Sectarian fears ahead of parade
THE DUP and Sinn Fein have clashed amid growing concern that sectarian tensions in Rasharkin could spill over at a loyalist band parade in the village in 10 days' time.
The event, hosted by Ballymaconnelly Sons of Conquerors Flute Band, is set to attract 40 bands.
It will come at the end of a summer of trouble in Rasharkin, which has witnessed attacks on Loyal Orders' parades and various other sectarian incidents, including vandalism at the local Orange hall and a Catholic-owned pub.
The latest conflict surrounded last Saturday's evening Apprentice Boys march in the village.
The activities of republicans at the event are to be reported to the Parades Commission this week.
A residents' group protest, which is alleged to have included known Sinn Fein members, is said to have breached the conditions placed on it by the parades body.
It is claimed that some protestors attempted to provoke marchers and a child was hit by a stone thrown at the parade as Apprentice Boys returned from their Londonderry walk.
DUP MLA for the area Mervyn Storey said "republicans can expect no hiding place" and their sectarian agenda had been exposed again.
But Sinn Fein North Antrim MLA Daithi McKay retorted that some bandsmen involved in the parade had broken their restrictions by breaking from the march to urinate down the side of a local nationalist bar – sparking anger within the protest.
He warned that there was now a difficult situation on the ground ahead of the August 22 band parade at which he believed bands with UVF and UDA associations would be involved.
Mr Storey, however, said Sinn Fein was brimming with hypocrisy in trying to paint itself as egalitarian and the defender of all cultures.
The MLA also said Sinn Fein's bluff had been called on its attempts to distance itself from recent events in Rasharkin because "many of the protestors were from outside the village and in fact senior republicans from Belfast were present and were part of an intimidating crowd that stood on the main street".
Mr Storey said: "No doubt Sinn Fein will try to tell us that they were there to keep control. Well, if that was the case, they failed.
"The protestors revealed their real agenda by displaying placards with the words 'Pride Of The Maine not welcome here' – a reference to the band that was leading the parade.
"A child was hit with a stone that was thrown by republicans and attempts were made to provoke a reaction from the band members and Apprentice Boys – thankfully with no success."
Mr McKay admitted republicans from Belfast were in Rasharkin but said they were there in solidarity and to give comfort to local people who had been unnerved by past trouble.
He added: "Republicans do not have a problem with Protestant and unionist parades but with many of the bands who march along with them and have a bad record (of behaviour] in Rasharkin."
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Saturday 11 February 2012
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