7 May 1998 Edition
Nationalists beaten in Castlederg
A number of nationalists were attacked after a Loyalist march in the County Tyrone town of Castlederg on Saturday, April 25. Two men who were dragged out of a cafe and beaten in the street. One of their assailants was identified as the son of an RUC man.
Another man was assaulted as he walked through the Head-of-the-Town area.
Charlie McHugh, Sinn Fein vice-Chair of Strabane District Council, suspended standing orders at the council's monthly meeting to debate the Parades issue. ``Efforts must be made to impress on people from both sections of the community,'' said councillor McHugh, ``that there are no free days out to insult your neighbour.''
Some twenty bands took part in the parade which lasted four hours and resulted in severe traffic disruption. Castlederg Young Loyalists band, founded by UUP Councillor Derek Hussey, insisted on marching through the nationalist Ferguson Crescent area. On Easter Sunday a bus carrying a local republican band to their commemoration in Carrickmore was tailed by the RUC and stopped at Garvetagh. Everyone on board, including children, were then ordered off and questioned while being pushed with rifle butts.
``This is how the Nationalist people of Castlederg are being treated'' said Councillor McHugh.
Traders in Ferguson Crescent, Castlederg have joined with Councillor McHugh in calling for the area to become a `no-go' area for the parade as they feel it is antagonistic. Only two years ago riots erupted in the town after the parade.
On Friday night, May 1, a Loyalist march through Newtonstewart resulted in the town being sealed off for almost four hours to enable the crown forces to force the parade through mixed housing estates and along the main Omagh to Strabane road. A band from Limavady stopped outside the home of a nationalist family in one of the estates to aggressively sing ``the Sash'', terrifying the young children in the house. A nationalist couple were also attacked on the same night.
``People here are fed up with this,'' said Councillor McHugh, ``But many are too frightened to say anything.''
Another man was assaulted as he walked through the Head-of-the-Town area.
Charlie McHugh, Sinn Fein vice-Chair of Strabane District Council, suspended standing orders at the council's monthly meeting to debate the Parades issue. ``Efforts must be made to impress on people from both sections of the community,'' said councillor McHugh, ``that there are no free days out to insult your neighbour.''
Some twenty bands took part in the parade which lasted four hours and resulted in severe traffic disruption. Castlederg Young Loyalists band, founded by UUP Councillor Derek Hussey, insisted on marching through the nationalist Ferguson Crescent area. On Easter Sunday a bus carrying a local republican band to their commemoration in Carrickmore was tailed by the RUC and stopped at Garvetagh. Everyone on board, including children, were then ordered off and questioned while being pushed with rifle butts.
``This is how the Nationalist people of Castlederg are being treated'' said Councillor McHugh.
Traders in Ferguson Crescent, Castlederg have joined with Councillor McHugh in calling for the area to become a `no-go' area for the parade as they feel it is antagonistic. Only two years ago riots erupted in the town after the parade.
On Friday night, May 1, a Loyalist march through Newtonstewart resulted in the town being sealed off for almost four hours to enable the crown forces to force the parade through mixed housing estates and along the main Omagh to Strabane road. A band from Limavady stopped outside the home of a nationalist family in one of the estates to aggressively sing ``the Sash'', terrifying the young children in the house. A nationalist couple were also attacked on the same night.
``People here are fed up with this,'' said Councillor McHugh, ``But many are too frightened to say anything.''