Dissident threat to Orange parades played down
THE PSNI and the Orange Order have played down warnings of a dissident republican threat to parades by the Loyal Orders over the summer.
Unionists are concerned republican splinter groups plan to target parades in flashpoint areas in an effort to provoke loyalist retaliation.
Some commentators have expressed fears of what could happen if even a single renegade gunman or bomber managed to attack a parade.
DUP European election candidate Diane Dodds said she was worried dissident republican groups are planning to provoke riots at flashpoint parades in order to cause public panic and create division.
A PSNI spokesman said police were hoping for a repeat of the previous peaceful marching season and hoped to build on the "significant progress" made.
The order itself said it "wouldn't be distracted" by those intent on causing strife.
Mrs Dodds said: "Recent speculation about a dissident republican campaign to cause civil strife around parades has been fuelled by the public comments of the mouthpieces of these terrorist criminal gangs.
"It shows us that there is a clear and present danger posed to the Loyal Orders in general and the Orange Order in particular by the dissident republican terrorists.
"We have already seen these cowards resorting to arson attacks on halls throughout the country. Now it would appear they intend to step their wicked campaign up a gear.
"I would appeal to rank-and-file unionists and members of the Loyal Orders to stand together and refuse to be intimidated by these murdering thugs."
Sitting MEP Jim Allister said republican violence directed at Orange Order parades was not a new tactic and had been used by Sinn Fein in the past.
The TUV leader said that the dissidents must not be allowed to succeed where other republicans had attempted to disrupt parades.
"Any attempt by so-called dissidents to continue that work should be resolutely opposed," he said.
A spokesman for the Orange Order played down the fears: "The parading situation in Northern Ireland has been improving steadily for a number of years, although there are still fundamental problems in the legislation surrounding parades
"The Orange Institution and indeed all the Loyal Orders have been working very hard to make all of our parades welcoming and family-friendly events.
"We will continue to do that and we will not be distracted by threats from people whose only interest is to create sectarian strife."
The PSNI said that it was hopeful the work of recent years to reduce tensions surrounding parades would be built upon.
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Monday 28 May 2012
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