A local political representative has blasted Belfast City Council after it was revealed loyalist flags have been erected on council-owned property in Finaghy.
Vincent Parker was speaking after the South Belfast News discovered two flags flying over the Finaghy Community Centre – a red hand of Ulster flag and an Ulster independence flag. It is believed the local UDA are behind the banners being placed there.
The Balmoral Sinn Féin representative said the council should take “a long look” at the situation due to the centre’s location – the mixed Geeragh Place, just off Finaghy Road South.
“It is bad enough flags are going up in areas that have people of different backgrounds living there but the fact it is council property makes it even worse.
“The council should take them down immediately because they are intimidating people using the facility.”
Mr Parker said the annual furore over flags in the area set back community elations and increased tensions.
“The simple fact is flags are divisive. I believe they are intended to intimidate. It is not about an expression of any cultural position because if that was the case, they would just be in areas where people want them.
“Nobody here wants them, people just want to live in peace because it is a mixed area but all this does is cause problems.
“Members of the loyalist community have told me speaking out on this issue does not improve community relations but we can’t just ignore flags, they are a reality.
“It seems to be just about territorial marking. If those within loyalist communities were serious about good relations and creating a shared space, they really need to look at the policy of erecting flags, especially in such a shared area as this.”
He said the party had been “inundated” with phone calls of support over the issue.
“Even people who are not Sinn Féin supporters have been calling us and saying they are sick and tired of this issue rearing its head every year.
“We are fed up with it as well. We don’t want to be continually coming back to this. Over nine months progress is made in local community relations but then they are set back every summer.
“Along this road it is a mixed area and the flags should not be there, especially on Belfast City Council property.”
A Belfast City Council spokesperson said: “Our aim is that all of our facilities should be welcoming to everyone and we are actively engaging with the local community to try to achieve this.”