Unionist MLA says loyalist threats to torch Irish language council vans ‘reprehensible’

A unionist MLA has branded loyalist threats against Belfast City Council because of Irish language signs as “wrong and reprehensible”

Jon Burrows was reacting to UVF and UDA threats to burn out council vans bearing a council logo which includes Irish.

Last week nationalist and Alliance councillors outvoted unionists to pass a new policy to include dual language logos on council vehicles, uniforms and signs.

The DUP said its members have been contacted by some council staff worried about their safety in parts of the city if they have bilingual writing on their uniforms.

Mr Burrows, a former police officer, said: “It is entirely legitimate to oppose Belfast City Council’s new language policy. It is entirely wrong and reprehensible to use or threaten violence. Loyalist paramilitaries have no place in our society."

Belfast Alliance councillor Michael Long described the threats as “totally unacceptable” and said that paramilitary attacks would only lead to worse services for all communities.

“Obviously we had a democratically taken decision this week, with a large majority of councillors voting for an Irish language policy. And I think for people to then announce threats and potential violence is totally unacceptable,” he told The Irish News.

“The reality is that that would only lead to worse services and fewer facilities for people in their own communities.

“Is that really what these paramilitaries want — to actually make things more difficult for people?" Mr Long added that the Irish language policy may not be as widespread in unionist areas as some think.

“I’ve had a number of people contact me, and this policy, and indeed the implementation plan, primarily deals with buildings in the city centre, he said.

“For a start, it deals with the council’s website. The only parks, for example, that will be included are those in areas with the highest level of Irish language speakers.

“It may be rolled out down the line, but the reality is that the whole policy — and the thrust of the policy — is that it provides those services in areas where presumably there are the highest levels of Irish speakers. Therefore, it’s not going to be imposed on local parks in other areas.

“We very much believe that it’s important we move forward with this Irish language policy, but taking into account the concerns and views of those who aren’t in favour.”

When asked where else there might be limitations, Mr Long said that nothing had been set in stone with regards to where a dual language logo might be used.

“Contrary to what’s been published, the uniform logo has not been agreed and there’s continued discussion about that as we work through,” he said.

“Basically, we have agreed a bilingual logo, but we have not yet 100% decided where that logo will be used — and one of the areas is on the uniform.

“For example, in other councils like Newry, Mourne and Down, which has a Sinn Féin majority, they don’t have any writing; they just have pictorial versions of their logo, and that’s something we think would be a good idea in Belfast as well.

“The area of the uniform and the logo has been an issue under discussion because of concerns raised by staff and trade unions. It’s most likely that it will go on vans, though it again hasn’t been finally decided exactly where it’ll go.

“In reality what is the impact on anybody? I would imagine most people couldn’t tell you what’s on the side of a Belfast City bin lorry at the minute.

“I think most people want to have the services in their community, and any attempt to damage those services is really just unacceptable and would negatively affect the local community.”