Ards and North Down Council is looking at legal routes to allow the banning of funding for “political” sporting organisations.
The motion, forwarded by the TUV and amended by the DUP, was passed at the council’s recent Corporate Services Committee. It states that “council officers bring back a report on relevant council policies, with a view to withdrawing funding to any sporting organisations with any political objectives or named references to terrorism in their constitution, club names, stadiums or competitions, and such a report will be appropriately guided by legal advice in relation to this course of action”.
The Alliance Party, who voted against the motion, said people in the borough could believe it was “targeted” at one group of sports organisations. While no one mentioned any specific organisations, there is speculation the Gaelic Athletic Association is the perceived 'target' organisation.
