Sectarian trouble prompts call for parades review

Sectarian trouble prompts call for parades review

15 August 2012

THE Parades Commission has been urged to carry out an urgent review of parades in Killyleagh after violence in the town on Saturday evening.

South Down MP, Margaret Ritchie, has called for the review after fighting broke out between Loyalist bandsmen and customers in a Cross Street pub just after 9pm.

Two police officers and several civilians were injured in the brawl, which broke out when the parade passed the town’s only Catholic-owned pub The Central.

Witnesses have claimed that the band stopped outside the pub and played the Sash before a number of men pushed their way into the pub and threw chairs and glasses.

The adjoining off licence was damaged in the incident while the pub owner’s family home, which is nearby, had a window smashed.

Four arrests were made at the scene and two men and a woman are due to appear in court next month charged with public order offences.

Mr. Martin Polland, who has owned the Central Bar for 17 years, said he felt intimidated by the incident, which he believes was aimed at his bar because of his sponsorship of the GAA team in the town.

He said he had no doubt the incident was fuelled by sectarianism and believed some of those taking part in the parade had their “blood up” and targeted the Catholic-owned premises as a result.

However, DUP councillor William Walker claimed bandsmen had been verbally abused by customers from the bar before the trouble broke out.

The incident comes three months after local parish priest Father Collum Curran spoke of his fear when he was abused by bandsmen during an annual fundraising parade organised by the local Toye Flute Band.

Fr. Curran said he was very frightened when bandsmen turned against him after he asked them to stop urinating against church property.

Miss Ritchie yesterday condemned the violence and said it demonstrated the need for an urgent review of parades in the town.

She said she would ask the Parade’s Commission to take the evidence of recent violence related to such parades into account before permitting any future events.

“The vast majority of the people of Killyleagh totally reject that form of sectarianism that manifested itself in an attack on not only the Central Bar, but also the police, the community and the area — an area that is in ongoing need of regeneration,” she said.

“I am seeking urgent meetings with the chairman of the Parades Commission and the local police commander to discuss how this kind of incident can be avoided in the future.

“In the meantime, I urge people to refrain from any action that would damage the sense of inclusion that has been the hallmark of Killyleagh in recent years.”

Miss Ritchie’s call was echoed by Rowallane SDLP councillor Maria McCarthy, who has already contacted the Parades’ Commission demanding a review of the authorisation and policing of parades in Killyleagh.

Sinn Fein councillor Eamonn Mac Con Midhe also condemned the incident, which he said demonstrated that too many parades are permitted in Killyleagh.

Independent councillor Terry Andrews described the incident as “tragic.”

A spokesman for the Parades Commission yesterday confirmed Saturday’s parade had taken place following an accepted application from the Ballygowan True Blues band. He said the commission had requested a police report to examine the issue.