A motion has been tabled for Mid Ulster District Council to rescind its January decision to pledge support to the City of Sanctuary movement and to designate itself as a Council of Sanctuary.
Behind the motion is DUP Councillor Clement Cuthbertson, who said he made the decision as a result of “growing concern of the public”. It was then seconded by Cllr Mark Robinson.
Newry, Mourne and Down District Council’s decision to join the Council of Sanctuary network in September 2025 has been heavily criticised in the months that followed.
Despite some Councillors attesting that the decision would strengthen efforts to support people fleeing war and persecution, there has been strong opposition from some political quarters, and a protest in Newry city which saw hundreds gather to demonstrate in opposition of the proposal.
Weeks later the DUP rejected the city of refuge proposal over “serious concerns” the public had not been consulted amid an “immigration crisis”.
Despite this, the proposal was approved in October leaving some public representatives to express the opinion that the public were “disregarded, ignored and openly mocked” by the decision.
Later that month, “sinister threats” were made towards a number of elected members of Sinn Fein, Alliance and the SDLP via a recorded audio message identifying them as “legitimate targets”.
Council sources told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that online targeting of councillors as “traitors” had escalated since the recent approval of a refugee motion by elected members.
Cllr Cuthbertson’s motion now requests that Mid Ulster Council reconsider their decision to support the City of Sanctuary movement and to designate itself as a Council of Sanctuary.
The motion request that the Council “reaffirms that its primary duty is to deliver core services for the ratepayer and that it should not associate itself with external campaigning or political pressure groups and recognises that the January 2025 decision was taken without meaningful consultation with the residents of Mid Ulster”.
It adds: “That Council does not need to designate as a Council of Sanctuary, as we have always welcomed and continue to welcome, newcomer EU passport holders and others that come here to settle, work and contribute to the area, especially in the NHS and local industry, but we recognise the increasing public concern across Dungannon and Mid Ulster regarding extreme pressures on housing, access to healthcare access to education and the lack of transparency around Government Immigration and refugee policy, including resettlement and illegal immigration.”
In terms of action to be taken by Council, if the motion is passed, the Cllr requests that the Council now: “a) immediately withdraws from any involvement in the Council of Sanctuary / City of Sanctuary programme; b) formally notifies the City of Sanctuary organisation in writing; c) remove all references to ‘Council of Sanctuary’ from Council communications, websites and materials and; d) ensure that no Council funding, staff time, buildings or resources are sued in support of the Sanctuary programme”.
The motion will be put to members at the December Council meeting to be held on Thursday (December 18).
