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Formerly
an old jail which played host to many famous inmates
including Thomas Russell and Skin the Goat of the
Invincibles, the now restored Down Museum was the
venue for one of the most regrettable meetings in
the history of the ancient town. Convened by Killyleagh
community activist and DUP agent Billy Walker the
top table included Jim Wells MLA. Jim Shannon MLA,
Dermot Nesbitt MLA, Councillor Albert Colmer Cllr
Anne Trainor, apologies from the local SDLP and their
M.P. were recorded. The audience included local people,
parents of pupils attending local schools, school
governors, teachers all with a few notable exceptions
gathered to vent their spleen on leading members of
the Simon Community and Habiteg who conceived a scheme
to provide quality accommodation for the homeless
adjacent to the museum and a primary school. The people
responsible for the project were listened to in stony
silence. It was then left to Billy Walker community
worker who lives in the town of Killyleagh to set
the tone for the nights meeting. In a speech obviously
scripted by the Give my Head Peace team, Billy affirmed
that he stood ready and prepared to carry out whatever
the people wanted and he was “agin it” and
a project 8 years in the planning should be turned
into a car park.
Walker’s
profound contribution was followed by Cllr Anne Trainor
a former SDLP stalwart confirming her independence
of thought and action by leading the baying pack in
her opposition. As always a model of subtlety she
did not disappoint especially in her reference to
Soham. To be fair to her and all her colleagues she
had no problem with accepting the good intentions
and sterling work of the Simon community as long as
it was done somewhere else. A sentiment gushingly
echoed by top of the poll Jim Wells a supreme DUP
opportunist who knows a vote getting issue when he
sees it and an opportunity to commence the DUP recruiting
campaign. Clinging to the tails of the Wells comet
the UUP represented by Councillors Mc Illheron , Colmer
consistent in their opposition and an uncomfortable
Dermot Nesbitt all playing to the gallery and being
cheered to the rafters in their enthusiasm to torpedo
the scheme for the homeless. Cllr.Peter Craig Council
Chairman and Eddie Mc Grady’s representative
on earth declined an invitation to speak. It was left
to Cllr Raymond Blaney GP to go to the rostrum and
explain why he voted to support the project which
he did in a courageous manner putting integrity and
compassion in front of votes calling for the project
to be given a chance. He made a telling point about
the Department of Environment intention some years
ago to turn the historic site of the museum into a
car park. Cllr Blaney also put the issue of regulating
tenancies in context by referring to how private landlords
in the area are accountable to no one for who they
rent their properties to.
The
principle contributors to the discussion from the
floor included members of the legal profession, chairmen
of boards of governors, principle teachers and others.
Taking their led from Walker that all homeless are
paedophiles and presuming that none of them or their
children will ever be homeless each was scathing in
their attacks on the Habiteg and Simon community representatives.
Minds were closed to reason and in an atmosphere of
hysteria and intimidation. Parents threatened to close
schools by removing pupils if the project was advanced.
It was quite obvious that representatives responsible
for the project shaken by the degree of animosity
were rethinking their decision to continue. So called
enlightened and educated people stigmatised homelessness
and portrayed it as entirely self-inflicted and criminal.
They allowed themselves to be manipulated by an Uncle
Andy type character anxious to get elected by any
means necessary. The media will present this as a
row but it goes much deeper. All that was missing
was the Klu Klux Klan white sheets and burning crosses.
If
the outcome is a halt to the project then homeless
people throughout the North will suffer.
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