The Sun’s front page published horrible lies after the Hillsborough disaster which sullied the names of 96 dead Liverpool fans who perished in the disaster
DERRY City and Strabane District Council has passed a motion requesting local newsagents to pull The Sun newspaper from it shelves.
The motion was put forward to show “solidarity” with the families of the Hillsborough football stadium disaster.
It also called on the council to support the campaign group Total Eclipse of the S*n which wants all shops to boycott the newspaper.
A spokesperson for The Sun described the move as “extreme censorship”.
“We are astonished that in Derry – a city that has prided itself on its association with civil liberties and free speech – some elected politicians think it’s appropriate to push such extreme censorship on its citizens and retailers.”
Independent councillor Paul Gallagher proposed the voted and was supported by 27 SDLP, Sinn Féin and independent members.
One unionist representative voted against, whilst seven more unionists abstained.
Said Cllr Gallagher: “This newspaper has produced lies, after lies, after lies.
“In the aftermath of the Hillsborough inquiry, we wanted to show solidarity with the families, just as they showed solidarity with the families of Bloody Sunday.
“People are still free to make a choice, we are requesting not telling,” he added.
Earlier this week Councillors in Liverpool unanimously backed a similar motion to stop selling the The Sun which has been widely boycotted in the city because of its accusations following the Hillsborough disaster.
Mr Gallagher cited local examples of “terrible hurt” he said The Sun caused.
In 2006, The Irish Sun’s front page said: “Husband mows down vigil gran”.
The article referred to Nellie Doherty, 78, who died when a vehicle shunted her husband’s car which then hit her as she prayed by the road for a friend killed in another accident.
The newspaper later printed an apology, but Nellie’s sister, Margaret McDaid, said at the time that it was not enough.
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