FRESH controversy has blown up over flags in Ballymena - this time over the placing of an emblem belonging to the White Nationalist Party (WNP) outside offices in the centre of the town.

The flag was flying on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of last week on a street standard in Mount Street directly outside Twickenham House which houses the Social Security Agency and the Housing Executive.

The offices were closed on two of the days the flag was spotted flying by people who contacted the Guardian.

And when the offices re-opened on Wednesday, it was only a short time before it was taken down by unknown people.

A police spokesman said: “We are aware that a flag was erected at this location and subsequently taken down.

“Police are unaware of who was behind either action.”

However, critics of the placing of the flag - believed to be the first of its type ever erected in public in Ballymena - said its placing seemed very deliberate.

Said one resident who was offended by the presence of the flag: “Twickenham House would be a place where foreign nationals along with the rest of us would probably visit as a point of contact with the government and it appears it was designed to make foreigners feel particularly unwelcome.

“The White Nationalist Party are Nazis who want the UK to be white only and the colours of this flag borrow colours of the Nazi Swastika flag - red, black and white. We don’t need this in Ballymena.”

The presence of the flag was also condemned by Ballymena’s Ulster Unionist Mayor, Alderman Joe McKernan.

“In general I think the situation of flags, particularly this year, from all points of views, has been considerably more than in other years.”

He said large numbers of flags - from whatever political viewpoint - did not help the image of Ballymena.

“While one understands each person is allowed to have their own individual views and they can express that view, you have to take in the overall picture and consider how that places the image of Ballymena to the many visitors to the area.”

He said everyone should give consideration to a reduction flags.

Regarding the White Nationalist Party flag, the Mayor condemned its appearance.

“In Ballymena in my younger days all of us, regardless of race, colour or creed, could live together.

“When I was at Sunday School there was a hymn which said: ‘Jesus died for all the children, red and yellow, black and white, all are precious in his sight’.”

Alderman McKernan added: “We have enough flags in Ballymena and don’t need any more reasons for arguing or fighting about each other’s views.
“I would say that the erection of this new flag in no way reflects the views of the vast majority of people.”

A Social Security Agency spokeswoman said they had no comment to make on the flag as it was not on their property.

A Housing Executive spokeswoman said: “The flag was not on Housing Executive property and we do not have details with regard to its erection or its removal.”

In recent years there has been an increase in racist incidents in Ballymena.

A number of racist stickers were put up around the town and attacks took place on the homes of foreign workers in Ballymena.

* It has emerged that a number of other White Nationalist Party flags were erected in the Clonavon area of Ballymena but were quickly removed by Progressive Unionist Party supporters.

That area has seen racist attacks on property in recent times.

It is understood the PUP intend to hold an event in Ballymena in the near future saying Loyalists should have nothing to do with the White Nationalist Party.
 

Racist flag 'put up to cause offence'
Belfast Telegraph, 23 July 2003

CONTROVERSY has flared over racist flags in Ballymena - including one directly outside the front door of offices jointly used by the Social Security Agency and Housing Executive.

The White Nationalist Party (WNP) flag was put up on a street lamp beside Twickenham House at Mount Street in the Co Antrim town.

Others appeared in the nearby Clonavon district which has previously seen racist attacks on homes.

It is believed to be the first time WNP flags have gone up in Ballymena, where rows have flared in recent years about loyalist paramilitary and Irish Tricolour flags.

A police spokesman said they were aware of the WNP flag at Mount Street.

One Ballymena resident said it seemed those who put up the WNP flag thought they would cause most offence by placing it near the joint offices.

"Twickenham House would be a place where foreign nationals, just like the rest of us, would probably visit as a point of contact with the Government and it appears it was designed to make foreigners feel particularly unwelcome."

Ballymena's Ulster Unionist Mayor, Alderman Joe McKernan, said: "The erection of this new flag in no way reflects the views of the vast majority of people."

A Social Security Agency spokeswoman said it had no comment on the flag as it was not on its property.

A Housing Executive spokeswoman said: "The flag was not on Housing Executive property and we do not have details with regard to its erection or its removal."

In recent years there has been an increase in racist incidents in Ballymena.

Racist stickers were put up and homes of foreign workers were attacked.