‘Orangefest’ hits the buffers – the bigotry behind ‘The Twelfth’

AS THE NORTH moves inexorably towards the Twelfth of July, the pinnacle of the so-called marching season, the intimidation that is the by-product of Orange triumphalism flares up.

The attempts by the Orange Order – aided and abetted by the unionist political leadership of the DUP, UUP and the spokespersons for the UVF and UDA – to brand the Twelfth as a family ‘Orangefest festival’ has hit the buffers.

In the lead-up to this year’s ‘festival’, there have been continued attacks on people from ethnic minorities. People have been denied homes in loyalist areas or have seen their property vandalised. This has set the North on edge, especially given that the UVF in particular has been orchestrating the majority of the attacks.

The proliferation of flags throughout the North has been lamely ‘justified’ by the cheerleaders of unionism on the basis that their culture ‘is under attack’.

A recent report by Dr Paul Nolan of Queen’s University found that the number of parades in the North have more than doubled since 2005 – from 2,120 to 4,637, with fewer than 400 of these organised by republicans or nationalists.

Despite this and the revelation that there are 660 loyalist bands, the Orange Order’s Reverend Mervyn Gibson (a Haass Talks negotiator for the DUP despite not being a DUP member) insists that republicans are waging a cultural war and cites the restrictions on flying the Union flag at Belfast City Hall as proof.

But when Orange/unionist/British culture comes under the spotlight those politicians and Orange Order spokespersons who claim that their way of life is being undermined seem happy to condone or let pass without comment or condemnation:-

•  Waving UVF flags at the residents of the Short Strand during the mini-Twelfth on July 1;

•  Erecting Ku Klux Klan flags in east Belfast, an area that has witnessed countless racist attacks recently;

•  Painting the kerbs and flying a loyalist ‘Ulster’ flag in the grounds of a Catholic church in Dervock, north Antrim;

•  Burning effigies and posters of Sinn Féin politicians on bonfires along with Irish, Polish and Palestinian flags as well as Catholic symbols;

•  Ignoring a flags protocol of 2005 and erecting UDA, UVF and other paramilitary flags and displaying images supporting the racist British National Party and arch-racist Enoch Powell at sensitive interfaces or mixed neighbourhoods.

So as the latest round of talks aimed at resolving the unfinished business from last year’s Haass Talks got underway in Belfast this week, it will do no harm for unionists to reflect on how the jigsaw of their ‘culture’ fits together.

And if they need reminding of the depth of the sectarianism that underpins their culture then the conclusion of the trial, on Tuesday 1 July, of nine loyalists convicted for their part in the May 2009 attack that left Coleraine Catholic Kevin McDaid dead should act as that reminder.

Within hours of the news that Kevin McDaid’s loyalist assailants were sentenced, trouble broke out near the Heights area of Coleraine, where the Catholic community worker was fatally beaten in 2009.

According to Sinn Féin’s Margaret Fleming, loyalists taking part in a band parade near the nationalist Pate’s Lane/Somerset Drive area were “out to provoke trouble and were gloating at the leniency of the sentences handed down to the people convicted of killing Kevin”.

Up to 40 loyalists shouting “We’re the UDA” invaded the Heights area in Coleraine in May 2009 an ‘Old Firm’ game between Rangers and Celtic to take down Tricolours and Celtic flags from lampposts.

They fatally-wounded Kevin McDaid and seriously injured Damien Fleming. Damien will need lifelong care as a result of the attack.

Judge Weatherup handed down the following sentences on Tuesday:-

Frank Daly, of Oakland Walk, Coleraine, was jailed for eight years for grievous bodily harm and four years for actual bodily harm (ABH)

John Thompson, of Knocknougher Road, Macosquin, Coleraine, who also admitted GBH and ABH, received the same sentence

Aaron Beech, of John Street, Ballymena, was sentenced to seven years for GBH and three years for ABH

John McGrath, of Knock Road, Ballymoney, was sentenced to six years for GBH and three years for ABH

Paul Newman, of Nursery Avenue, Ballymoney, received a six-year sentence for GBH and three years for ABH

Ivan McDowell, of Taggart Mews, Ballymoney, was jailed for five years for GBH.

Three men who admitted lesser offences were also jailed on Tuesday:-

James McAfee, of Cloneen Drive, Ballymoney, who admitted affray, was jailed for three years

Rodney Gardner, of Knocklynn Grange, Coleraine, who also admitted affray, received the same sentence

John Freeman, of Sunderland Road, Belfast, who admitted intimidation and common assault, was jailed for six months.

Another two men who admitted affray received suspended sentences:-

Christopher McDowell, of Castle Walk Mews, Castlerock, was given a one-year sentence, suspended for two years

David Craig Cochrane, Windyhall Park, Coleraine, also received a one-year sentence, suspended for two years.

Jonathan Sterling, of Windyhall Park, Coleraine, who pleaded guilty to threats to harm, was released on probation.

See more pictures