COUNCIL CHAIRMAN GIVES WARNING OVER BEHAVIOUR OF PUBLIC AT MEETINGS
Council chairman gives warning over behaviour of public meetings
THE chairman of Omagh District Council, Mr. Allan Rainey, has warned that he will "deal with" councillors who knowingly permit disruptive visitors to sit in the public gallery of the council chamber.
His comments followed an outburst by' Mr. Laurence Rush, whose wife, Libbi, was one of the 29 people killed in the Market Street bomb on August 15, 1998.
Mr. Rush was one of a number of people permitted a visitor's pass to allow him to sit in the council chamber during Tuesday night's monthly meeting.
However, during a discussion on the state of the Heath Service and provision of health care services in Omagh, Mr. Rush together with another visitor, shouted down Mr. Francis Mackey, claiming he did not have a mandate to speak for the people of Omagh on the issue.
He said he objected to Mr. Mackey being in the council, and claimed that the councillor did not have a mandate and spoke for no one.
Following the discussion, the council chairman emphasised that if councillors were responsible for bringing people into the gallery he expected them to be responsible for their behaviour.
"If people interrupt proceedings I am going to deal with them. I am making that point loud and clear," he said.
Mr. Joe Byrne apologised to the council, and said that both he and Mr. Vincent Campbell had issued passes to Mr. Rush and his companion, hoping that they would know how to behave.
Mr. Rainey said that while he accepted Mr. Byrne's account of what happened, he would deal with any future incidents of a similar nature.
THE chairman of Omagh District Council, Mr. Allan Rainey, has warned that he will "deal with" councillors who knowingly permit disruptive visitors to sit in the public gallery of the council chamber.
His comments followed an outburst by' Mr. Laurence Rush, whose wife, Libbi, was one of the 29 people killed in the Market Street bomb on August 15, 1998.
Mr. Rush was one of a number of people permitted a visitor's pass to allow him to sit in the council chamber during Tuesday night's monthly meeting.
However, during a discussion on the state of the Heath Service and provision of health care services in Omagh, Mr. Rush together with another visitor, shouted down Mr. Francis Mackey, claiming he did not have a mandate to speak for the people of Omagh on the issue.
He said he objected to Mr. Mackey being in the council, and claimed that the councillor did not have a mandate and spoke for no one.
Following the discussion, the council chairman emphasised that if councillors were responsible for bringing people into the gallery he expected them to be responsible for their behaviour.
"If people interrupt proceedings I am going to deal with them. I am making that point loud and clear," he said.
Mr. Joe Byrne apologised to the council, and said that both he and Mr. Vincent Campbell had issued passes to Mr. Rush and his companion, hoping that they would know how to behave.
Mr. Rainey said that while he accepted Mr. Byrne's account of what happened, he would deal with any future incidents of a similar nature.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/1437
Published Date: 09-Mar-00
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