23/02/2006

Parades Commission restrict Strabane republican parade

The Parades Commission has today placed restrictions on a contentious republican parade, which is due to take place in Strabane this Sunday.

The event has been organised in commemoration of the murder of three IRA men, shot dead by the SAS in 1985.

Last year, supporters attending the IRA colour parade chanted pro-IRA slogans.

SDLP assembly member for the Strabane area, Eugene McMenamin has said that although the organisers would find it difficult to prevent people from chanting, he believed that the parade would "pass off peacefully," as it has done in recent years.

However, west Tyrone Ulster Unionist Assembly Member and Strabane District Council member, Derek Hussey, condemned the Parades Commission's decision to allow a republican "show of strength" in the town.

Mr Hussey said: "Once again the Parades Commission have determined that a republican parade can take place in Strabane. The Parades Commission is endorsing this glorification of terrorism."

The MLA continued: "The event is abhorrent to all Unionists in this area. It is a celebration of those who have perpetrated murderous terror on that part of the community."

Mr Hussey added that The Parades Commission have addressed certain concerns such as chanting and wearing of paramilitary attire, however the organisers cannot guarantee that this will not happen.

He concluded: "Event organizers have a responsibility to control their parades in accordance with the Commissions requirements, therefore, if it is the case that the organizers of this republican 'show of strength' cannot meet the Parades Commission's restrictions, the Commission has a duty to ban the parade."

The Parades Commission was set up in 1997 to make decisions on whether or not restrictions should be imposed on controversial parades in Northern Ireland.

(EF/SP)

Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

26 January 2011
Baggott Agrees Illegal Parading Meeting
There's to be a showdown over the way in which the PSNI has been allowing illegal republican parades to take place - while at the same time cracking down on Loyal Order events to make sure they follow the letter of the law under Parading legislation.
20 August 2009
Trouble Feared At Friday Band Parade
The fear of violent confrontation at a weekend band parade is increasing. Dissident republican activists and their supporters are planning to demonstrate at a permitted loyalist band parade on Friday night. As many as 40 bands are to take part in the predominantly nationalist village of Rasharkin.
11 July 2002
SF to meet Parades Commission over Twelfth parades
A meeting is to take place between Sinn Fein and the Parades Commission over a number of controversial Orange Order parades that are to take place in north Belfast on July 12. A delegation from the party is to meet the commission on Thursday morning with regard to parades along the Springfield Road and Crumlin Road planned for Friday.
21 January 2011
Parades Commission Ridiculed Over March
Parading is back on the news agenda today with some commentators branding the official Parades Commission "ridiculous" after it was revealed an illegal republican march in support of a double murderer is to take place this weekend.
24 January 2011
Police 'Allowed Illegal Republican Parade'
Members of the leading loyal order are said to be frustrated over an illegal march in Co Armagh yesterday and news of 'zero' prosecutions or cautions for those participating in any such illegal parades. The Orange Order described this as a "major shift" in policy, which they said, is causing huge frustration among law-abiding Orangemen.