Castlederg – Protest by nationalists cancelled to help ease tensions

» John Hedges

An Phoblacht Editor

‘The fact remains Castlederg is a majority nationalist town and does host numerous loyalist and unionist parades in the town centre throughout the year’

A PROTEST by nationalist residents in Castlederg in County Tyrone at Saturday’s Apprentice Boys parade has been called off by what local Sinn Féin MP Pat Doherty has described as “a genuine attempt to de-escalate tensions in the town” over the controversy about Sunday’s ‘Tyrone Volunteers Day’ parade in Castlederg.

The decision came after meetings in Castlederg on Thursday night involving local republicans and deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness.

Saturday’s Apprentice Boys march will be the 19th loyal order parade in Castlederg this year; Sunday’s will be the first republican one.

Pat Doherty said there have been “many wild and false claims” made in the media regarding the nature of the Tyrone Volunteers commemoration in Castlederg this Sunday.

“There has been a very deliberate bid by some to use the parade to try and undermine community relations in the area and specifically around the good work that has been done to resolve parading issues in the town.

“The fact remains Castlederg is a majority nationalist town and does host numerous loyalist and unionist parades in the town centre throughout the year. Given the Parade Commission restrictions placed on the republican parade on Sunday there is a justifiable anger in Castlederg amongst nationalists and republicans that it seems the town centre is acceptable for loyalist parades but not for the majority community in the town.”

He said that the cancellation of Saturday’s protest is a genuine attempt to de-escalate tensions in the town “and it would be my hope that it contributes to a peaceful weekend in Castlederg”.