A motion to hold a commemoration for the 1973 Coleraine bombings has been passed at Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council.
The motion was brought by the DUP’s Cllr Alan McLean.
Cllr McLean said:
“The motion was brought on foot of representations I had received from people bereaved in this attack, who were keen to see the 45th anniversary of the Railway Road atrocity marked in a suitable manner. I hope this event provides the victims and survivors with some sense of healing.”
The motion also makes provision for the potential of a permanent memorial. Cllr McLean’s Coleraine colleague, Cllr Trevor Clarke added:
“This is a sensitive matter and it should be recognised there is often a divergence of views amongst victims as to how we remember and commemorate events of the past. I hope that following appropriate consultation a permanent memorial to the victims of the Railway Road bombing can be erected in line with the wishes of those directly affected by this attack, as well as the local community.”
The motion carried 28 votes to 1, with 7 abstentions.
A Sinn Fein amendment that sought to remove a reference in the DUP’s motion to the Coleraine bombing as an “atrocity”, and a reference to the “Provisional IRA” as the organisation responsible for the attack was defeated.
Causeway Coast and Glens Councillor, Sean McGlinchey, served 18 years in prison for the attack on 12th June 1973.
The vote was 28 in favour (DUP, UUP, SDLP, TUV, PUP); 1 against (Independent); 7 abstentions (SF & Alliance).
The motion was as follows:
That in consideration of the upcoming forty-fifth anniversary of the Coleraine bombings this Council resolves to:
– affirm it’s solidarity with the families bereaved by the atrocity and the survivors of the attack;
– organise a memorial event to mark the occasion for the families of those affected and the wider community; and
– give consideration following appropriate consultation to the erection of a permanent memorial to those who lost their lives as a result of this heinous act of terrorism by the Provisional IRA.
