A Sinn Féin councillor who hails from Andersonstown is bracing herself for loyalist protests tonight when she hoists the republican colours in the heart of Paisley country.
Monica Digney made history earlier this month when she became the first Sinn Féin councillor to be elected onto the staunchly unionist Ballymena Council. Now she awaits her baptism of fire at the first Council meeting tonight.
Reports emanating from the North Antrim area suggest that loyalists are rallying to mount protests against the Sinn Féin woman participating in the council. Monica is unsure what reaction will greet her as she enters the council.
"I am the eternal optimist but I just don't honestly know what will happen on Monday night," she said last night. "I believe that the DUP said that if my party colleague, Laurence O'Neill had been elected with me, it would have been a different story, but they will just ignore me."
Ballymena is known for its sectarian tension with the much-publicised Harryville church protest by loyalists which lasted between September 1996 and May 1998. The church was burnt in an arson attack in 2000 and only last week, people attending Mass at Harryville had their cars damaged by loyalists throwing stones and bricks.
However, despite this active gang of violent loyalists, Monica is adopting a low key approach to security. "I have decided to leave discussing security arrangements until Monday night, although I will be going in to council with the view that I am not expecting any trouble."
Despite her isolation in the council, Monica will not be avoiding the contentious issues. She is intending to table a motion calling for the removal of the union flag which is proudly hung in the council chamber.
"I am going to fight for equality and parity of esteem. At the minute there is none in Ballymena and one of the most prominent signs of this is the flying of the Union Jack in council.
"I don't find their flag offensive myself but there is a principle at stake. I would not expect unionists to accept a tricolour being flown in nationalist controlled councils, likewise I do not see why nationalists should have to accept a Union Jack in Ballymena.
"There is a flags and emblems policy for the workplace and I will firstly be seeking the Equality Commission to take up the matter and then I will be dealing with it in council myself. I am going to ensure there is equality."
