Paisley and McGuinness in Braid visit
Anti-agreement unionists have reacted with anger to the visit of Martin McGuinness to Ballymena's Braid Centre. Read on ...
LEARNING TOGETHER, the community relations programme established almost two years ago amongst Ballymena's various secondary level schools in the wake of the tragic death of local teenager Michael McIlveen, reached another milestone this morning (Thursday) - but not without incident.
The pupils, staff and principals involved in the initiative came together in The Braid Civic Centre to celebrate and reflect on their progress over the past 12 months in the presence of various special guests, including former First Minister, Ian Paisley, and Deputy First Minister, Martin McGuinness.
Others in attendance included Education Minister, Catriona Ruane, North Antrim DUP MLA Ian Paisley jnr, North Eastern Education and Library Board chief Gordon Topping, and Ballymena Mayor Maurice Mills.
However, shortly after the proceedings got underway inside, a potential 'incident' was averted outside by PSNI officers who had been stationed around the scene.
They moved on a solitary male protester armed with an Ulster flag after he took his solo protest, at the presence of Mr McGuinness, on to the road, just outside the premises, at Bridge Street.
Within The Braid, the celebrations continued undisturbed and the young participants enjoyed a performance from the Spanner in the Works Theatre Company, a keynote speech from Mrs Alexandra Ford and songs by the Inter-school choir, before being presented with certificates for their involvement in Learning Together.
It was alleged afterwards, however, that the presence of Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness also angered some parents of pupils involved in the event.
Traditional Unionist MEP, Jim Allister, claimed that parents had been "hoodwinked", not having been told beforehand of Mr McGuinness's invitation to attend.
He said: "Letters to parents made no mention of the fact that McGuinness would be present at Ballymena Town Hall where the children were invited to perform.
"This deliberate concealment, I have no doubt, was to ease McGuinness' presence in the town and represents a political misuse of children.
"Parents have been in contact with me who are very upset that their children were used in this way and who want to know why the full nature of this event was concealed from them.
"I'm not surprised to discover that Ian Paisley Snr and Jnr added to the sanitisation of McGuinness by their own presence at the event," said Mr Allister.
Ballymena Councillor Roy Gillespie said he, too, was "appalled" that "parents were kept in the dark" and described the delivery of a speech by Mr McGuinness at the event on the evils of division as "simply nauseating".
"I am aware of several parents who are deeply unhappy," said Mr Gillespie.
"There would have been a time when you would have been laughed at if you would have suggested that Martin McGuinness would address an event in Ballymena with Dr Paisley in attendance. However, the North Antrim MP has drawn accustomed to being in the presence of the IRA's political wing," he said.
"The same can not be said of grassroots Unionists in Ballymena."
The presence of Mr. Paisley and Mr. McGuinness, dubbed the 'chuckle brothers' by political opponents was also commented on by anti-agreement activist, Lyle Cubitt, who said he was shocked and dismayed by the presence, in particular, of Martin McGuinness at the Town Hall.
"This man was instrumental in the IRA campaign - thousands died in that vicious insurgency and now we have a man who was a leader in the command structure of that organisation speaking to Ballymena schoolchildren.
"This is a truly shameful episode," he said.
Read more: Learning Together poster campaign
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Weather for Ballymena
Wednesday 30 May 2012
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