Member's statement: Telecommunications Mast: Dungannon
Member's statement by Mr Colm Gildernew on .
- MLA
- Mr Colm Gildernew
- Party at the time
- Sinn Féin
- Date
- 24 September 2024
- Type
- Member's statement
- Business
- Members' Statements
- Heading
- Telecommunications Mast: Dungannon
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 4644747
Read the official Assembly record
Text
I bring to Members' attention the issue of the telecommunications mast that is right at the top of Dungannon town on the historic Hill of The O'Neill site. The site was originally the seat of the O'Neills, chosen for its panoramic views across seven of Ulster's nine counties. It is an intrinsically beautiful site. Over many years, both the legacy Dungannon and South Tyrone Borough Council and the Mid Ulster District Council have developed the Hill of The O'Neill theatre site and a covered outside space where events can take place. It is the heart and soul of Dungannon town and the jewel in its crown. In recent months, many people have been calling for the issue of the telecommunications mast to be addressed. Local councillors have raised the issue. The newly formed Dungannon chamber of commerce has raised the issue. Historians and many others have highlighted the fact that the old remaining towers on that historic site are completely overshadowed and blemished by the presence of a massive steel telecommunications tower. I am aware that the local council has been engaging with NI Water, which operates the tower. It is a commercial venture in that sense. The site was previously occupied by the British Army for many years for the same reason, but it is now open to the people of Dungannon town. NI Water operates the site. Mid Ulster District Council and NI Water had agreed to consult on removing the mast. Recently, NI Water has withdrawn from that commitment, citing budgetary reasons. I am aware that many people in the district, including the chamber of commerce, are working diligently to try to increase its tourism offer. They are being hindered by the mast on that site. I urge NI Water to return to its commitment to work with the council. I hope that Members and everyone will support the removal of the mast from that historic site.
320 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Assessment
Jev’s structured answers met the documented threshold for “not flagged”.
- Overall probability that the activity is being used to promote, exploit or escalate an identity-based controversy: 0.04 (flagging needs at least 0.70; at or below 0.30 is not flagged).
- None of the five culture-war criteria was met (each was below 0.60).
- Assessed as legitimate policy scrutiny (0.78).
- No identity-based framing was identified (1.00).
- The overall probability was at or below the not-flagging threshold.
This is an AI-generated assessment of the text, made against published criteria. It is not a finding of fact about the MLA or their intentions. The Assembly record itself is the fact.
Jev’s structured answers
| Question | Probability | Met? |
|---|---|---|
| Identity framing | 0.04 | No |
| Sectarian or communal antagonism | 0.02 | No |
| Cultural grievance politics | 0.20 | No |
| Dog-whistle messaging | 0.02 | No |
| Controversy escalation | 0.16 | No |
| Legitimate policy scrutiny | 0.78 | Yes |
| Overall judgement | 0.04 | At or below not-flagging threshold |
| Option | Probability |
|---|---|
| No identity-based framing (chosen) | 1.00 |
| Reports or questions it | 0.00 |
| Criticises or condemns it | 0.00 |
| Adopts it | 0.00 |
| Subject | Probability |
|---|---|
| No identity-related subject | 0.74 |
| Flags, emblems, symbols, names and memorials | 0.15 |
| Legacy of the Troubles, victims and paramilitarism | 0.05 |
| Another identity-related subject | 0.05 |
| Sport (including the GAA), the arts and cultural bodies | 0.01 |
Assessed 21 October 2026 at 11:06 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.
Disagree with this assessment?
Classifications can be challenged. A person reads every challenge, and any change is recorded publicly above with its reason.