Naming of park in Terence Wheelock's honour taken off council agenda amidst Herzog Park drama
Terence WheelockThe brother of a man who died after being in police custody two decades ago is "extremely disappointed" that a proposal to name a park after him has been taken off Dublin City Council’s agenda.Terence Wheelock, from the north inner-city, died aged 20 in 2005 after being taken into garda custody. He was discovered unconscious in a cell in Store Street Garda Station in Dublin and died three months later in hospital.His brother, Sammy, has been campaigning for a public inquiry into his death, and the community has called for him to be remembered by renaming Diamond Park to The Terence Wheelock Memorial Diamond Park.A discussion about renaming the park is understood to have been taken off Dublin City Council’s agenda tonight amidst controversy over a proposal to rename Herzog Park in Rathgar. Some councillors believe the name of the former president of Israel Chaim Herzog should be removed due to Israel’s treatment of Palestine.Herzog Park in Rathgar.(Image: Stephen Collins/Collins Photos)However, the proposal has caused outrage globally, with Ireland being branded as "anti-Semitic". Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said the name shouldn’t be changed as it would "erase the distinctive and rich contribution to Irish life of the Jewish communities over many decades."Taoiseach Micheal MartinIt’s understood that the proposal to rename the park has now been taken off the agenda. People Before Profit Councillor Conor Reddy, who believes the park should be renamed, said this raises "serious concerns" about political pressure being exerted on a democratic process.He said it’s also concerning that the proposal to rename Diamond Park to The Terence Wheelock Memorial Diamond Park, was also removed from the agenda "without proper explanation". Cllr Reddy said: "Terence’s death left deep scars that have never fully healed, and the effort to rename Diamond Park in his memory has been built from the ground up by ordinary people who want justice, dignity and truth.Sign up to our new Crime Ireland newsletter and get exclusive content from Michael O'Toole and Paul HealyThe Irish Mirror's Crime Writers Michael O'Toole and Paul Healy are writing a new weekly newsletter called Crime Ireland. Click here to sign up and get it delivered to your inbox every week"To pull this from the agenda at the last minute is an act of political cowardice and an avoidance of responsibility. We will not accept it." Terence’s brother Sammy said: "My family and I are extremely disappointed with what has happened here!"Extremely disappointed… but we will continue to push for the change in the legislation to make sure that this renaming of the park from The Diamond Park to The Terence Wheelock Memorial Diamond Park is put into action."Terence’s case is a local matter supported by many people in the community of the inner city and the surrounding communities by many who greatly supported this call by offering their signatures without hesitation in support of this online and door-to-door all across Dublin and Ireland for that matter."Dublin City Council CEO Richard Shakespeare said the naming proposals have been removed from the agenda due to legal issues. He said: "The authority to change a place name is contained within Part 18 of the Local Government Act 2001."The process involves the adoption by resolution of a proposal to substitute a new placename by the elected members, the holding of a public consultation and a secret ballot of qualified electors should a proposal be approved. While the provisions of the Act were commenced in 2019, the regulations required to govern the process for a secret ballot are not yet in place."The Report to the elected members does not take account of the correct statutory procedure and is missing information for a valid resolution to be adopted. Therefore, in the circumstances I am proposing to withdraw the report from the Agenda with a recommendation that the matter be referred back to the Commemorations and Naming Committee for consideration of the statutory procedure."On behalf of the Executive of the City Council, I wish to apologise for this administrative oversight. A detailed review of the administrative mis-steps will now be undertaken and a report furnished to the Lord Mayor and Councillors."For more of the latest breaking news from the Irish Mirror check out our homepage by clicking here
