TUV leader Jim Allister MLA has challenged the Chief Executive of Translink Catherine Mason to remove an IRA shrine erected on Translink property.

In a meeting held in Ballymena yesterday about the company’s ban on army armbands Mr Allister claimed that the company had hounded employees for wearing RIR armbands in support of local soldiers serving in Afghanistan while tolerating an IRA shrine on their property.

Following the meeting Mr Allister stated:

“I had been in correspondence with Ms Mason after receiving numerous complaints from Translink Staff. Indeed one such staff member explained that his son had risked his life serving in Afghanistan and that he simply wanted to show his support to all local men by wearing a discrete armband.

“I agreed to a meeting with Translink’s Chief Executive, Catherine Mason in the hope that common sense might prevail and that the company would agree to review the insulting ban that prohibits staff wearing RIR armbands.

“I further took the opportunity to inform Translink that their policy of ‘neutrality’ on armbands was severely undermined by their willingness to permit an IRA shrine on their property and urged Ms Mason to oversee the removal of the offensive shrine at Newry in the interests of neutrality.

“Ms Mason claimed that the shrine had been erected by the local community in Newry and that Translink would not be removing the shrine.

“It is difficult to escape the conclusion that Translink are afraid to remove the shrine because it may result in terrorist’s inflicting damage on their property.

“One must question how far forward Northern Ireland has really moved when IRA shrines are permitted and protected by a publicly funded company while at the same time that company refuses the right of their employees to wear a discrete armband.

“I hope Translink will reflect on the meeting and review their unreasonable and a draconian ban on armbands.”