Belfast City Council voted against a motion to deny a room booking at City Hall to the Belfast National Graves Association for its Easter Lily campaign launch on March 24. The event supports maintenance of graves of individuals linked to Irish republican history, a practice connected to the 1916 Easter Rising. The council has provided space for the launch in each of the past two years.

TUV councillor Ron McDowell introduced the motion during the full council meeting on Monday evening. He stated the event recognises IRA members and noted distress among communities impacted by IRA actions during the Troubles, including civilian deaths on the Shankill and in Ardoyne.

Sinn Féin councillor Ciarán Beattie countered that deaths also resulted from loyalist groups, British Army and RUC activities in places such as Ballymurphy and New Lodge. He argued groups hold the right to commemorate their dead and cited council permission for a Belfast Bands Forum event tied to unionist traditions.

The motion received 17 votes in favour, 26 against and 12 abstentions from Alliance and Green Party members.