The Church of Ireland Bishop of Derry and Raphoe said yesterday the "heavens don't fall down" with the election of Northern Ireland's first Sinn Fein Mayor.
Bishop James Mehaffey said that while the election of a convicted IRA member, Cllr Cathal Crumley, as Mayor of Derry would cause concern within the city's unionist community, people should not overreact. "It did not come as a surprise, but I have to say it will cause considerable concern throughout the unionist community," he said.
"That will vary from person to person, but the people of the unionist community should remain calm and composed because the heavens don't fall down with the election of a Sinn Fein Mayor.
"It is a matter of democracy that Sinn Fein should be represented on council and when their turn comes, that they should be elected to various offices, including mayor and deputy mayor.
"There is a culture within Protestantism which supports the forces of law and order, therefore anyone engaged in any activity which would undermine the State is looked upon with great concern.
"You have to take that into consideration when a Sinn Fein member, especially someone who has been imprisoned for an offence, becomes mayor of the city. It is therefore easy to understand, given the Protestant background and culture, that there is a grave reaction to that." Bishop Mehaffey said he did not believe that Cllr Crumley's election would damage community relations in Derry, given the limitations councils had.
"The people who work to build mutual understanding and respect will go on doing that and the work they do will not suddenly stop because we have a Sinn Fein Mayor."