Statue Investigation Concludes with No Further Action
Belfast City Council has announced that no further action will be taken regarding the statue of IRA hunger striker Bobby Sands, which was erected without planning permission. The local authority initiated an investigation last year after the monument was unveiled on public land in west Belfast.
The statue, located in the Twinbrook area beside an Irish republican memorial garden, was installed to mark the 44th anniversary of Sands' death. First Minister Michelle O'Neill and other Sinn Féin representatives attended the unveiling event.
Following a probe conducted in accordance with the council's planning enforcement strategy, the council stated it was "not considered expedient to take any further action in this instance."
Background on Bobby Sands and the Hunger Strike
Bobby Sands died at the age of 27 during the 1981 hunger strike, in which ten republican paramilitary prisoners starved themselves to death. The protest aimed to achieve recognition as political prisoners amid Northern Ireland's violent conflict known as the Troubles.
Statue Erected Without Permission on Public Land
The Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE) later confirmed that the monument had been erected on its land "without our permission or knowledge."
Political Reactions to the Statue
Michelle O'Neill described the statue as a "powerful tribute" and defended her attendance at the unveiling after criticism from the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP). She emphasized that her presence demonstrated her commitment to being a "first minister for all," noting that she also attended a VE Day event on the same day.
"To honour his legacy is to reopen the wounds of the past,"
DUP deputy leader Michelle McIlveen stated in the Northern Ireland Assembly that Sands was "not a freedom fighter" but rather a "member of a brutal terrorist organisation."
Council Statement on Enforcement Investigation
A Belfast City Council spokesperson said:
"Our enforcement investigation on this statue has concluded and the case has been closed. The investigation was conducted in line with our planning enforcement strategy, and it was not considered expedient to take any further action in this instance."
The council's planning enforcement strategy allows discretion to take enforcement action if deemed expedient.
Responses from Political Parties and Community Groups
Sinn Féin was approached for further comment. A party spokesman stated at the time:
"This is a matter for the organising committee."
DUP councillor Sarah Bunting, the party's group leader at Belfast City Council, expressed concern about the decision not to pursue further action. She warned of a "perception" that "cases involving republicans… do not result in meaningful outcomes."
"Planning rules are there to be followed. When an unauthorised structure is put up and nothing happens, it sends a clear message that some people can ignore the law without consequence,"
Meanwhile, the Bobby Sands Trust stated it "was not involved" in the statue plans but believed it would "doubt if anyone locally would object."
Paramilitary Murals and Memorials on Public Land
According to records from the NIHE, there are nearly 200 paramilitary murals and memorials on its land and property.
