Praise for flags’ removal
Thursday, 21 August 2008
ULSTER Unionist Party Limavady Councillors Edwin Stevenson and Jack Rankin have praised the local young men who have sensibly decided to take down Union flags and other flags which were erected for the 12th of July celebrations in the Edenmore Road area.
In a joint statement the Councillors stated: "These young men made the right decision by taking down these flags and they are to be commended for doing so. By doing this they send out a message to the rest of the Limavady community, the local press and those who would attempt to demonise them that these flags were put up for cultural and festive reasons and not for the purposes of intimidation. More importantly than this, by taking down these flags these young men have shown respect to our national flag. There is nothing more disrespectful than to let the proud Union flag fly on a lamppost until it is in rags and tears.
“Now that this has happened we would call on those who erected tri-colour flags on the Ballyquinn Road to show the same common sense approach and take these flags down immediately."
An Edenmore Road resident also contacted this newspaper to commend the actions of the local youths.
She said: "These young people deserve credit for the mannerly way they removed these flags and the respect they have shown for their flag. They put them up at the right time and took them down in a very respectful way. Young people can so often get condemned for a lack of respect and I think these young people deserve credit for the respect they have displayed."
