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| Council efforts to change Londonderry name to Derry condemned | Council efforts to change Londonderry name to Derry condemned |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| A proposal by Sinn Féin to change the official name of Londonderry to Derry has been described as "sectarian" by unionists. | A proposal by Sinn Féin to change the official name of Londonderry to Derry has been described as "sectarian" by unionists. |
| A motion supporting the name change was passed at a meeting of Derry City and Strabane District Council on Thursday. | A motion supporting the name change was passed at a meeting of Derry City and Strabane District Council on Thursday. |
| The council will now write to the environment minister to seek clarification on how to go about the change. | |
| All previous attempts to change the name have failed. | |
| The London prefix was added to Derry when the city was granted a Royal Charter by King James I in 1613. | The London prefix was added to Derry when the city was granted a Royal Charter by King James I in 1613. |
| In 1984, the name of the nationalist-controlled council was changed from Londonderry to Derry City Council, but the city itself continues to be officially known as Londonderry. | |
| The issue was addressed in the High Court in 2007 when the judge ruled that only legislation or Royal prerogative could change the city's name. | The issue was addressed in the High Court in 2007 when the judge ruled that only legislation or Royal prerogative could change the city's name. |
| 'Unfinished business' | 'Unfinished business' |
| On Thursday, Sinn Féin councillor Eric McGinley brought the motion to the council. | |
| "In the previous Derry City Council there was a clear policy to change the official name of the city back to Derry. | "In the previous Derry City Council there was a clear policy to change the official name of the city back to Derry. |
| "Unfortunately that proposal was defeated by the DUP and SDLP so we're simply revisiting the issue and yesterday's decision now seeks again to change the official name." | "Unfortunately that proposal was defeated by the DUP and SDLP so we're simply revisiting the issue and yesterday's decision now seeks again to change the official name." |
| Mr McGinley added that the proposal was not about airbrushing London from the history of the city. | Mr McGinley added that the proposal was not about airbrushing London from the history of the city. |
| "We have a clear view that the city needs a clear brand, one single name, one single identity would help promote the city around the world." | "We have a clear view that the city needs a clear brand, one single name, one single identity would help promote the city around the world." |
| DUP councillor David Ramsey said the motion was simply another attempt to stir up tensions. | DUP councillor David Ramsey said the motion was simply another attempt to stir up tensions. |
| "If republican and nationalists politicians in the city are serious about equality and a shared future we should be celebrating our connection with London. | "If republican and nationalists politicians in the city are serious about equality and a shared future we should be celebrating our connection with London. |
| "We should also be celebrating our diversity of our British and Irish cultures and history which includes the historical name Londonderry after the stonemasons who built the city. | "We should also be celebrating our diversity of our British and Irish cultures and history which includes the historical name Londonderry after the stonemasons who built the city. |
| "It creates sectarian tension and how does this reflect upon the nationalist republican goal to achieve a shared future?" | "It creates sectarian tension and how does this reflect upon the nationalist republican goal to achieve a shared future?" |