Row over B Specials gun club
A row has erupted over plans to lease Bangor borough's gym to the
Ulster Special Constabulary's gun club.
The council has been criticised for the way in which it has excluded
both the public and the media from the debate on the issue and its
intention to exclude them from the meeting of the full council.
The Ulster Special Constabulary gun clubs were formed in 1970 when
the infamous B Specials were disbanded after British government
reports unmasked them as being a sectarian force. This, however, was
not before they were viewed by the world's media assisting loyalists
in attacking civil rights marchers while both on and off duty. This
link with loyalist groups has never been eroded, causing fear among
nationalists throughout the years as to why they need such gun clubs.
The Bangor branch has been leasing the gym for the past 20 years.
However, local politicians believe that it is now time that the gym
was put to a better use which would serve all of the community. ENDS
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