Derry DUP councillor claims ‘no comparison’ between actions of RUC and Spanish police

A row erupted at a council meeting in Derry after a DUP councillor claimed that the recent actions of the Catalan police could not be compared to the RUC during the Troubles.

The point was made by DUP councillor David Ramsey as councillors debated whether or not to write to the British and Irish governments asking them to recognise the outcome of the Catalan Independence Referendum.

It came after a motion from Sinn Fein councillor Caoimhe McKnight who called on council to condemn the brutality of Spanish police and called on the Spanish government to respect the democratic wishes following the referendum.

DUP councillor David Ramsey called for a point of order saying that he had 'serious difficulties' understanding what relevance the issue had to the local council.

A council officer told Alderman Ramsey that council traditionally had a 'broad interpretation' when it came to motions and that the matter could be discussed.

Independent councillor Paul Gallagher said that there could be future economic links between the council and an independent Catalonia.

He mentioned the airport and said links could be built between the two areas which could bring 'economic value'.

Cllr McKnight said that the Catalan people standing up for their democratic rights was 'inspirational'.

She told the meeting that people in Derry know the impact of being denied democratic rights.

Cllr Gallagher then called for the release of Catalan political prisoners who had been arrested after the referendum.

He said it was a 'unique opportunity' to support a political mandate for independence and said it could lend insight ahead of a referendum on a united Ireland in the future.

SDLP councillor Martin Reilly said that his party had their own concerns about the relevance of the motion.

He said that Catalan independence was a matter for the people who live and called for an amendment to the motion.

Cllr Reilly told the meeting that his condemned the brutality of the Spanish police and said people should be able to express their democratic rights without threat of violence.

Alderman Ramsey said that his party would support the amendment as he saw an issue with council 'lending support for an illegal referendum'.

He described the way police dealt with protestors as a 'disgrace' but said that no comparison could be made between the Catalan Police and the RUC who faced 'petrol bombs, bricks, bombs'.

Alderman Ramsey's comments was met by shouts of 'Duke Street' by Sinn Fein and Independent councillors in reference to the actions of police during a civil rights march in Derry in 1968.

A five-minute recess was called and Cllr McKnight said she was unwilling to accept to the amendment.

The vote was called and the amendment was defeated.

The original amendment was passed with SDLP abstaining and unionists voting against.