2 August 2001 Edition
Ballycastle residents don't `host' Orange Order
North Antrim Sinn Féin Councillor Phil Mc Guigan is calling for inclusive dialogue and greater consultation with the Ballycastle community, specifically on all future Orange parades in the predominantly nationalist town.
Mc Guigan praised the local residents of Ballycastle for their continued restraint and their most dignified protest against Orange Order parades, especially given the intensifying backdrop of an ongoing pogrom against nationalists in the North Antrim area and throughout the Six Counties.
McGuigan said that repeated Orange Order reference to villages and towns ``hosting'' their demonstrations are wearing thin on nationalists. ``It is clear to any reasonable onlooker that the local residents of Ballycastle do not `host ` the provocative Orange Order demonstrations in their village,'' he said. ``Many such `host' communities throughout the North of Ireland are placed under what amounts by any civilised standards to a siege of fear.''
Mc Guigan said local residents' freedom of movement is restricted and many others are are so intimidated by the Orange Order siege in Ballycastle that they do not leave their homes when such imposed demonstrations and their military entourage come to town.
Mc Guigan praised the local residents of Ballycastle for their continued restraint and their most dignified protest against Orange Order parades, especially given the intensifying backdrop of an ongoing pogrom against nationalists in the North Antrim area and throughout the Six Counties.
McGuigan said that repeated Orange Order reference to villages and towns ``hosting'' their demonstrations are wearing thin on nationalists. ``It is clear to any reasonable onlooker that the local residents of Ballycastle do not `host ` the provocative Orange Order demonstrations in their village,'' he said. ``Many such `host' communities throughout the North of Ireland are placed under what amounts by any civilised standards to a siege of fear.''
Mc Guigan said local residents' freedom of movement is restricted and many others are are so intimidated by the Orange Order siege in Ballycastle that they do not leave their homes when such imposed demonstrations and their military entourage come to town.