Commission Restricts Castlederg Parade

The Parades Commission has placed restrictions on a controversial republican march that will pass through the town of Castlederg on Sunday 11 August.

The parade is in memory of Seamus Harvey and Gerard McGlynn: two IRA men who were killed 40 years ago when a bomb they were carrying accidentally exploded.

The parade will not be allowed to pass through High Street, John Street, the Diamond, Main Street or Ferguson Crescent. The Commission determination means it will no longer pass a war memorial in the town.

Unionist politicians have called for the parade to be banned, arguing that it is insensitive to local victims of the IRA's campaign.

The DUP's Thomas Buchanan said: "The fact that Sinn Fein chooses to celebrate these so-called PIRA volunteers, killed whilst transporting a bomb to Castlederg, speaks volumes about their view of reconciliation. It also shows their utter insensitivity to the victims of PIRA terrorism.

"There were 29 people killed by terrorists in the Castlederg area. It’s a shared town where nationalists and unionists alike have spoken of their outrage and disgust at this obnoxious parade.

"This parade is not a debate about cultural expression. It’s about glorifying terrorism. There is no comparison between the innocent victims of PIRA terrorism and the death of those men who were planning to plant a bomb in the heart of Castlederg. To make a comparison is warped thinking."

But the DUP has itself come under fire after one of its councillors, Ruth Patterson, appeared to endorse an imaginary attack on the parade that would leave several Sinn Féin politicians dead.

The comments were made on a Facebook page in response to a post that had imagined an attack on the march.

She is reported to have responded: "who cares how we would be judged, we would have done a great service to Northern Ireland and the world getting rid of these evil, devious, scum like individuals."

Sinn Féin's Barry McElduff said: "This is a shocking comment from an elected representative who is endorsing the slaughter of people attending the parade by machine-guns, rocket-launchers and grenades.

"This type of talk is totally irresponsible and highly dangerous. Is Ruth Patterson advocating a Michael Stone style attack on a peaceful parade? It certainly appears so and we need to hear from the DUP as to whether they support this opinion."

Alliance Councillor Mervyn Jones has called for the DUP to make a statement on the matter.

"This is completely unacceptable language for an elected representative to use," he said.

"I am shocked that somebody would make such dangerous and irresponsible comments. Whether the comment was made in a private message or not, what she has said is an absolute disgrace that cannot be defended. I wonder what exactly she was thinking when she posted this message on Facebook."

He called for the PSNI to look into the incident.

"The DUP must make a statement on these comments," he continued.

"Do they support her views? If not, what are their intentions to discipline her? They must back her or sack her."

Ms Patterson has since apologised, while the DUP issued a statement saying: "Ruth's comment was completely unacceptable and not in keeping with the party's policies or the standard of behaviour required of our members.

"Whilst the officers of the party will clearly be looking at this issue, they will take account of her subsequent statement."

(IT/MH)