SDLP Supports Parades Call

SDLP Party Leader Alasdair McDonnell has publicly supported calls from the Chairman of the Police Federation, Terry Spence, to postpone all contentious parades over the next six months.

"Since July last year over 500 officers have been injured; 64 over the course of last Thursday and Friday night," Mr Spence said.

"We cannot go on with this rate of attrition when it is clear that the PSNI lacks sufficient resources and mutual aid is proving too clumsy a mechanism to generate the number of properly trained and armed officers needed in sufficient time to maintain law and order.

"Northern Ireland needs this six month breathing space to allow constructive political engagement between the parties and frankly, the police need it to rebuild a service properly resourced to deal with the policing realities. Officers are working around the clock and are fatigued."

SDLP leader Dr. McDonnell said he welcomed Mr Spence's call, which would see all parades cancelled until after the upcoming all-party talks, to be chaired by US diplomat Richard Haass.

"It is clear that the Parades Commission cannot ban marches and the Secretary of State can only ban marches on a case by case basis but all of those involved could voluntarily suspend marching for the coming months during the Haass talks process," he said.

"A moratorium on all parades would ensure that no disagreement of over what constitutes a contentious parade could be allowed to develop and fester.

"Everyone involved needs to show leadership to ensure that the breathing space is created to allow for constructive and positive engagement during the Haass talks and this moratorium would have the potential to compliment this process. This talks process will provide a real opportunity to resolve the most protracted challenges we face."

However, Jim Allister, leader of the Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV), said Mr Spence's comments are "completely unacceptable".

"In no free and democratic society can the right to parade and protest be cancelled just because the police force think that would be a good idea," he said.

"It is the PSNI's duty to protect those fundamentals, not call for them to be revoked or, for that matter, assault and use foul language towards those who choose to exercise the right as happened Michael Copeland and his family on Friday night."

DUP MP Jeffrey Donaldson said: "The police are often placed in an incredibly difficult situation around parade disputes and that is one of the reasons that we must ensure that a long-term solution to issues surrounding parades and protests is found. There are some people intent on violence regardless of the circumstances but this is sometimes made worse by bizarre and inconsistent rulings from the Parades Commission.

"Whilst it might be possible to understand the motivation behind calling for a six month ban on contentious parades this will not provide a long-term solution and it may not even reduce problems in the short-term."

(IT/JP)