Lo says McKinney comments on Newry play park is a backward step for SDLP

Alliance South Belfast MLA Anna Lo has criticised comments in the News Letter from new SDLP MLA Fearghal McKinney in which he tried to justify the decision by SDLP Councillors to support the naming of a play park in Newry after convicted terrorist Raymond McCreesh. Mr McKinney claimed that the SDLP were trying to end division in the Council and that they would suffer for the wider good by supporting the naming of this play park after Raymond McCreesh.

Anna Lo MLA said: “I am disappointed by the attempt by Fearghal McKinney to justify the naming of a play park after a convicted terrorist. Fearghal’s comments are a backward step for the SDLP, as his predecessor Conall McDevitt had actually stated that his colleagues had gotten it wrong when they had supported this proposal.

“It was wrong for the SDLP to support this proposal; there should not be any attempt to justify what they did.

“I hope that Fearghal will clarify what he meant when he tried to justify what the SDLP did in Newry. I am sure that when he realises what he said was wrong, that he will withdraw these comments.”

ENDS