SINN Fein has demanded that unionists in Coleraine who voted to exclude party
councillor Billy Leonard from the mayor’s Christmas party pay for a legal action
challenging the snub.
Timothy Deans, DUP mayor of the Co Derry town, has formally apologised to Mr
Leonard for excluding him from the annual function paid for by ratepayers.
Each councillor is traditionally entitled to invite people to the mayor’s party
who have assisted the community during the previous year.
The apology came just before a judicial review of the decision – sought by Mr
Leonard – was due to be heard at Belfast High Court.
Mr Leonard instigated proceedings against Mr Deans and the borough council under
equality legislation.
Withdrawing the case, Mr Leonard’s solicitors Madden and Finucane claimed Mr
Deans’s actions had shown a “casual disregard” for Coleraine ratepayers.
A spokesman claimed they were also in breach of a wide range of equality and
human rights legislation.
“It is regrettable that Billy Leonard has been forced to go to court to seek to
protect his rights in relation to equality issues first rehearsed before the
courts in relation to discriminatory actions by unionist councillors against
nationalists in Belfast City Council almost 20 years ago,” the spokesman said.
Mr Leonard described the mayor’s apology as fitting but said it was more
important that Mr Deans had been shown to be acting against the law.
“Councillor Deans attempted to pursue DUP policy at a function paid for by the
ratepayers. He has learned he cannot exclude republicans on the basis of
equality and it is important that we did this,” he said.
Mr Leonard said under the normal course, he would have invited up to eight
people from a republican background to the function who have been active in
community life.
He also said his party had already been in touch with the local government
auditor over the case.
Mr Leonard said Sinn Fein had asked the auditor to pursue seven unionist
councillors in Coleraine who voted against a motion demanding that republicans
be included from such functions.
He said the six DUP and one Ulster Unionist councillor who voted against the
proposal should also be asked to pay the legal costs of the case.