SDLP MLA says 'no further religious service' should be allowed, while DUP MLA defends right to 'religious freedom'
The right of a small Church to hold open-air services with loudspeakers at a popular public square in Derry city is at the centre of a clash between MLAs from the SDLP and DUP .
Management of the square, which overlooks Derry's iconic Peace Bridge between the Waterside and Cityside, along with oversight of the wider redevelopment project is the responsibility of the Executive Office at Stormont. The open-air religious services, meanwhile, have drawn criticism from Sinead McLaughlin who is accusing the Executive Office of having "mismanaged" the space by allowing them to go ahead.
In a statement, Sinead McLaughlin said: "“The people of Derry have repeatedly been told that Ebrington Square is an inclusive and shared space, yet the granting of permission for the use of our Square by religious preachers risks totally undermining that promise. It also betrays the Department’s lack of vision and runs entirely contrary to the originally intended purpose of the space.
In her letter to the Executive Office, the Foyle MLA highlighted the use of an "amplification system" and the distribution of flyers. The DUP MLA said: "I would have deep concern with the comments by Sinead. The services which have taken place over this last number of weeks have taken place in the past without incident, without complaint. This is an expression of people's religious freedom and what Sinead is suggesting is that because she doesn't like the particular services that are taking place that they shouldn't be allowed to take place.
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