Fermanagh and Omagh District councillor John McClaughry proposed the disposal of Mantlin Playing Fields in Kesh for social housing at a committee meeting last December, despite later publicly opposing the plan.

Documents obtained under freedom of information laws show that at the Environmental Services meeting on 3 December 2025, the Ulster Unionist representative moved a motion to approve the disposal of the lands at Mantlin Road, subject to further discussions with Kesh Development Association (KDA) and the Rural Housing Association. The motion also requested a timeline for early development of the housing project.

Mr McClaughry said his actions were intended to bring the matter into the public domain. He stated he had been in contact with residents since 2019 and felt he had no choice but to recommend the disposal so that the situation could be debated openly. He stressed that no final decision has been made and no planning permission exists for the site.

The council first placed the playing fields on a disposal list in 2019. Two formal expressions of interest followed: one from KDA for a scheme of 12 semi-detached rural social homes, and another from an unnamed sports club seeking to install a 3G floodlit pitch. A third bid arrived after the deadline.

Separate records reveal KDA’s former committee was heavily involved in discussions with the council, appointing an architect and writing to chief executive Alison McCullagh in March 2022 to request a grace period of up to 18 months to develop plans. The group had become the council’s preferred bidder, though it repeatedly struggled to supply detailed proposals.

At KDA’s annual general meeting in May, outgoing committee members denied any knowledge of the sale plans. They were subsequently replaced. The new committee has now distanced itself from the earlier dealings, describing the revelations as alarming. A spokesperson said the group will actively oppose any change to the playing fields and instead work constructively with the council on other community projects.

A public meeting held in Kesh in May 2026 saw residents voice strong opposition to the sale. Mr McClaughry attended and spoke against the disposal. The council has not signed any agreement and the matter is expected to return to elected members for further consideration.