Clyde Valley band members reported to PPS over ‘Soldier F’ insignia

Three members of a loyalist flute band have been reported to the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) over the display of Parachute Regiment insignia in Londonderry last August.
By Mark Rainey
Published 20th Jul 2020, 19:56 BST
Updated 21st Jul 2020, 13:15 BST
Standard bearers with the Clyde Valley Flute BandStandard bearers with the Clyde Valley Flute Band
Standard bearers with the Clyde Valley Flute Band

Police have been investigating after the Clyde Valley Flute Band wore uniforms bearing the Parachute Regiment logo, along with a reference to the former para facing Bloody Sunday murder charges, at an Apprentice Boys parade.

Officers flanked the Larne-based band as it made its way through the city and then stopped a bus being used by the band members as they left following the parade, noting the names of those on board.

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Identified only as ‘Soldier F,’ the ex-para has been charged with two counts of murder in relation to the deaths of James Wray and William McKinney in Londonderry in 1972.

The pair were among 13 people shot dead by soldiers following a Civil Rights march in the city.

While the Apprentice Boys of Derry (ABOD) expressed concern that the insignia had been on display, at the time an ABOD spokesman accused the police of a “heavy handed” approach in dealing with the band.

Following the incident in August, Londonderry parades negotiator Garvan O’Doherty said Clyde Valley would not be welcome at future events in the city.

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A PPS spokeswoman said: “The PPS received a file on January 15, 2020 in relation to an alleged incident on August 10, 2019.

“Three suspects reported by police are being considered by prosecutors in relation to public order offences.”

The spokeswoman added: “Further information has been requested from PSNI and once this is received, decisions will issue in due course after a thorough consideration of all available evidence.”