Row over Enniskillen firecrew photo

A photograph of firemen who helped in the aftermath of the IRA bombing in Enniskillen in 1987, which killed 11 people, has been…

A photograph of firemen who helped in the aftermath of the IRA bombing in Enniskillen in 1987, which killed 11 people, has been removed from a station wall following claims that it could be in breach of equality laws.

The black and white photograph of the scene was removed from the Co Fermanagh fire station after a complaint by a fire officer.

A spokesman for the fire and rescue service said: "It was taken down in order to maintain an inclusive, neutral and harmonious working environment for all of its firefighters and also for all those in the community who use and visit the fire station.

"This complies with guidance advocated by the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland which states that 'emblems or displays linked to the community conflict over the past 30 years are best avoided as they clearly have the potential to cause disruption to good and harmonious working environments'."

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Arlene Foster, a Fermanagh and South Tyrone DUP minister at the Northern Ireland Assembly, said she has protested to Northern Ireland's chief fire officer Colin Lammey and called for clarification on the exact guidelines involved in the photograph's removal.

"This has caused a great deal of hurt and annoyance," she said. "The 20th anniversary is coming up and you can't help asking: Was it (the complaint) done with that purpose in mind? I don't know."