Dunlop families' dispute over memorial garden plans rumbles on

Plans to change TT legend Joey Dunlop's memorial garden in his home town have caused uproar among his immediate family.

Joey's widow Linda has branded Ballymoney Borough Council's proposals to merge it with the adjacent one dedicated to his brother Robert "a disgrace".

Adding she was "disgusted" by it, she said, "If Joey hasn't done enough to justify his own tribute, and his own separate recognition, then who has?"

That view is not shared by Robert's family though, who're very much in favour of the hedge which currently separates the gardens being removed and replaced with a path.

A spokesman for Robert Dunlop's family said yesterday, "The family are absolutely delighted that the council is complying with their wish the two gardens should be linked."

Chief executive of the council John Dempsey issued a statement saying the council has been dealing with a request to link the gardens since Robert's was completed in 2009, but had been holding off doing so in the hope the two families could reach an agreement.