Neeson freedom honour set to go smoothly

HE’S become one of the biggest movie stars on the planet - and now Ballymena’s own Liam Neeson is set to receive the ‘freedom’ of his home town.

The plan to give the Demesne man Ballymena’s greatest honour should receive the overwhelming support of local councillors when they meet next Monday evening (November 5).

Neeson, currently riding high in the billboard charts in the all-action thriller ‘Taken 2’, has been on the Hollywood ‘A’ list for many years but his portrayal of an ex-CIA agent on the hunt for his daughter’s kidnappers has given him a truly global appeal.

Council Chief Anne Donaghy confirmed to the Times that a private session is to take place on November 5 just prior to Ballymena Borough Council’s normal monthly meeting and sources predict that the decision to confer the freedom honour will be smoothly passed.

This is in stark contrast to the last time the rugged star was considered for the accolade.

Back in 2000, a similar proposal was binned after controversy arose over remarks attributed to Neeson in the US magazine ‘George’.

During that interview, he was alleged to have commented that he had ‘felt like a second class citizen’ during his young adulthood in Ballymena.

However the sixty year old actor later denied making the comments.

In a letter to the council at that time, Neeson said: “It would be inappropriate for me to accept in view of the stated opposition of some members and the resultant controversy which has been extensively canvassed in the media.

“I will always remain very proud of my upbringing in, and association with, the town and my country of birth, which I will continue to promote at every opportunity.

“Indeed I regard the enduring support over the years from all sections of the Community in Ballymena as being more than sufficient recognition for any success which I may have achieved as an actor.”

With the Rev Ian Paisley having been given the Freedom of Ballymena in 2004, it is believed that this paved the way for the accolade to be offered to the town’s most famous export.

Mayor of Ballymena PJ McAvoy is set to propose that the Oscar nominated actor is offered the Freedom of the borough but the SDLP man is keeping quiet on the matter until the meeting is held next Monday night.

“The monthly council meeting will be on Monday, November 5. There will be a special meeting 30 minutes before it to deal with this particular item. I am not going to give any thing in advance of the official request being made to council,” he said.