An Ulster Unionist Party MLA has slammed comments from the GAA President Jarlath Burns after he referred to the A5 as a "GAA Road".
Mr Burns was speaking outside the Court of Appeal on Wednesday where a hearing heard an application by landowners challenging the commencement of works to build the £2 billion road which runs through Co Tyrone.
Speaking outside the court, Jarlath Burns referred to the main Tyrone GAA centre being located on the road and said that there was a responsibility to see the road upgraded.
"Getting the A5 properly upgraded is a human rights issue. It is a GAA road, if you want to call it that, because Tyrone's main GAA centre is on it," he said.
"There have been so many lives lost. I think it is a responsibility on all of us to get this road upgraded."
Responding to his comments, UUP Fermanagh and South Tyrone MLA Diana Armstrong said: “This language is entirely inflammatory and is totally unhelpful in addressing the A5 Western Transport Corridor. Territorial claims have no place in a peaceful society. The Ulster Unionist Party has consistently condemned the marking out of territories with flags and emblems.
"We are all required to live together in a peaceful society where everyone respects each other’s spaces, cultures and traditions. Whilst aware of the tragic loss of lives on this road, and my sympathies are with all those families affected, a balanced recognition needs to be given to the impact this road development and land acquisition is having on the 300 local landowners and farming families.
“Mr Burn’s comments in relation to the A5 being a ‘GAA road’ are deeply insensitive to those of the 57 people who lost their lives who are from other traditions, and therefore, I would request that he reconsider his language in this regard.
“To quote the late John Hume in his Nobel Laureate Acceptance Speech the Good Friday Agreement means that no-one is asked to yield their cherished convictions or beliefs. All of us are asked to respect the views and rights of others as equal of our own and, together, to forge a covenant of shared ideals based on commitment to the rights of all allied to a new generosity of purpose.”
For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our politics newsletter here.
English (United States) ·