28 May 1998 Edition
Lord Mayor's show rerouted
By Sean O'Tuama
The Lord Mayor decided to reroute his show last Saturday 23 May, because of protests by a small group of loyalists annoyed at the presence of a float by the Lower Ormeau Residents Action Group (LORAG).
The parade was rerouted down Ormeau Avenue away from its chosen route along Donegal Pass after loyalists threatened a protest and falsely claimed that tricolours were being flown from the float. A spokesperson for Lorag denied that there were any tricolours on display saying that even the RUC when enforcing the decision acknowledged that ``the float contained nothing that could in any way be construed as offensive.'' He went on to say ``Lorag's main concern was the safety of the young children on the the float'' and the decision on what to do was left to the parade organisers.
The float itself won one prize for best original float and another for overall runner-up.
Sinn Fein's Sean Hayes, who represents the area, rubbished the loyalist claims and said, ``at a time when people throughout Ireland were looking forward to a new future these residents of Donegal Pass could not extend the hand of friendship or indeed tolerance to their nationalist neighbours''.
The Lord Mayor decided to reroute his show last Saturday 23 May, because of protests by a small group of loyalists annoyed at the presence of a float by the Lower Ormeau Residents Action Group (LORAG).
The parade was rerouted down Ormeau Avenue away from its chosen route along Donegal Pass after loyalists threatened a protest and falsely claimed that tricolours were being flown from the float. A spokesperson for Lorag denied that there were any tricolours on display saying that even the RUC when enforcing the decision acknowledged that ``the float contained nothing that could in any way be construed as offensive.'' He went on to say ``Lorag's main concern was the safety of the young children on the the float'' and the decision on what to do was left to the parade organisers.
The float itself won one prize for best original float and another for overall runner-up.
Sinn Fein's Sean Hayes, who represents the area, rubbished the loyalist claims and said, ``at a time when people throughout Ireland were looking forward to a new future these residents of Donegal Pass could not extend the hand of friendship or indeed tolerance to their nationalist neighbours''.