SINN FEIN members who took down an Irish tricolour flag which was erected on the scaffolding of a Protestant church say they were “verbally abused” for taking the flag down.
The party said there was an “anti-community element” to the erection of the flags at the Church of Ireland in Rostrevor, Co. Down, despite it being a predominately Catholic area.
Sinn Fein MLA Sinead Ennis praised those involved in taking the flags down, adding: “Local party activists quickly removed the flags despite being verbally abused by the man responsible for erecting them.
“He clearly doesn’t know or doesn’t care that the Irish national flag is a symbol of peace between our two main traditions.”
“It is Sinn Féin’s position that no flag or emblem should be erected to mark out territory, to harass, or intimidate anyone and it was clearly provocative to erect flags close to a place of worship.
“There have been good relations between all the people who live in Rostrevor and its hinterland.
“The actions of one individual responsible for erecting the flags certainly do not reflect the will of the people of Rostrevor and will be roundly condemned.”
People on Twitter had varied reactions to the controversy.
An anti-community element erected tricolours above the scaffolding of Rostrevor’s Church of Ireland. We have removed the flags. Our members were verbally abused by the person in question, his actions do not speak for the community of Rostrevor and never will. pic.twitter.com/Hj0nZIyJms
— Hilltown - Rostrevor Sinn Féin (@hill_rost_sf) March 18, 2018
Our national flag, the Tricolour, respects all traditions on the island of Ireland & is renowned throughout the World. It imposes on no one. Well done to the local SF activists in #Rostrevor
— Crotlieve Sinn Féin (@CrotlieveSF) March 19, 2018
Stick a few flags up on top of the church in Rostrevor then do a great PR exercise to get them removed. Literally could not make it up😂😂
— William Wilson (@William37290640) March 19, 2018
Fair play to @sinnfeinireland activists today for removing flags from scaffolding surrounding Rostrevor Church of Ireland #CommunityLeaders https://t.co/YyMpB7AjkQ
— Chris Hazzard (@ChrisHazzardSF) March 19, 2018
Is this 'anti- community element' to remain anonymous? Did Hilltown Rostrevor SF report the matter to the PSNI? Is this just self congratulatory SF virtue signalling?
— Stephen Elliott (@stevemayman) March 19, 2018
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