

He added: " Sectarianism and bigotry is never acceptable and those who espouse it must be challenged and opposed at all times. There would quite rightly be outrage if such a reception was held for a leader of the likes of the Klu Klux Klan (KKK) or the British National Party (BNP) yet here we have a politician of a similar calibre being honoured. It is a disgraceful decision and I am calling on all public representatives in Sligo to boycott this event and to make clear publicly that they oppose the Cathaoirleach's decision."