Nationalists should stay indoors for loyalist parades, says DUP councillor

'Councillor Walker needs to explain why nationalists should remain hemmed in their local pub or home while Apprentice Boys and their supporters pass by'

A DUP councillor who took part in Saturday’s Apprentice Boys parade that preceded an attack on a Catholic-owned bar in the mainly unionist town of Killyleagh in County Down has said customers should have stayed inside, behind closed doors, until his parade had passed.

Loyalist bandsmen are said to have halted around 9pm outside the Central Bar. The Central Bar is sponsor of the newly re-formed local GAA club.

Loyalists played The Sash before entering the premises and smashing windows in the bar’s off-licence after scuffles occurred. A customer was treated in hospital for injuries.

DUP Councillor William Walker (pictured), a member of the Killyleagh Apprentice Boys, claimed customers had made comments and a parade participant had been hit. “If I was hit on the head with a bottle, I would not take it,” the DUP councillor said. “They will not tell you they came out of the bar to provoke. They should have stayed in the pub until the parade went by.”

Sinn Féin MLA Chris Hazzard branded the DUP councillor’s comments “a disgrace” coming from a public representative.

“This was an unprovoked attack on a bar simply because of the religion of the owner,” Chris Hazzard said.

“Councillor William Walker needs to explain why nationalists should remain hemmed in their local pub or home while Apprentice Boys and their supporters pass by.

“We are constantly told by the Apprentice Boys that their parade is a historical one free from sectarianism and that loads of nationalists come out to watch and enjoy the parade.

“Not only is this contrary to the experience of nationalist residents in small towns and villages across the North where feeder parades take place but also a contradiction from what Councillor Walker is saying – ‘nationalists need to stay away out of sight’.

“I can tell Councillor Walker that the days of ‘Croppy, lie down’ are over and gone for good and that nationalists have a right to go about their normal life without fear of intimidation.”

The PSNI have said three people have been charged with public order offences after Saturday night’s events.