February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
A so-called “feeder parade” is due to pass the Ardoyne flashpoint in north Belfast on the morning of the Derry march on Aug. 14, prompting the nationalist Bogside Residents Group to call for talks with local residents.
In recent years, the Derry parade has passed off peacefully with the agreement of the Bogside group, but only on condition that no “feeder parades” are forced through other nationalist areas.
The BRG is calling for talks between the Apprentice Boys in north Belfast and Ardoyne residents to reach agreement in time for the annual Derry parade – and it’s far from clear yet if this can be arranged.
Meanwhile, there’s been a surge of SDLP complaints to the Police Ombudsman and Parades Commission linked to disputed parades across Northern Ireland and related conflicts. The party is hoping to show its supporters, and others, that it can hold the police to account for their actions.
After another County Derry parade, in the mainly Catholic village of Maghera, the local SDLP Assembly member for Mid Ulster, Patsy McGlone wrote to the chief constable demanding action after Orange bands breached a Parades Commission ruling against the display of loyalist paramilitary insignia.
“I have written to the Parades Commission and have also demanded the Chief Constable take action,” he said.
“The decent law abiding people of Magera and Mid Ulster deserve better than the intimidation and paramilitary breast beating they witnessed on Friday night, he said.
McGlone said he had witnessed events in Maghera on the evening of July 30, including the behavior of the Maghera Sons of William Flute Band, and claimed there had been “clear and obvious breaches” of Commission rules by a number of participating bands.
“Those breaches, as witnessed first hand by myself and others, were immediately drawn to the attention of a Parades Commission observer and your local Divisional Commander. Please therefore advise as to what action has been taken,” he said in the letter.
Sinn Fein Mid Ulster Assembly member, Geraldine Dougan, described the Commission ruling allowing the march as “disgraceful,” pointing out that loyalist paramilitaries had been actively targeting local nationalists in recent weeks.
In County Armagh, a local SDLP Assembly member, Dolores Kelly has also lodged a complaint with the Police Ombudsman about the policing of the Royal Black Institution parade on July 13.
In her letter, Kelly said: “They allowed the Parades Commission determination to be flouted by the Royal Black and their supporters, including the LVF leadership.
“They did not lift a finger to enforce the Parades Commission ruling. Indeed, it now seems that they also gave those marching immunity from prosecution, which is outrageous and forms a specific part of my complaint.
The police, she said, had defended their lack of action on the basis that a car had blocked the route that the marchers were meant to take. “That is total nonsense,” she said.
Meanwhile, another SDLP man is taking action against the police after, he said, they failed to prevent a public UDA so-called “show of strength” in north Belfast when masked gunmen fired shots into the air at a loyalist bonfire.
Councilor Pat Convery brought his complaint to the Police Ombudsman saying the UDA was not on ceasefire and was responsible for many murders in recent times. “They are up to their necks in beating people up and ripping people off. It is outrageous that they were able to block a road and hold a show of strength throughout the day.
“I have asked the Police Ombudsman to investigate whether the police were aware of this. If they were, we need to know what steps they are taking to bring prosecutions. If the media were able to film this show of strength, the police should have been able to, and bring prosecutions against those responsible,” Convery said.