18 June 1998 Edition
Freedom for sectarian harassment
By Ned Kelly
South Antrim SF assembly candidate Martin Meehan welcomed Monday's decision by the Orange Order to postpone a planned band contest for 24 June in the town of Crumlin.
Meehan said, ``I now hope this gesture will be expanded to include the parades in the Garvaghy Road area, North Belfast and Bellaghy.''
Crumlin has been the site of an increasing number of loyalist parades despite the fact that it is now 80% Catholic. Two years ago during the same band contest, normally held in September, the town was wrecked and a youth hospitalised.
During a visit to the town by Martin Meehan and Gerry Adams the two met with a group of local young people. At the meeting, described by Meehan as ``highly constructive'', they youths put forward their concerns about RUC harassment and the lack of facilities available for young people. They also presented the Sinn Fein pair with a copy of a petition containing over 200 names expressing their concerns and their opposition to Orange parades in the area.
The petition had also been passed on to the Parades Commission, the Dublin government and the NIO. A member of the Crumlin Concerned Group said that shortly after the petition had been sent out, several local youths who had signed it were visited by members of the RUC and told that if they were seen in the town on the 24th they would be arrested.
The Crumlin resident said, ``it was great to see Mr Adams making himself aware of the single biggest social issue affecting the town''. She said the lack of facilities for young people was leading to the growth of other problems in the area.
After the visit the SF President said, ``the Good Friday document specifically states that people have the `right to freedom from sectarian harassment', this matter needs urgent attention. It means a nationalist village is repeatedly swamped by outsiders. It means the harassment and intimidation of young nationalists.''
The town is scheduled to host the South Antrim region Orange parade on 13 July. The resident said, ``surely towns like Aghalee or Dunmurry would be more suitable alternatives for this regional parade''.
South Antrim SF assembly candidate Martin Meehan welcomed Monday's decision by the Orange Order to postpone a planned band contest for 24 June in the town of Crumlin.
Meehan said, ``I now hope this gesture will be expanded to include the parades in the Garvaghy Road area, North Belfast and Bellaghy.''
Crumlin has been the site of an increasing number of loyalist parades despite the fact that it is now 80% Catholic. Two years ago during the same band contest, normally held in September, the town was wrecked and a youth hospitalised.
During a visit to the town by Martin Meehan and Gerry Adams the two met with a group of local young people. At the meeting, described by Meehan as ``highly constructive'', they youths put forward their concerns about RUC harassment and the lack of facilities available for young people. They also presented the Sinn Fein pair with a copy of a petition containing over 200 names expressing their concerns and their opposition to Orange parades in the area.
The petition had also been passed on to the Parades Commission, the Dublin government and the NIO. A member of the Crumlin Concerned Group said that shortly after the petition had been sent out, several local youths who had signed it were visited by members of the RUC and told that if they were seen in the town on the 24th they would be arrested.
The Crumlin resident said, ``it was great to see Mr Adams making himself aware of the single biggest social issue affecting the town''. She said the lack of facilities for young people was leading to the growth of other problems in the area.
After the visit the SF President said, ``the Good Friday document specifically states that people have the `right to freedom from sectarian harassment', this matter needs urgent attention. It means a nationalist village is repeatedly swamped by outsiders. It means the harassment and intimidation of young nationalists.''
The town is scheduled to host the South Antrim region Orange parade on 13 July. The resident said, ``surely towns like Aghalee or Dunmurry would be more suitable alternatives for this regional parade''.