Alderman John Finlay: Republican councillor is showing the intolerance he criticises

After his disgraceful comments and behaviour during the Twelfth period, Councillor McShane has now reappeared as the Public Relations Officer of a group known as the ‘Ballycastle Anti Racism League’.

I have never heard of this organisation before, and I have no idea about its membership, but I suspect it is little more than a flag of convenience in a feeble effort by Councillor McShane to portray himself as a reasonable man.

While his latest statement is full of wonderful clichés about a “pluralist society”, the leopard cannot change his spots, and the reality is that Councillor McShane has not seen the error of his ways, nor has he been converted.

On the contrary, he continues his obsession with what he describes as “triumphalist parades”.

His statement specifically attacks the Royal Black Institution and its feeder parade on the last Saturday in August in Ballycastle, and he has singled out another band – Moyarget Silver Plains Flute – for particular criticism.

I suspect the members of that band might regard it as a badge of honour to be maligned by Padraig McShane in this way.

By his intolerant attitude to the loyal orders, their faith, their heritage and their culture, Councillor McShane is a prime example of the very intolerant mindset he now purports to seek to challenge.

He is now exposed as an utter hypocrite.

Alderman John Finlay, DUP, Cloughmills