TUV leader Jim Allister astounded by the Charity Commission’s stance on West Belfast Festival after pro-IRA singing

Videos have been circulated online of concert goers chanting ‘ooh ah up the ‘ra’ during performances by the Wolfe Tones and Shebeen yesterday.

In a letter to the commissioners, Mr Allister wrote: “I am astounded by the commission’s stand on this issue.

"Whether the stance is driven by indifference or complicity, the result is endorsement of the most egregious hurt to victims of the IRA by your continuing conferment of charitable status on an organisation which deliberately hosts as its finale the repulsive glorification of terrorism.

“Like others, I ask, which charitable purpose, as defined in the Charities (NI) Act do you maintain qualifies an organisation which has, by its own choice, become defined by ‘up the ‘ra’ singing and other offensive songs, led from the stage by its headline acts?”

He commented: “You cannot continue to hide away from the realities of this situation, which in practical terms means a new generation of young people are being indoctrinated, courtesy of the West Belfast Festival’s organising choices, into the cult of glorifying terrorism. By your inaction you exude consent.

"Please urgently address your stance which is causing such offence to all who do not endorse or wish to sanitise terrorism.”

DUP MLA Brian Kingston said it has become a “yearly ritual” for the West Belfast Festival to “conclude with naked sectarianism”.

The DUP MLA said, “There needs to be a proper conversation across nationalism about such pro-IRA chanting.

“This isn’t a few individuals attending an event engaging in unacceptable behaviour at the fringes. It is the headline act for this concert who have a track record of revelling in both the glorification of terrorism and the offence that this causes. The organisers are fully complicit in what takes place from the stage. They appear unwilling to move forward and are thereby holding their community back.

“There rightly will be a focus on the main funding sources for the festival, but there are also both public and private organisations listed as ‘Feile partners’ on the website. There are similar questions for all of those listed in that category.

“The West Belfast Festival can either move forward and live up to their claims about inclusivity, or they can continue to host this sectarian finale to their events. They cannot do both.”

A spokesperson for the Charity Commission said: “In August of last year, the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland received concerns regarding the annual West Belfast Festival held by registered charity Feile An Phobail Limited.

“Having assessed the concerns raised, commissioners concluded that the charity, as a result of performances at the festival, had not contravened charity law.

“One of the concerned parties requested that the commission review its decision not to take regulatory action under its internal decision review process. The charity was advised of this request.

“The concerned party also requested that a specific question is referred to the Charity Tribunal under para 1 of Schedule 4 to the Charities Act (NI) 2008.

“The concerned party has been advised that this request is currently being considered by the commission.

“While both requests are under consideration, it would be inappropriate to comment any further at this time.”

Meanwhile one of Feile’s principle funders has said it will review last night’s concert to see if it adheres to their funding terms and conditions.

Tourism NI said it offers funding to Féile An Phobail “for the marketing and cultural elements of the programme”.

The organisation stated: “We have made it clear to the organisers of Feile of the conditions which they are expected to meet in order to receive funding from Tourism NI, the need to promote a positive view of the destination and deliver an inclusive and welcoming experience for all.

“We will be reviewing the events that took place at last night’s concert and the adherence to the funding terms and conditions – it is therefore not appropriate to comment at this time.”

Another of the events funders Belfast City Council said its funding is not for commercial events.

A spokeperson said: “Féile an Phobail has received funding via the council’s Cultural Multi-Annual Grants scheme for four years (2020-2024) to support a programme of 250+ inclusive arts and cultural activities over a number of days each year.

“While the council supports the festival on this basis, our funding does not support commercial events, such as the event by the Wolfe Tones.”

Feile and Phobail also receives funding from Arts Council NI and is endorsed by the Charity Commission.

Arts Council NI were approached for a comment about Sunday night’s concert as were the organisers of Feile. Both have yet to respond.