Sinn Fein wants equality of emblems

Sinn Féin has tabled an Assembly motion calling for equality of symbols and emblems at Stormont

Sinn Féin has tabled an Assembly motion calling for equality of symbols and emblems at Stormont. Proposing the motion, a party MLA, Mr Conor Murphy, said current statues and plaques at Parliament Buildings reflected unionist politicians' desire to create a Protestant parliament for a Protestant people.

Unionists expressed fears that Sinn Féin's demands could lead to memorials commemorating IRA violence.

The DUP tabled an amendment to the original motion calling for additional symbols and emblems to reflect the history of Stormont which was passed by MLAs.

A DUP MLA, Mr Gregory Campbell, said he had no objections to nationalist politicians being commemorated. "This building and estate was not the exclusive preserve of the unionist tradition. There were many people who frequented this building who were nationalist," he said.