Council efforts to change Londonderry name to Derry condemned

A decision by Derry City and Strabane District Council to change the official name of Londonderry to Derry has been described as “sectarian” and “disgusting” by unionists.

The council is now contacting Stormont’s SDLP Environment Minister Mark H Durkan, who is from Derry, on how it might proceed with the change.

The motion was passed on Thursday evening with the full support of Sinn Féin, the SDLP and Independent councillors, despite opposition from unionists.

However, the judge ruled that just because the council had changed its name that didn’t mean 17th century addition of the “London” prefix also needed to change.

As said by TheJournal.ie 28 councillors voted to seek advice on how to change the name, with nine voting against.

Ms Kee said it “sends a message to the minority unionist community that they are not welcome”, and added: “Generally the unionist community refers to the city as Londonderry whilst nationalists prefer Derry”. Close to 2,000 people have signed an online petition backing the change. In 2007, Mr. Justice Weatherup ruled that the city charter could only be changed by prerogative or legislation.

“You can always tell when Sinn Fein is in a jam politically because they resurrect their divisive proposal to change the name of the city”, he said.

The vote by the Derry City council was called following a request for a public vote on installing “Derry” as the official name of the city.

Sinn Féin said a change would help establish a clear brand for the city across the world to help attract visitors.

He added that his proposal was not attempting to airbrush London from the city’s history.

Commenting on the latest council decision, DUP MLA Gary Middleton said Sinn Fein had introduced the proposal to “distract from their illogical position” on welfare reform which is “taking £2m per week away from frontline services”.

“If republican and nationalists politicians in the city are serious about equality and a shared future we should be celebrating our connection with London”.

The council had argued that government should accept its view that the name of the city was, in fact, “Derry”.

“It creates sectarian tension and how does this reflect upon the nationalist republican goal to achieve a shared future?”