People Before Profit Westminster candidate Cllr Shaun Harkin has blasted Sinn Féin Minister John O’Dowd for refusing to commit to the next phase of the Derry rail link upgrade.
Said Cllr Harkin: “Sinn Féin and the SDLP have left Derry years behind the rest of Ireland in terms of infrastructure and connectivity.
“Sinn Féin Minister John O’Dowd’s decision to withhold funding for the next phase of the Derry rail line upgrade is another slap in the face for the North West.
“O’Dowd is staying true to form. Nationalist Ministers from both SDLP and Sinn Féin have a horrible history in regards to the upgrading of our rail link.
“Civil Servants working under the instruction of Sinn Fein’s Conor Murphy advised closure of our only rail connection as far back as 2004.
“Only a people power campaign, spearheaded by socialists like Eamonn McCann prevented the closure of the Derry to Belfast line.
“SDLP Minister Nichola Mallon sat on her hands and held back money that was secured to complete the upgrade.
“Only announcing the beginning of a feasibility study into the upgrade at the end of her term in office.
“More years were wasted under Mallon’s watch.
“Hundreds of millions is being spent East of the Bann by Minister O’Dowd on a railway system that is already a hundred years ahead of what we have in the West.
“Derry exists and we are fed up being underfunded, undervalued and an after thought for Stormont and Westminster.
“The fightback starts on Thursday, July 4.
“Lets kick these people out and really start standing up for Derry.”
Tags: