Deputy Mayor Resigns from SDLP Amid Bobby Sands Statue Vote Controversy
Belfast's deputy lord mayor, Paul Doherty, has resigned from the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) following a disagreement over a council vote concerning a statue of IRA hunger striker Bobby Sands.
The resignation came after a special Belfast City Council meeting held on Thursday, during which a motion proposed by the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) was passed. The motion called for a decision to close a planning enforcement investigation related to the statue to be "reconsidered." SDLP councillors exited the meeting prior to the vote.
Doherty stated that he was not present at the meeting but would have opposed the DUP motion had he been able to vote.
The SDLP leader, Claire Hanna, expressed gratitude for Doherty's service and noted that the party's councillors had experienced "intimidation" following the debate. Doherty will continue to serve as an independent councillor.
Background on the Bobby Sands Statue and Enforcement Investigation
The statue of Bobby Sands was erected in 2025 on public land in the Twinbrook area of west Belfast without obtaining planning permission.
Following the statue's installation, an enforcement investigation was conducted. However, Belfast City Council officials concluded that it was "not considered expedient to take any further action."
Paul Doherty's Statement on Resignation
In a Facebook post on Saturday, Doherty announced his immediate departure from the SDLP.
"For clarity, I was not at the hastily arranged Belfast City Council meeting this week, contrary to some posts directed at me,"
he wrote.
"I was dealing with an emerging issue in the community and therefore did not have the opportunity to vote against the DUP motion - which I would have done."
Doherty emphasized the significance of the statue to the local community, stating:
"As someone from west Belfast, I know the Bobby Sands statue in Twinbrook holds real significance for people in our community and beyond.
People should be fully entitled to remember him in this way, and I fully support that."
He also criticized the DUP and others for "turning this into a political stunt."
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna Responds
Claire Hanna described Doherty as a "valued representative of the SDLP over many years" and extended her best wishes for his future endeavors.
"The SDLP representatives on Belfast City Council collectively developed their position on the Bobby Sands statue,"
she said.
"Following the motion, our councillors were subjected to an unacceptable level of intimidation.
While the party has sought to support Paul throughout this period, he has taken the decision to step down, and we respect his decision to put his family first."
Details of the Council Vote
The DUP motion was supported by 27 councillors, with 22 opposing and three abstaining. The motion received backing from unionist parties and the Alliance Party.
During the Belfast City Hall meeting on Thursday, DUP councillor Dean McCullough stated that the motion was about "equality."
"The decision to close the planning probe strikes at the very heart of public confidence in this council,"
he said.
Sinn Féin proposed an amendment seeking a review of the "current enforcement status of all such structures" across the council area, but it was unsuccessful.
Sinn Féin councillor Ciaran Beattie argued that memorial sites lacking planning permission were "predominantly in unionist areas."
"People should be allowed to remember their dead in a respectful way,"
Beattie added.
An amendment from the SDLP was also defeated. It called for Stormont executive ministers to "recommit" to proposals made by the Commission on Flags, Identity, Culture and Tradition.
SDLP councillor Séamas de Faoite commented:
"We're still stuck in a position where none of that appears to have moved forward."
Criticism from the Bobby Sands Trust
On Friday, the Bobby Sands Trust criticized the SDLP's handling of the council meeting.
The trust's secretary, Danny Morrison, a former director of publicity for Sinn Féin, described the SDLP's actions as "cowardly and craven."
In a statement to the BBC's Nolan Show, he also remarked on the "astonishing" hypocrisy of unionist parties.
Historical Context of Bobby Sands and the Statue
Bobby Sands died at age 27 during the 1981 hunger strike, in which ten republican paramilitary prisoners starved themselves to death. The protest sought recognition as political prisoners during Northern Ireland's Troubles, a period of violent conflict.
The statue of Sands, a former Member of Parliament, was unveiled beside an Irish republican memorial garden.
First Minister Michelle O'Neill and other Sinn Féin representatives attended the unveiling ceremony.
O'Neill described the statue as a "powerful tribute" and defended her attendance despite criticism from the DUP.
The Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE) later stated that the statue had been placed on its land "without our permission or knowledge."
