Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister:
“The use of Irish in the official logo of Newry, Mourne and Down District is clearly designed to send a message to Unionists in the area. Like the decision last week by the old Newry and Mourne District Council to retain the name of a children’s play park honouring a terrorist linked to the murder of ten innocent Protestants this development tells Unionists that they are not welcome in the area.
“For all the fine talk of equality and protection of minority rights Nationalism has shown that when she has the upper hand they will ram whatever they want down Unionist throats with no thought of the offence or hurt caused.
“None of the Unionist dominated councils have sought to place political messages on their logos yet the use of Irish is clearly being used in Newry, Mourne and Down District and Fermanagh and Omagh to mark the areas out as Nationalist and make them a cold house for Unionists.”