Irish President Pulls Out Of Belfast Centenary Dinner

Irish President Michael D Higgins has pulled out of attending a centenary dinner at the City Hall In Belfast on 08 April.

An agreement was made that the signing of the Ulster Covenant, the Easter Rising and the Battle of the Somme would all be commemorated with dinners.

The Alliance party has slammed the DUP after the party also decided to boycott the dinner.

Alliance Councillor Michael Long said he is disappointed with the DUP's decision.

Mr Long said: "It was an all-party approach to the decade of centenaries that was respectful to all traditions, and done with reconciliation and building a shared future in mind. Therefore it was disappointing the DUP has decided to not attend the Easter Rising dinner, which has led to President Higgins pulling out of the event.

"It is particularly hypocritical of the DUP, given the party will likely be in attendance at the Somme event in a few months."

SDLP Department for Communities spokesperson Cllr Nichola Mallon said: "This DUP decision to renege on an all-party agreement is a clear attempt to peddle to extremists in the run-up to the election. Faced with challenges from former flag protesters and the TUV, the party have buckled at the first opportunity they had to show leadership and mutual respect. Their so-called Fresh Start has been exposed as nothing more than a Phoney Start.

"Time after time the SDLP have sought to deepen understanding and cooperation within the community. It is why we have attended Remembrance Day ceremonies in the past, it is why we will be attending the commemoration of the battle of the Somme this year.

"After last week's snub by Alliance Leader David Ford to the Taoiseach and Irish people across the globe, more politicians from Northern Ireland seem determined to add insult to injury with today's snub to President Higgins."

(CD)