Debate contribution: Audit and Re-imaging of Memorials

Debate contribution by Mrs Pam Cameron on 11 November 2025.

MLA

Mrs Pam Cameron

Party at the time

Democratic Unionist Party

Date

11 November 2025

Type

Debate contribution

Business

Private Members' Business

Heading

Audit and Re-imaging of Memorials

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 5349680

Read the official Assembly record

Text

Thank you, Mr Speaker, for the opportunity to speak, and I thank the Alliance Party for tabling the motion. At the heart of the debate lies a question of principle: how do we remember our past and the values that those acts of remembrance represent? For the Democratic Unionist Party, that principle is clear and firm: permanent acts of remembrance and memorialisation must always respect the rule of law and must never commemorate wrongdoing. Everyone in Northern Ireland, from every tradition, should have the right to remember their dead in a respectful, dignified and sensitive manner, but that right must never be misused to glorify violence, terrorism or criminality. Crucially, in all that we do, we must ensure that innocent victims are never forgotten and are remembered with dignity, compassion and respect. That is the foundation of the DUP amendment in my name and that of Mr Phillip Brett. Our amendment makes it absolutely clear that the glorification of terrorism is hurtful, shameful and wrong. It is hurtful to innocent victims who continue to live with the trauma of loss. It is shameful because it attempts to rewrite history and justify the unjustifiable. It is wrong — legally, morally and socially — because it undermines everything that we have worked for in building a peaceful and democratic society. Such displays retraumatise victims and send the wrong message to our young people. At the same time, we will resist any attempt to erase or restrict the lawful commemoration of those who served with honour in our armed forces, our police or other services, or of those who gave their lives in defence of peace and order. Respectful remembrance of courage and sacrifice is not the same as celebrating terror, and we must never blur that line. Although I acknowledge the intentions behind the Alliance motion and appreciate the tabling of it, the wording is, for us, just a little too broad and too vague, so we would welcome support for the amendment. The phrase "references to acts of violence" risks capturing legitimate memorials, including those marking world war service or honouring members of the security forces who were murdered while upholding law and order.

We also remain concerned that some memorials are used to mark territory rather than commemorate respectfully. That is unacceptable and contributes to division rather than reconciliation. Clarity matters, and principle matters. We must not allow any process to undermine lawful remembrance or to disrespect the innocent victims whose pain remains so real.

The DUP recognises the importance of ensuring that any memorials on public land comply with the law. That is why we support determining the need for an audit, not to impose unnecessary bureaucracy but to understand the scale of the issue and to ensure that enforcement is consistent and fair where planning permission has not been sought. We know from experience that legacy memorials exist in many communities and that enforcement has often been inconsistent or delayed. A targeted audit would allow Departments and local authorities to take proportionate and coordinated action while continuing to respect community consultation and grassroots initiatives such as Communities in Transition. That approach balances the need for lawful compliance with the reality that community-led solutions remain the most effective way to remove harmful imagery and to reimagine public spaces positively. A word on planning. Northern Ireland's planning system is, of course, under significant strain. We all know that housing, infrastructure and health projects already face unacceptable delays. While planning law must be applied consistently, we must ensure that the appropriate priority is given to what truly matters. Creating new layers of bureaucracy for a small number of memorials would not be an effective or proportionate use of resources. Our amendment promotes a balanced approach, combining compliance with the law and practical, realistic enforcement. One of the most effective ways in which we have been tackling harmful memorials and murals has been through the Communities in Transition programme. CIT works directly with communities, engaging residents, schools, sports clubs and cultural organisations to reimagine walls, spaces and memorials in ways that celebrate shared heritage, pride and creativity while removing paramilitary imagery and messages of division. CIT's work is careful, thoughtful and inclusive. It does not impose solutions from above; instead, it brings communities together to consult, negotiate and decide collectively how their public spaces should reflect their values. The positive results speak for themselves. In my consistency of South Antrim, the Ballyduff Community Redevelopment Group led a re-imaging project that replaced previous paramilitary imagery with a multi-panel remembrance mural honouring the Somme. As another example, in Monkstown, a paramilitary badge was removed and the 18th Newtownabbey Football Club mural was put in its place, which transformed it as a mural with vibrant artwork, celebrating teamwork, local identity and inclusion. The project was delivered in partnership with the Monkstown Community Association, the Housing Executive, Clanmil and the PSNI. The final example is the Airtastic mural project in Bawnmore, north Belfast that brought together schools, GAA clubs and local residents to capture history, culture, music and community pride in a positive and lasting way. Those are just a few examples. Those transformations happened not because the Department ordered them but because the community chose them. Across Northern Ireland, CIT has helped communities move away from threatening or paramilitary imagery, giving young people safe, positive role models and stories to look up to. Those examples show that bottom-up, grassroots initiatives work far more effectively than top-down, regulatory schemes. CIT has delivered measurable improvements in community cohesion, the visual environment and cultural pride. It is precisely that approach that the DUP seeks to build on, not replace. The DUP's amendment is grounded in balance, fairness and respect. It upholds the rule of law, ensures that innocent victims are remembered with dignity, rejects the glorification of terrorism and builds on the proven success of the Communities in Transition programme. CIT has shown that community-led consultative approaches are the best way to remove harmful imagery while celebrating culture, history and shared identity. Our amendment ensures that those programmes are supported and extended rather than undermined by unnecessary top-down interventions. We want a Northern Ireland where remembrance unites rather than divides, where public art and memorials reflect pride and positivity and where innocent victims and respect for the law remain central. Progress is not imposed: it is built, and communities are actively building it. Thank you, and I hope that we can get support for our amendment.

1,078 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Assessment

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Assessed 21 October 2026 at 13:38 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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