Republican violence follows band parade
POLICE were attacked with petrol bombs and an Orange hall was damaged following a contentious band parade in Rasharkin.
Under the cover of darkness, the village's Orange hall sustained damage and PSNI officers were pelted with missiles, including petrol bombs, stones, bottles and golf balls.
Rasharkin Orange hall has been a frequent target for republicans in recent weeks, having been daubed in sectarian graffiti only days before.
Ballymoney councillor John Finlay, who had a window of his car smashed while visiting constituents in the area, condemned the violence.
"This attack demonstrates the motives of local republicans in the town who are engaging in sectarian acts of violence. The situation in Rasharkin is of grave concern as local Protestants are being threatened and forced out of their homes." the DUP man said.
"Instead of blaming loyalists Sinn Fein should focus on the problem at hand, and that problem exists within their own community. They just don't want a Protestant about the place. Protestants in the area are fighting a 'battle-a-day'. I call for leadership on behalf of Sinn Fein in seeing that such attacks against the Protestant community are brought to an immediate stop," he added.
Earlier on Friday, a loyalist band parade involving more than 40 bands passed off without major trouble.
Amid tight security, several hundred mainstream and dissident republican protestors bearing placards lined one part of the route but as the bands marched past their drums drowned out the horns, whistles and cat-calls.
Among the protestors were youths and men who covered their faces with scarves and hoods.
Prominent Belfast republican Sean 'Spike' Murray was present, as was Coleraine man Peter Neill, who was injured in the attack on Kevin McDaid, along with others from Coleraine.
Two bands in the parade were carrying paramilitary flags bearing the letters UDA, UVF and YCV.
Dozens of police vehicles lined the route and officers filmed both sides.
Speaking from the scene as the final bands paraded, local DUP Assemblyman Mervyn Storey said that there had been a number of missiles thrown by the group of republican protesters but that the protest had been tightly contained.
Four Tactical Support Groups – riot police - and water cannon were on standby for trouble but it appeared that calls by senior PSNI officers for "cool heads and common sense" were heard.
The parade was an annual fundraiser for the Ballymaconnelly Sons Sons of Conquerors Flute Band.
Ahead of last night's parade, North Antrim MP Dr Ian Paisley met with Security Minister Paul Goggins asking for the parade to be policed "effectively and that adequate protection is afforded to those taking part and watching the parade".
Dr Paisley said: "The Protestant people of Rasharkin are suffering systematic intimidation and the controversy over the parade is another manifestation of that bitter hatred of all things Protestant."
Dr Paisley said the perception that attacks against the Protestant population in Rasharkin merely happen during the months of July and August is wrong.
"Since July 2008 there have been well over forty attacks against members of the Protestant community in the town including attacks on the Orange hall."
Dr Paisley said he told the Security Minister that a very firm stance must be taken against anyone who behaves in a violent manner.
The Parades Commission gave the event the go-ahead with minor restrictions, despite objections from some residents and Sinn Fein.
The Parades Commission also gave the green light for a protest against the parade, limiting the number on protest to 130, including marshals.
Before the parade, Brendan McCionnaith of the Garvaghy Road Residents' Coalition denied claims that people from the Portadown nationalist area were preparing to travel to Rasharkin.
He said: "There is no truth in this whatsoever. It would not be in the interests of people in Rasharkin or Portadown to start bussing people in."
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Thursday 09 February 2012
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