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Ardoyne Fleadh event investigated over 'hate speech' complaint | Ardoyne Fleadh event investigated over 'hate speech' complaint |
(35 minutes later) | |
Police have said they are investigating two complaints relating to a north Belfast festival after claims that an event on Sunday featured "hate speech". | Police have said they are investigating two complaints relating to a north Belfast festival after claims that an event on Sunday featured "hate speech". |
The DUP and TUV said they had reported comments made by musical act The Druids at the Ardoyne Fleadh to the police. | The DUP and TUV said they had reported comments made by musical act The Druids at the Ardoyne Fleadh to the police. |
The DUP said it featured "the glorification of terrorism" and has called for public funding for the festival to be withdrawn. | The DUP said it featured "the glorification of terrorism" and has called for public funding for the festival to be withdrawn. |
When contacted, a member of the band said he had no comment to make. | When contacted, a member of the band said he had no comment to make. |
A video from the event shows a member of the band telling the audience that British soldiers in Ireland "should get together with their Orange comrades" and go back to England. | A video from the event shows a member of the band telling the audience that British soldiers in Ireland "should get together with their Orange comrades" and go back to England. |
The BBC also tried to speak to the organisers of the fleadh but got no response. | The BBC also tried to speak to the organisers of the fleadh but got no response. |
Belfast City Council has confirmed to the BBC that it did not have any part in funding the event. | |
Councillor Lee Reynolds, from the DUP, said the comments were "hate speech" and "incitement to hatred". | Councillor Lee Reynolds, from the DUP, said the comments were "hate speech" and "incitement to hatred". |
"Their introductions to their songs, parts of the songs and also the songs that they chose to play were deeply offensive," he said. | "Their introductions to their songs, parts of the songs and also the songs that they chose to play were deeply offensive," he said. |
He said that public funding for the event should be pulled and the DUP had opposed licensing the event. | He said that public funding for the event should be pulled and the DUP had opposed licensing the event. |
"We understand this event received a range of public funding. We believe that the actions of last night justify the withdrawal of that funding and also the withdrawal of sponsorship. | "We understand this event received a range of public funding. We believe that the actions of last night justify the withdrawal of that funding and also the withdrawal of sponsorship. |
"As regards these concerts, they have continually been raised as a problem and the complaints about them have been ignored by the organisers. | "As regards these concerts, they have continually been raised as a problem and the complaints about them have been ignored by the organisers. |
"What happened on Sunday night was bound to happen." | "What happened on Sunday night was bound to happen." |
'Distressing' | 'Distressing' |
A Sinn Féin spokesperson said the Fleadh was "a very successful community festival which has been running for many years under often very challenging and difficult circumstances". | A Sinn Féin spokesperson said the Fleadh was "a very successful community festival which has been running for many years under often very challenging and difficult circumstances". |
"There is currently a police investigation ongoing into an alleged sectarian comment made from the stage of the Fleadh on Sunday night. | "There is currently a police investigation ongoing into an alleged sectarian comment made from the stage of the Fleadh on Sunday night. |
"Sectarianism is wrong and it has no place at music or cultural events." | "Sectarianism is wrong and it has no place at music or cultural events." |
TUV councillor Jolene Bunting said: "The noise from the Ardoyne festival could be heard in the Shankill area. | TUV councillor Jolene Bunting said: "The noise from the Ardoyne festival could be heard in the Shankill area. |
"The volume was turned up considerably around midnight and people, including myself, could clearly hear pro-IRA songs and chanting in their homes. Not only was this provoking but it was particularly distressing for elderly people and young children." | "The volume was turned up considerably around midnight and people, including myself, could clearly hear pro-IRA songs and chanting in their homes. Not only was this provoking but it was particularly distressing for elderly people and young children." |
Ulster Unionist councillor David Browne said the comments "would seem to indicate that many republicans are still stuck in the past". | Ulster Unionist councillor David Browne said the comments "would seem to indicate that many republicans are still stuck in the past". |
"The fact that these were made in an interface area where we are all trying to build community relations makes it even worse," he said. | "The fact that these were made in an interface area where we are all trying to build community relations makes it even worse," he said. |
North Belfast MLA Alban Maginness, from the SDLP, said that it would be "short-sighted" to withdraw funding because of the incident. | North Belfast MLA Alban Maginness, from the SDLP, said that it would be "short-sighted" to withdraw funding because of the incident. |
"Certainly I think that this band overstepped the mark in terms of their remarks at this concert," he said. | "Certainly I think that this band overstepped the mark in terms of their remarks at this concert," he said. |
"However, I don't think that abandoning funding or suspending funding is a good step forward. | "However, I don't think that abandoning funding or suspending funding is a good step forward. |
"I think it's important that the people who look after the Fleadh Cheoil in Ardoyne review what has happened. | "I think it's important that the people who look after the Fleadh Cheoil in Ardoyne review what has happened. |
"I do think that anybody who speaks so offensively in relation to the Protestant community, the loyalist community or, indeed, the Orange, is being intolerant." | "I do think that anybody who speaks so offensively in relation to the Protestant community, the loyalist community or, indeed, the Orange, is being intolerant." |