TUV man slams Orange Lodge's alcohol licence request

A TUV councillor has criticised a local Orange Lodge after a request was made for an alcohol licence.
By The Newsroom
Published 8th Dec 2016, 10:30 BST
Updated 14th Dec 2016, 13:39 BST
Ballyclare Town Hall.Ballyclare Town Hall.
Ballyclare Town Hall.

TUV representative, Cllr David Hollis addressed Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council’s Operations Committee to voice his disapproval with regards to a request for an alcohol licence from Young’s Temperance True Blues LOL 957.

The Ballyclare Orange Lodge requested permission to sell alcohol at a celebration dinner in Ballyclare Town Hall, scheduled for November 4 2017. The dinner is one of a number of events organised to mark the lodge’s 125 year anniversary.

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Commenting on the request at the Operations Committee’s December meeting at Antrim Civic Centre, Cllr Hollis said: “Here we have a Young Temperance True Blues wanting to sell alcohol.

“It flies in the face of all that temperance and Orangeism stands for as far as I can read and I think to have fallen down that far, they have fell a mighty fall.”

Responding in the council chamber, Cllr Thomas Hogg MBE, a member of the Orange Order, said: “I don’t want to insult the councillor’s intelligence, but I hope you could distinguish between temperance and total abstinence.

“I’m sure the members of the lodge will be interested to hear the TUV member’s remarks.”

The DUP representative went on to propose the recommendation before council to grant the alcohol licence. This was seconded by his party colleague, Ald John Smyth.

Related topics:Antrim