DUP Mayor apologises to Sinn Féin!!!

[qwertyu]

The DUP Mayor of Coleraine Cllr Timothy Deans has apologised to Sinn Féin councillor Billy Leonard for trying to exclude him and his colleagues from a Christmas reception, paid for by the ratepayers.It is thought that this is the first time a DUP representative has had to admit that he acted against the law and apologise to a Sinn Féin representative as a result of legal proceedings. Seven unionist councillors now face the threat of being surcharged as a result.

Cllr Leonard instigated High Court proceedings against the Mayor and Coleraine Borough Council under Equality legislation. It is believed that the council received legal advice to settle out of court because they were on very weak legal ground and Leonard was bound to win.

The Sinn Féin councillor said:

"This was a clear cut case of misrepresenting the ratepayer. The DUP mayor tried to pursue his party policy of excluding Sinn Féin from a function paid for by the ratepayer. It didn‚t work and perhaps the DUP in Coleraine and elsewhere will learn from this episode.

"There may be only one Sinn Féin councillor on Coleraine Borough Council but we as a party are determined to pick our challenges wisely. I believe this is the first time that the DUP have admitted that they acted against the law and apologised to a Sinn Féin representative.

"Eight months into this Council term and Sinn Féin has drawn a firm line against unionist intransigence and there will be more."

And Leonard is determined not to let the question of costs rest.

"Sinn Féin has already notified the Local Government Auditor of its opinion that the seven councillors who voted for this exclusion should be personally liable for the costs of this case. Local electors will now take the necessary action to instigate this process.

"Seven councillors cannot act in this way and think there is no comeback. That is why Sinn Féin proposed a motion before the event and demanded a recorded vote. If six DUP councillors, including the Mayor, and one Ulster Unionist councillor believe that they can act against equality legislation they need to pay for the case that has proved otherwise."

[meriwether]

Aye, Billy Leonard. Formerly of the SDLP. And formerly of the B-specials. And ye wonder if there is touts about the place.

[qwertyu]

Aye, Billy Leonard. Formerly of the SDLP. And formerly of the B-specials. And ye wonder if there is touts about the place.

There has always been a history of republicans emerging from the British State, such as Roger Casement and so on. Billys doing a great job in Coleraine and to criticise him for his background and make spurious remarks is very short-sighted.

Billy is very open about his background and his discussion about the culture within the policing system he worked in is quite shocking but not surprising.

Nobody was born a republican.

[qwertyu]

Christmas party snub by DUP may cost £10,000


By Lisa Smyth

10 February 2006
Coleraine ratepayers face a possible bill of over £10,000 after the DUP mayor refused to invite the council's only Sinn Fein representative to a Christmas reception.

Sinn Fein councillor Billy Leonard initiated High Court proceedings against mayor Timothy Deans and Coleraine Borough Council following the snub last December.

However, the parties settled out of court earlier this week when the council's legal advisors felt the High Court would probably find in favour of the plaintiff.

Mr Deans agreed to write an open letter of apology to Mr Leonard in which he admitted he had been ignorant of the law regarding equality matters in local government, as well as covering Sinn Fein's legal costs.

Prior to the settlement, Coleraine Borough Council voted that the DUP should pay the impending legal bill - which is expected to top £10,000.

But Mr Deans has explained his party is awaiting the outcome of an investigation by the Local Government Auditor into the matter before the DUP decides if it will foot the bill.

"We are not ruling out the possibility of paying the bill but that is something the party is still considering," said the Coleraine mayor.

However, pressure is mounting that the DUP - and not the ratepayers - should cover the costs of the legal argument.

UUP Assemblyman Norman Hillis said: "While I have no time for Sinn Fein or Mr Leonard's politics, I don't see why the ratepayers should end up with a bill which could be in the tens of thousands.

"To be honest, the whole thing was silly anyway because Mr Deans had already sent Mr Leonard the council Christmas card and invited him to the council Christmas dinner.

"We have had two special council meetings to discuss the issue, with 22 councillors and officers in attendance, and then you have the chief executive travelling up and down to Belfast with Mr Deans, so we have wasted an awful lot of time and money."

The SDLP, which made the initial proposal that the DUP should pay the legal costs, has contacted the Local Government Auditor about the issue on the basis that rates should not be "used for little party political stunts".

[hiding behind a poster]

Qwertyu, how much more of this rubbish are we gonna have to read? This sectarian bunfight is hard enough to put up with at the best of times, but this stuff really is pushing it.....

[UltraExtremeFarLeft]

Clarly Mr Deans is a whore to SF.

[coconut]

And Ian Paisely is a whore to the Catholic Church, of course.

[ireland2004]

Qwertyu, how much more of this rubbish are we gonna have to read?

But... you don't have to read any of it.

[hiding behind a poster]

Qwertyu, how much more of this rubbish are we gonna have to read?

But... you don't have to read any of it.

Indeed we don't. But it does clog up the discussion boards - and if this is all that happens in Northern Ireland politics, I'm sure you agree that its all a bit infantile.

[ireland2004]

[quote=hiding behind a poster]

Qwertyu, how much more of this rubbish are we gonna have to read?

But... you don't have to read any of it.

Indeed we don't. But it does clog up the discussion boards - and if this is all that happens in Northern Ireland politics, I'm sure you agree that its all a bit infantile.[/quote:2nn8qj68]

Ack now, I'd say it was great craic getting to see him apologise