Regiment's City Hall snub

The RIR ball at the City Hall has been a tradition

The Royal Irish Regiment may be prevented from hiring Belfast's City Hall for St Patrick's Day celebrations next year.

The regiment has used the hall annually, either as the RIR or the now disbanded Ulster Defence Regiment, for the past 20 years.

At a council meeting on Tuesday, the Alliance Party backed Sinn Fein and the Social Democratic and Labour Party by voting to break the arrangement.

Alliance Party members said the venue could be used for a cross-community event on 17 March in 2001.

The vote has angered unionists.

The RIR does not have a holy writ to use the City Hall on that date

Tom Campbell

Ulster Unionist Jim Rodgers said: "I'm most disappointed.

"I simply can't understand a party not permitting the Royal Irish Regiment use of the hall.

"They are, after all, Freemen of the city of Belfast who have protected kith and kin of all sections of our divided community from IRA terrorism.

"They have used the City Hall now for the last number of years for the St Patrick's night ball.

"The Alliance Party actually supported them in the committee which took the original decision to grant it."

Misleading case

High Sheriff Tom Campbell, from the Alliance Party, said it was important to have a venue for any cross-community events on St Patrick's Day.

"We have said that it is reasonable that we consider the use of the City Hall on St Patrick's Day.

"We've said it's far too early to decide at this stage who should be using it.

The RIR has celebrated St Patrick's Day at the hall for the past 20 years

"The RIR does not have a holy writ to use the City Hall on that date.

"It may be that we can use it for the use of a community organisation".

The High Sheriff said that unionists were twisting the tale of events by trying to suggest the Alliance wanted the ban the regiment completely.

"There's no reason why the RIR could not use the City Hall at some future event - possibly on St Patrick's Day, possibly not.

"Really I think what unionist politicians are advancing is a very misleading case."