The Sinn Fein Mayor of Derry, Mr Cathal Crumley, has denied that his decision to stay away from yesterday morning's visit to the city by Britain's Princess Royal was a snub to the local unionist community.
The princess attended a function in the loyalist Hawkin Street area of the Fountain Estate close to the city centre during which she visited a housing scheme associated with former unionist mayor Mr Jack Allen.
Mr Crumley, a councillor who was elected Northern Ireland's first Sinn Fein mayor six weeks ago, said his decision to stay away from the function had nothing to do with party politics. "When I was elected mayor I said I would deal with all the various issues which were bound to arise during my term of office with sensitivity. I considered this event and decided that the unionist community would be better served on this occasion by the deputy mayor, Councillor Ernie Hamilton, who is a member of the Ulster Unionist Party.
"I have made the necessary arrangements for that to happen and the unionist community will have their day with their royal visitor. There is absolutely no snub on my part, there is absolutely no prejudice involved on my part. I am giving due courtesy to all traditions in the city and on balance, on this occasion, the best thing would be to deputise it to the deputy mayor", he said.
Earlier this month Mr Crumley was forced to pull out of attending a function in St Columb's Park in the Waterside following alleged threats from loyalist paramilitaries.
"I have been threatened on numerous occasions since coming into office and there has been a deliberate attempt by some loyalist elements to put me off the civic programme, but I have endeavoured to adhere to it as completely as possible", he said.
However, one of Mr Crumley's predecessors, former Ulster Unionist mayor Alderman Richard Dallas, said the mayor's decision not to meet Princess Anne was both an insult and a snub to local unionists.
"First of all he complains that he's not getting invitations from sections of the unionist and Protestant community, yet now when he's been given the opportunity to sell to the whole citizens of Londonderry that he's willing to represent them all, he decides not to", said Alderman Dallas.
The former SDLP Lord Mayor of Belfast, Mr Alban Maginness, said Mr Crumley was wrong not to greet Princess Anne.
The Belfast Agreement and the power-sharing Executive had created a new mood in the North which recognised both traditions, he said. "In present political circumstances, the mayor would show greater political skill and courage if he officially greeted the princess on behalf of all the people of Derry, nationalist and unionist, whom he was elected to represent," Mr Maginness said. Suzanne Breen in Belfast writes: Princess Anne met staff at Maghaberry Prison, Co Antrim. She was greeted by the director general of the Northern Ireland Prison Service, Mr Robin Halward, and the governor of Maghaberry, Mr Martin Mogg. The Ulster Unionist MP, Mr Jeffrey Donaldson, was also present.
The princess visited the prison hospital and the sports hall. Earlier, she visited the Flying Angel Seafarers' Centre at Prince's Dock in Belfast.
She met representatives of the business community who have worked closely with the mission.