DUP hits out at SF over parades

Published Friday, 12 February 2010

The DUP has accused Sinn Fein of breaking the spirit and letter of the Hillsborough deal brokered last week, branding comments by Gerry Adams as “crass and irresponsible.”

On Thursday, the Sinn Fein president said he could not envisage a situation where a parade could go ahead at the contested part of the Drumcree march without the consent of nationalist residents.

But the DUP has now warned that moving away from what was agreed at Hillsborough Castle following days of intensive talks on loyal order parading and policing would stymie progress.

"We are deeply disappointed by the statements made yesterday by Gerry Adams in relation to parades. His comments were crass, irresponsible and extremely unhelpful", a joint statement from DUP leader Peter Robinson and the DUP members of the parades working group said.

"His comments also breach both the spirit and the letter of the principles set out in the Hillsborough Agreement."

"They are contrary to what was agreed to by Sinn Fein at Hillsborough and indicate a move back to the old republican stance."

"Gerry Adams is looking over his shoulders at dissidents and the most extreme elements in his own ranks", Mr Robinson, Nelson McCausland, Jeffrey Donaldson and Stephen Moutray said.

"This is not a time for political retreat; it is a time for leadership and a time for progress."

Earlier this week, Mr Robinson hinted he would collapse the Assembly if Sinn Fein did not honour their commitments.

Explaining his previous reference to a "secret device" the DUP leader confirmed he "could bring down policing and justice by simply having an election and not appointing a justice minister."

"We all have the ability to bring down the institutions", Mr Robinson warned.

"There's no part of me that wants to use such a device. It would only be used if there was bad faith on the part of those with whom I negotiated", he told UTV.

A parades working group with three members of Sinn Fein and three of the DUP was set up following marathon talks chaired by the British and Irish governments.

The panel has agreed to meet every day to find a way forward on the handling of contentious parades like Drumcree, pledging wide community consultation and stressing the importance of local engagement.

On Friday, the DUP statement said core principles agreed at Hillsborough formed the remit of the working group.

"Any move away from what was agreed at Hillsborough will be an act of bad faith and would stymie progress," it added.

"The DUP is committed to finding a resolution to this issue and we will not be party to any report which falls short of the principles agreed at Hillsborough."

Comments

5 Comments

Michael in Belfast wrote (826 days ago):

Seamas wrote - if they allow swaggering bullies in orange sashes to parade past catholic homes in Portadown or Rashsharkin. How are unionists ever going to persuade Catholics that a United Ireland isn’t necessary and that we’re better off in the UK - Well Seamas, the same could be said for Nationalism/Republicanism. How are they to persuade Unionists that our best interest is in a United Ireland when Protestant Orange Halls and homes, like the recent attacks in Rasharkin keep happening. Our kids cannot even return from school in North Belfast without Nationalist Youths throwing bricks through the windows. I think the world is finally noticing that Nationalists are no longer as hard done by as they once were and are in fact becoming the antagonists for alot of the sectarianism of the last few years.........

seamas in belfast wrote (830 days ago):

Things are slowly but steadily slipping away for unionists. They have solely and consistently relied on their inbuilt majority to protect the union and as a consequence have failed completely to develop an alternative strategy. They have stubbornly stuck to the policy of a protestant vote is a unionist vote. They could force orange parades through catholic areas never worrying about losing votes they didn’t need. Now however the only hope left for unionists is to persuade Catholics to vote unionist. But how are they are going to do that if they allow swaggering bullies in orange sashes to parade past catholic homes in Portadown or Rashsharkin. How are unionists ever going to persuade Catholics that a United Ireland isn’t necessary and that we’re better off in the UK if we have to continue to suffer insulting and degrading sectarian demonstrations designed purely to keep us in our place? Unionists are going to have to grasp the nettle of orangeism at some point but then to echo the words of a former RUC chief constable they could be damned if they do and will be damned if they don’t.

lorna in limavady wrote (830 days ago):

Why would SF back parades that has been a vote winner for them. The OO will never get to walk down Gavaghy road again this they will have to tolerate. SF know this divided Protestants some have no interist in the Order and with that SFwill become strong enough to determine the support for a United Ireland. While the Unionists don't like who is deputy first minister and his terrorist past . The DUP and UUP have differances in the past with Ian Paisley but now is not the time to hold on to grievances for while a power struggle is going on between them Martin McGuiness is winning.

Peter in Belfast wrote (830 days ago):

If the DUP are going to base progress on a parade being forced through an area where it is not welcome against the wishes of those that live there, then Hillsborough was a complete waste of time. Get rid of these few contentious parades for once and for all and lets all get on with more important things!!!!

doirecormac in derry wrote (831 days ago):

I told you the agreement at Hillsborough was a fudge, a stop gap. It's already coming apart at the seams. I cannot see the parades issue being sorted in a few weeks to the satisfaction of all those in that sub-committee. When they fail to reach agreement there won't be a vote on 9 March and so the devolution of policing and justice won't happen.