Anne Donaghy

A claim by a prominent council chief executive that UVF flags put on display during a loyalist band contest were “historic” and broke no laws has been branded “nonsense”.

Mid and East Antrim councillor James McKeown spoke out after chief executive Anne Donaghy claimed that the paramilitary flags were “historic and not illegal” in an email circulated to members this week.

It has been reported the flags were carried during a loyalist band contest at Carrickfergus Town Hall earlier this month during an event organised by Shankill Road Defenders Flute Band.

Video footage later emerged showing a group of men standing in front of a stage holding flag,s including one often linked to the modern UVF – which is an illegal organisation.

The purple flag, which bears the letters UVF and includes an orange star, is often hoisted in loyalist areas and regularly appears on UVF–linked wall murals.

Several other flags were also on display at the concert.

In the email Ms Donaghy said the “council was not aware that flags would be on display in the Town Hall at this concert”.

“Council has taken advice and as far as we can determine the flags shown in (the reports) are historic and not illegal,” she said.

The chief executive said that council has agreed terms and conditions for the hire of community centres and halls but added “these are not explicit in relation to the display of flags and emblems”.

She indicated a review of booking policies will now be undertaken.

Claims that the flags are historic were last night dismissed by Sinn Féin councillor James McKeown.

“This is nonsense about historic flags,” he said.

“A UVF flag is a UVF flag, there is no misunderstanding about who this flag represents.”

He said his party will be seeking an explanation from Ms Donaghy.

“We will be asking her where she got her information because it would be our view that certainly at least one of those flags is not of an historical nature,” she said.

“It could not be construed as anything else other than support for a terrorist organisation responsible for murder and mayhem”.

Mr McKeown said his party is calling for an investigation “into the whole affair”.

During the contest the flag bearers took up position in front of a Scottish band, believed to be Greengairs Thistle Flute Band, who were playing on a stage.

On its website the band said that in the past it has worked with the Loyalist Prisoners Welfare Association in Belfast, which it says “was set up to aid the men and women of the Ulster Volunteer Force who became incarcerated in Long Kesh prison camp while fighting for their political beliefs”.

It also says the band has also taken part in commemorations for UVF man Brian Robinson who was shot dead by the British army in 1989.

The band claims previously it was “summoned before the Grand Orange Lodge of Scotland which objected to its uniform then ‘as the uniform had links with paramilitary organisations’".

"The band were expelled for life and members of the band who were also members of the Orange Order were expelled from the order for life,” it said

“The band were also expelled from all Orange social clubs".

A spokeswoman for Mid and East Antrim Borough Council said: "Advice was taken from PSNI.

"Mid and East Antrim Borough Council is committed to promoting equality and good relations across the Borough.”