The scene of the Enniskillen bomb, where the IRA detonated a bomb at a
Remembrance Day service which killed 11 people who were standing in the area
FERMANAGH and Omagh District Council says no decision has yet been made on whether or not Cllr Stephen McCann will attend next month’s commemorations to mark the 30th anniversary of the Enniskillen bomb.
The world’s media are expected to descend on the town for the event on Wednesday, November 8th. The run-up to the anniversary has been overshadowed by remarks by the Council chairman who said in July that he would not “go down the road of condemning” the 1987 bombing. This led to SDLP, DUP and UUP councillors walking out of a subsequent council meeting in protest. Last month a UUP motion calling on Cllr McCann to retract his comments was defeated. The chairman had not been expected to attend the commemorations with Unionist sources indicating that he would instead be represented by the vice chairman, the UUP’s Alex Baird.
However a council spokesman told the Herald this week: “The decision on whether the Chair or Vice-chair attends this event has not yet been considered.”
Next month’s event will include the unveiling of a new memorial to the 12 victims beside the entrance to the Clinton Centre. A short Religious Service will take place at the war memorial at 10.30am followed by a second in Enniskillen Presbyterian Church at 11.30am. The ceremony is expected to be similar to the 25th anniversary five years ago which was attended by key political and church leaders. It will include a wreath-laying ceremony by veterans and relatives and a minute’s silence exactly 30 years after the explosion on November 8th 1987.
The Council has been asked to support the 30th Anniversary events but not lead them. Councillors have been invited to attend the commemorations but only in a spectator capacity, it has emerged. The Ely Centre is spending £5,950 to mark the event which includes a council contribution of £1,200.
Speaking at a council meeting where the funding allocation was agreed, Independent Cllr Josephine Deehan expressed her disappointment that the local authority will not have a more prominent role in the commemorations.
“This is not a political issue at all. I have no doubt that many councillors will attend those commemorative events. Not to have an official role and to make an official statement on behalf of the council, I regret that and it’s an opportunity that has been missed,” she said.
A council spokesman added: “As the public can attend the unveiling of the memorial at 10.30am then any Councillor can attend this event. We understand that attendance at the 11.30am Service is by invitation only.”
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