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| Castlederg republican parade gets restricted go ahead | Castlederg republican parade gets restricted go ahead |
| (34 minutes later) | |
| The Parades Commission has decided to allow a republican parade to march through Castlederg later this month, but with restrictions. | The Parades Commission has decided to allow a republican parade to march through Castlederg later this month, but with restrictions. |
| The parade is to commemorate Tyrone's republican dead, including two IRA members killed by their own bomb in 1973, and is backed by Sinn Féin. | The parade is to commemorate Tyrone's republican dead, including two IRA members killed by their own bomb in 1973, and is backed by Sinn Féin. |
| Unionists described the parade as "grossly insensitive" and said it should not be allowed to go ahead. | Unionists described the parade as "grossly insensitive" and said it should not be allowed to go ahead. |
| The determination reroutes the parade to avoid a war memorial in the Diamond. | The determination reroutes the parade to avoid a war memorial in the Diamond. |
| In a statement, the Parades Commission said it had considered a wide range of representations from parade organisers, political parties, victims and residents over the past few days. | In a statement, the Parades Commission said it had considered a wide range of representations from parade organisers, political parties, victims and residents over the past few days. |
| It said it had received around 500 emails and letters, many calling for the parade to be banned, a power which it said was not available to the commission under existing legislation. | It said it had received around 500 emails and letters, many calling for the parade to be banned, a power which it said was not available to the commission under existing legislation. |
| The commission said if the march went along its intended route, there would be an adverse effect on community relations and the potential for public disorder. | |
| "Although the original route was revised, on the basis of the representations received the commission has concluded that if the parade were to proceed as notified it would have a damaging effect on community relations in the town," the statement said. | "Although the original route was revised, on the basis of the representations received the commission has concluded that if the parade were to proceed as notified it would have a damaging effect on community relations in the town," the statement said. |
| "Consequently, the commission has issued a determination to restrict the parade's route away from the 'Diamond' area, including the Cenotaph, in Castlederg." | "Consequently, the commission has issued a determination to restrict the parade's route away from the 'Diamond' area, including the Cenotaph, in Castlederg." |
| 'Warped thinking' | |
| Sinn Féin councillor for Castlederg, Ruairí McHugh, said the determination had the potential to "seriously undermine attempts by local republicans towards addressing contention in Castelderg". | |
| "The commission has made a decision to restrict this parade ignoring the initiative by Sinn Féin to voluntarily reroute the commemoration away from the Methodist Church and the War Memorial by passing down John Street," he said. | |
| "This determination makes a mockery of the concept of shared space within Castlederg centre and the fact that locally there has been dialogue for over five years surrounding parades in the town." | |
| Cllr McHugh said the organisers of the parade would be seeking a review of the determination. | |
| "So far this year there have been 17 loyalist parades in the town," he said. | |
| "The day before the commemoration the Apprentice Boys have applied to have full access to the town centre and march around the Diamond. | |
| "None of these marches were contested in what is a majority nationalist town despite the impact they have on residents." | |
| A victims' group plan to hold a protest involving between 500 and 1,000 people. | |
| DUP West Tyrone MLA Thomas Buchanan called for the parade to be cancelled. | DUP West Tyrone MLA Thomas Buchanan called for the parade to be cancelled. |
| "The fact that Sinn Fein chooses to celebrate these so-called Provisional IRA (PIRA) volunteers, killed whilst transporting a bomb to Castlederg, speaks volumes about their view of reconciliation. It also shows their utter insensitivity to the victims of PIRA terrorism," he said. | "The fact that Sinn Fein chooses to celebrate these so-called Provisional IRA (PIRA) volunteers, killed whilst transporting a bomb to Castlederg, speaks volumes about their view of reconciliation. It also shows their utter insensitivity to the victims of PIRA terrorism," he said. |
| "This parade is not a debate about cultural expression. It's about glorifying terrorism. There is no comparison between the innocent victims of PIRA terrorism and the death of those men who were planning to plant a bomb in the heart of Castlederg. To make a comparison is warped thinking." |