'The trial's over . . . so now pay your fines' – Orange Order parade bandsmen found guilty

WITHIN HOURS of 13 unionist bandsmen being found guilty of playing the notorious, sectarian Famine Song outside a Catholic church during an Orange Order parade, Traditional Unionist Voice Councillor Jolene Bunting described the verdict as “disgusting” and offered to help pay the fine imposed on one band member.

The bandsmen are from the Young Conway Volunteers (YCV), based on the Shankill Road in Belfast.

They were convicted of committing “a provocative act likely to cause a breach of the peace” in July 2012

Sinn Féin Councillor JJ Magee, who filmed the incident outside St Patrick's Church, on Donegall Street (watch his video here), said:

“This ruling sends out a clear message that sectarianism will not be tolerated. Time and time again bands stick two fingers up to the parishioners of St Patrick's Church.

“The Orange Order, which hires these bands, claims it wants respect for its expression of culture but they need to realise that respect is a two-way street.”

Convicting the bandsmen, Judge Paul Copeland said:

“This was outrageous and inflammatory behaviour which could have precipitated serious public disorder.”

He imposed a five-month prison term, suspended for two years, on Aaron McCrory, Christopher McKay and Jonathan Airdrie.

Ten others – Alan Adlam, Bryan Green, Stephen Smyth, William Carlisle, Paul Shaw, Thomas Gibney and Ryan Aitcheson as well as three youths who were not named due to their age – were bound over to keep the peace.

All 13 received fines of £300.

In July 2012, JJ Magee, acting as an observer at the Carrick Hill interface, filmed members of the YCV marching in a circle in front of St Patrick's Church.

Magee, now a Sinn Féin councillor, was threatened by members of the band and his footage became a central piece of the evidence against the bandsmen, who disngenuously claimed they were playing the Beach Boys tune Sloop John B and not The Famine Song, whose lyrics were written to that tune.

In 2013, William Bell was fined £500 and bound over to keep the peace after pleading guilty to common assault on Magee.

The loyalist lyrics, which include the words “the Famine's over, why don't you go home?” has been judged in Scotland to be racist after a landmark ruling against supporters of Glasgow Rangers FC.

Since the 2012 controversy, numerous incidents of loyalist bands breaching Parades Commission determinations at St Patrick's have been recorded.

As recently as Easter Monday this year, during an Apprentice Boy's Parade past St Patrick's, the UVF-linked Bangor Protestant Boys, whose members includes serial Union flag protester Jamie Bryson, played The Famine Song within earshot of the church.