Bandsmen should be permitted into town

Bandsmen should be permitted into town

8 August 2012 - by David Telford

A PARADE by the Red Hand Defenders Flute Band in Downpatrick has again passed off peacefully.

Monday night’s parade was restricted to the 30mph signs at the Belfast Road in line with a Parades Commission ruling, but the host band was permitted to march to the War Memorial at the junction of the Old Belfast and Strangford roads to lay a wreath.

Parade organisers insist the fact the parade has passed off peacefully for many years provides evidence that bandsmen should be allowed beyond the 30mph sign.

Mr. Stephen Strain, the man in charge of the Downpatrick band, said he saw no reason why all bands should not be allowed to march the War Memorial and back along the Belfast Road.

He said the Red Hand Defenders will continue to ask the Parades Commission to march its preferred route from the Belfast Road to Mount Crescent and back again.

Mr. Strain said the low key police presence on Monday night and the absence of metal barriers strung across the main road helped provide a more relaxed atmosphere.

“We asked for no barriers across the Belfast Road and worked with the PSNI in the run up to the parade and there have been no problems. There were also just a handful of officers on duty at the 30mph signs and we are happy with that,” he continued.

“There is a good atmosphere and there are no problems at all. The parade was a little late starting and we moved bandsmen off the road to clear a tailback of vehicles which was building up and the gesture was clearly appreciated by both motorists and the PSNI.”

Mr. Strain said the question parade organisers want addressed is why all bands can’t parade to the War Memorial.

“If this were to happen it would be a start. Long term, our aim remains to parade to Mount Crescent where I have no doubt the vast majority of people would like to see the parade and have no objections to it,” he continued.

“I called at a lot of houses in Mount Crescent and at New Bridge Street and there was only man who objected to the parade. Everyone else had no objection.”

Mr. Strain said there was “overwhelming evidence” to prove that the Downpatrick parade is peaceful and that no restriction should be placed on any of the bands parading to the War Memorial or indeed to Mount Crescent.

He added: “If there are problems they will come from other sources, not bandsmen or people attending the parade.”

Down District UKIP representative Alan Lewis, who was at Monday night’s parade, said the Parades Commission had proved that it “panders to those within the community that harbour deep-seated sectarian objection to the Unionist culture.”