ABC Council has been accused of “squandering” close to £92,000 of ratepayers’ money during a failed attempt to block a bilingual street sign in Portadown – just as fresh debate over Irish-English signage reignited in the chamber last night (Wednesday).
Figures released under Freedom of Information show Council spent £76,630 plus VAT on legal and consultancy fees in defending a High Court challenge over dual-language signage at Woodside Hill, off the Garvaghy Road.
Irish language campaign group Conradh na Gaeilge – which obtained the figures – claims the total bill approaches £92,000 once VAT is included.
The legal action was brought by local grandmother Iris Hagan after councillors voted to refuse a petition for Irish-English signage at Woodside Hill, despite campaigners insisting the required thresholds under council policy had been met.
Under that policy, at least 33% of residents on a street must first sign a petition to trigger a survey. Dual-language signage can then be installed where two-thirds of those on the electoral register indicate support.
Mrs Hagan’s lawyers argued the council’s decision to refuse the petition was irrational and driven by political opposition to Irish language street signs. Concerns were also raised during proceedings about the handling and disclosure of committee minutes.
The judicial review ended earlier this year when the council reversed course and approved the dual-language application at a meeting in February, effectively conceding the case after months of legal wrangling.
Following confirmation of the legal spend, Conradh na Gaeilge’s language rights co-ordinator, Cuisle Nic Liam, accused the authority – and in particular its unionist bloc – of wasting public money in a battle it could not win.
She described the outlay as funds “wasted defending the indefensible”, claiming a “DUP-led council” had “squandered almost £92,000 of tax-payers’ money in their failed attempt to deny a dual-language sign”.
The row over the Woodside Hill legal bill came as the issue of bilingual street names returned to the council chamber on Wednesday night, with proposals for Irish-English signage at Corcrain Gardens, Portadown, going before the Planning Committee.
Head of Building Control Tom Lavery briefed members on the objections received to the Corcrain Gardens application and outlined the statutory framework and council policy governing dual-language signage.
Mr Lavery confirmed that, in this case, two-thirds of those surveyed in the street had indicated support for the Irish-English signs. He advised councillors that, given the level of backing, they should consider whether it would be appropriate to exercise the council’s discretionary powers to approve the application.
The meeting heard that a number of objections had raised concerns over cost to ratepayers. However, Sinn Féin councillor Paul Duffy dismissed cost as a valid argument against residents’ legal entitlement to apply for bilingual signage.
“Cost is not an issue,” Cllr Duffy said, noting that ratepayers who support Irish-language signage have the same rights as anyone else in the borough.
Referring directly to the previous legal challenge, he continued: “I’m well aware of the objections – we had received emails about cost – that I have requested and I’m sure other organisations have put in Freedom of Information requests, of the staggering cost the previous case cost this council.
“In the complaints it does mention a thing about cost and what it costs this council for these objections… doesn’t hold no weight at all for me because council is duty bound for the cost. These are rate payers within this borough… they are legally right to apply for dual signage if they wish, so cost is not an issue.”
Cllr Duffy went on to characterise many of the objections lodged against Irish-English street signs as rooted in hostility to the Irish language rather than any demonstrable harm to community relations.
He told the committee: “Anybody reading these objections doesn’t take long to conclude it’s based on intolerance, blatant anti-Irish sentiment. Someone being offended by or not wanting to see Irish beside English on a dual language street sign does not equate to adverse impact and [has] no impact whatsoever on our community and on the community where these people live.”
He stressed that the proposals at Corcrain Gardens – and on other streets – do not involve removing English from any signage.
“English beside Irish – there’s no problem with it,” he said. “We are not looking to do away with English language signage here; it’s just blatant anti-Irish and that’s just it.”
A decision to pass the dual language street sign at Corcrain gardens in Portadown was passed on a vote of 7 to 5 with Sinn councillors Paul Duffy, John Og O’Kane, Kevin Savage, Mary O’Dowd, Fergal Donnelly, and Sorcha McGeown along with Alliance Councillor Peter Lavery voting in favour while councillors Scott Armstrong (DUP), Ian Wilson (DUP), Julie Flaherty (UUP), Kyle Moutray (DUP) and Paul Rankin (DUP) voting against.