Bobby Sands statue investigated by way of Belfast council planners

Belfast City Council is investigating a statue of IRA starvation striker Bobby Sands after it used to be erected with out making plans permission.

The statue of the previous MP used to be unveiled on Sunday in an Irish republican memorial lawn within the Twinbrook space of west Belfast.

First Minister Michelle O’Neill and different elected representatives from Sinn Féin have been amongst those that attended at the day.

The council mentioned making plans approval is “normally required for outdoor public artworks including sculptures and statues that are being installed on a long-term or permanent basis”.

“As the council has not received a planning application for this statue to date, it is investigating the matter and cannot comment further at this time,” a spokesman mentioned in a remark.

In a remark a Sinn Féin spokesman mentioned: “This is a matter for the organising committee.”

Mr Sands died elderly 27 throughout the 1981 starvation strike, through which 10 republican paramilitary prisoners starved themselves to demise.

It used to be a part of a protest through which they sought to be recognised as political prisoners throughout Northern Ireland’s violent battle referred to as the Troubles.

The statue used to be unveiled to mark 44 years since his demise.

O’Neill, vice-president of Sinn Féin, on Sunday described it as a “powerful tribute”.

“Bobby’s life and sacrifice continues to inspire people here in Ireland and across the world in pursuit of freedom and justice,” she mentioned on X, previously Twitter.

The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) criticised the primary minister’s attendance.

Michelle McIlveen, the birthday party’s deputy chief, mentioned Mr Sands used to be “not a freedom fighter”, however a “member of a brutal terrorist organisation”.

“To honour his legacy is to reopen the wounds of the past,” she advised the Northern Ireland Assembly on Monday.

“The first minister’s attendance in Twinbrook on Sunday was a wilful decision to reopen that hurt.”

Danny Morrison, secretary of the Bobby Sands Trust, mentioned it “was not involved in this initiative”.

“We doubt if anyone locally would object to the statue,” he added in a remark.

Mr Morrison mentioned there are “many monuments to Bobby around the world, streets have been named after him, books written and films made about him”.

“The statue represents nationalists and republicans honouring with pride what the prisoners and their families suffered,” he added.

According to its site, Belfast City Council “can investigate breaches of planning controls” in instances together with the place “building work which needs planning permission is undertaken without approval”.

In a remark a council spokesman mentioned: “Planning permission is normally required for outdoor public artworks including sculptures and statues that are being installed on a long-term or permanent basis.

“As the council has now not won a making plans utility for this statue thus far, it’s investigating the subject and can’t remark additional at the moment.”