HAVING ruled last week that in allowing a republican monument to remain on its property in Dromore, Omagh District Council had breached its own equality rules, the Equality Commission looks likely to be inundated with a number of similar claims.

In Derry, this week, the DUP has lobbied the Commission to have an INLA monument removed from a cemetery.

Meanwhile, Omagh District Council been accused by one of its own councillors of having gone against the legal advise of the council's solicitors in relation to the monument.

Moreover, Cllr Tom Buchanan claims that the council has also breached its own policy of not permitting any flag, other than the council's flag, to be flown on council property. The Dromore monument to the hunger strikers includes a small memorial stone, a tricolour, and ten trees.

A spokesperson for the council said, "Legal opinion sought by Omagh District Council in relation to the erection of the memorial in Dromore provided opinion on various aspects of the case, and the Council recommended that the Dromore Memorial Group should be asked to submit a retrospective application in relation to the plot of land.

"A request was received that the Council either lease or sell the plot of land for the purpose of retaining the memorial."

The spokesperson continued, "Omagh District Council recognised that so doing would create a precedent or policy which would be subject to equality screening, and further agreed that an Equality Impact Assessment was required.

"The Equality Impact Assessment was postponed due to the instigation of an investigation by the Equality Commission.

"Now that the investigation has been concluded the Council will proceed to carry out the assessment.

Cllr Barry McElduff has urged the council and the other authorities to respect the sensitivities of communities and to grant retrospective planning permission for such monuments.