Castlederg – Parades Commission green light to unionists after blocking republicans in August

» John Hedges

An Phoblacht Editor

In August, the Parades Commission blocked a republican parade from going through the town centre

GIVING an Apprentice Boys parade unrestricted access through the nationalist Ferguson Crescent area of Castlederg in County Tyrone on the morning of Saturday 7 December shows double standards in Parades Commission rulings about Castlederg, Sinn Féin has said.

In August, the Parades Commission blocked a republican parade from going through the town centre (see links at bottom of page).

Saturday morning’s parade will be the first of two loyalist parades in the majority nationalist town on that day as there will be another parade on return from the main Apprentice Boys parade in Derry.

Castlederg area Sinn Féin Councillor Ruairí McHugh noted that there have been upwards of 20 unionist parades of one type or another in Castlederg this year alone “which is totally disproportionate given the demographics of the town”, he said.

“This determination is all the more galling given the emphasis the Parades Commission places on local dialogue as the best way forward for solving parading disputes.

“To my knowledge, there has been absolutely no attempt from the organisers of these parades to consult or engage with residents and businesses in Ferguson Crescent to gauge their views on these parades

“Despite the total lack of dialogue and consultation with traders or residents along the route, the Parades Commission have effectively rewarded loyalists for their lack of engagement by giving them the green light to parade unrestricted through Ferguson Crescent, the first time since 2006.

“This determination stands in stark contrast to the sole republican commemoration this year in August which the Parades Commission blocked from even entering our own town centre and which made a mockery of the town centre being a shared space for all communities in Castlederg.

“It seems some are more equal than others in Castlederg in the eyes of the Parades Commission.”

The Sinn Féin councillor ended:

“I appeal to those within political unionism and indeed the loyalist band groupings to re-enter dialogue with myself and others over the issue of contentious parades in Castlederg.

“Sinn Féin are up for it – are they?”

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