SDLP Councillor Michael Coyle's motion wanted the honour bestowed to the Rev David Armstrong and Catholic priest Fr Kevin Mullan but the unionist bloc voted no.

The eight nationalist votes in favour was not enough to secure passage as two thirds of the vote on the night was needed.

Both clergymen exchanged goodwill Christmas greetings in the early 1980s in the town which provoked anger among some, resulting in Rev Armstrong's departure.

None of the unionist councillors spoke on the motion on Monday evening, and afterwards Colr Coyle said he was "deeply disappointed."

Speaking to the 'Journal,' the SDLP councillor said: "It's shame upon the Council and what was galling was the fact that not one of the unionist councillors said a single word during the debate. I expected to reassure them that the motion was for the right reasons; it really was peace and reconciliation. It shows there is an awful lot of work to be done."

Giving his reaction to the outcome, Ulster Unionist Councillor Edwin Stevenson said from the beginning he did not think the motion was brought forward for the right reasons, and that it was done to embarrass unionists.

Colr Stevenson added: "There were no winners that came out of tonight."

Sinn Fein Councillor John Felix McElhinney said the result was disappointing and "it goes to show nothing has moved on in this Council."

However, UUC Colr. Leslie Cubitt said there are "far more pressing issues" in the Limavady area that need Council's attention.

"Two hundred people from Limavady lost their jobs at Seagate, people are losing their houses, electricity is increasing, fuel prices are increasing," he said.

"These are the issues we should be concentrating on; the future not the past."

DUP Councillor George Robinson said he had nothing against either clergymen, but said the motion was "very selective when we know that other clergy from both sides of the political divide have, over the years of the Troubles, done sterling work in administering support and comfort to lots of parishioners from terrorist attacks - Droppin' Well, Greysteel, Roemill Road and various other atrocities, and indeed in their daily normal pastoral work."

The Assemblyman pointed out that if the list of potential candidates for such an honour was to be widened to include, for example, emergency service personnel, "where does the list end?"

Limavady Sinn Fein Mayor Brenda Chivers said after the vote: "It's very sad. Obviously Limavady hasn't moved on as much as we thought."

‘Disappointing’

Fr. Kevin Mullan, based at Drumquin outside Omagh, said while neither he nor Rev. Armstrong asked for the Freedom of the Borough, when they heard about it they were honoured. "If it had gone through it would have been momentous. The fact that some people felt this was untimely is a little disappointing," he said.