Anti-sectarian motion passed after spirited debate

After a summer of sectarian violence, which at its height saw a 19-year-old father of two murdered by UFF gunmen, there had been calls from civic, church and political leaders for a root and branch approach to reduce sectarian divisions within Northern Irish society.

Today was billed by some as the first step in addressing the issue, but the Stormont motion on anti-sectarianism this afternoon, proposed by Sinn Fein's Alex Maskey and Gerry Kelly, was debated in an unrestrained fashion – with one MLA describing it as a "dog fight".

The low point came when Paddy Roache, NIUP assembly member for Lagan Valley, was ejected from the chamber for refusing to withdraw derogatory remarks addressed to a Sinn Fein member.

The wording of the motion dominated the two-hour debate, with both the UUP and SDLP tabling amendments.

The key statement of the original Sinn Fein motion called for the assembly to express "its sympathy to all those who have been the victims of sectarian murder, violence and intimidation… in recent times".

Divisions between the parties were centred on the definition of "sectarian murder… in recent times". Critics of the motion's phraseology from both unionist and nationalist parties suggest that Sinn Fein's motion differentiates between the murder of civilians and those resulting from the 'armed struggle' previous to the paramilitary ceasefires.

The SDLP's Alex Attwood widened the terms of the debate, calling on the assembly to express sympathies "for all those who have been murdered in the course of the current conflict". Mr Attwood's amendment went on to specify that all political parties, and not merely "the assembly" according to the original motion, should "oppose any words, actions or displays of a sectarian nature".

Speaking before the debate, Alex Attwood said: "The Sinn Fein motion is riddled with confusion and contradiction – it condemns only sectarian murder not other murders. It only condemns violence in recent times, not in all times, and more than anything else it condemns threats and intimidation – yet Sinn Fein refuse to condemn threats and intimidation against young PSNI recruits."

The DUPs Gregory Campbell, who was also highly critical of the move, said: "This is coming from the party [Sinn Fein] whose military wing is carrying out more violence and intimidation that all the other groups put together."

On the question of whether assembly members would admit in the chamber to holding bigoted views, the DUPs Gregory Campbell felt that "turkeys don't often vote for Christmas".

The motion, complete with amendments, was passed by the assembly late this afternoon.

(GMcG)