McCausland vote 'raised parade tensions'

Published Monday, 24 September 2012
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First Minister Peter Robinson has accused the SDLP and Sinn Féin of raising tensions ahead of the Ulster Covenant parade next weekend.

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The SDLP put forward a motion of no confidence - backed by Sinn Féin - calling for the exclusion of Social Development Minister Nelson McCausland, after claiming the DUP politician had failed to condemn loyalist bands which breached Parades Commission rulings in north Belfast last month.

The motion failed in the Northern Ireland Assembly on Monday.

It was supported by the Alliance Party and Greens, but the Ulster Unionists and DUP voted against it - however one Independent unionist, David McClarty, voted in favour.

Mr Robinson questioned why the motion had been brought and said it had only raised tensions ahead of Saturday's parade.

He said: "Why do they bring it, what was the purpose?

"There is only one purpose, a purpose upon which the SDLP and Sinn Féin are united and that's to raise tensions in the preliminary stages of a march that will take place this weekend, no other purpose. They have been doing it outside this chamber that's why I know that this is part of that same proposition."

But SDLP leader Alasdair McDonnell rejected these claims.

Dr McDonnell said: "The tone of today's debate was abusive and offensive.

"Basically the DUP were attempting to intimidate the rest of us to ensure we don't hold them to account. We have got to hold them to account."

The issue was raised after the Young Conway Volunteers marched past St Patrick's Church on Donegall Street during a Royal Black Institution parade in August.

They had been banned from doing so by the Parades Commission, after footage emerged of the band playing contentious tunes outside the Catholic Church on 12 July.

Other bands, which had been told they should only play a single drumbeat, also defied the determinations - violent scenes ensued as protestors clashed.

Raymond McCartney of Sinn Féin said: "The minister failed to show good and effective leadership on July the 12th when the YCV band danced a merry ring around St Patrick's chapel - and he described that as normal behaviour."

Mr McCausland, who denies the claims, said the motion should never have been brought before the Assembly floor.

He said: "Today's debate is just an unnecessary distraction from the real issues."

Meanwhile, as the Ulster Covenant centenary parade on Saturday approaches, the Orange Order said there has been "much dishonest and misleading information" regarding it.

A statement read: "The only leg of the parade that will be passing St Patrick's Chapel will be the Grand Lodge officers, their guests and the five districts attached to Belfast Orange Hall, Clifton Street, accompanied by 14 bands.

"The entire parade will not be passing St Patrick's."

Following talks between parishioners at the church and Orange leaders, it emerged that they will only play hymns as they pass the building.

However there were calls for the institution to meet Carrickhill residents face to face.

The Orange Order continued: "The Grand Lodge made no pre-conditions regarding who would be present during these conversations nor the numbers involved. We appreciated Fr Sheehan's openness and frankness during our conversations and he advised that the Chair of Carrick Hill Residents Group had been invited twice to attend, but refused.

"All present agreed that the conversations were worthwhile and meaningful. The issue of what respect looked like was widely discussed. There was a broad consensus that silence or a single drum beat added a menacing tension to parades.

"Fr Sheehan helpfully stated that he would openly welcome the playing of hymns as bands passed the chapel, if that was to be our decision. He added that this would be his position no matter what others called for."

A final determination is due to be made by the Parades Commission.

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26 Comments
seamas in belfast wrote (242 days ago):
Michael H. As with annual Loyal Order parades no-one on the nationalist side is trying to prevent the Covenant Parades. We would just like them re-routed away from our homes. If you can understand that the Covenant and the subsequent creation of a separate northern state was a cause of celebration for unionists you must also understand it was a cause of dismay for nationalists. Why would we then want a parade to commemorate it?
henry in north of ireland wrote (242 days ago):
@ roy in ballmena, howcome you didnt repeat your post at bob in belfast who stated in his post that st patricks chapel would be empty when this march of shame takes place and regards to the music that was being played outside st patricks chapel on the twelft of july caused offence to everyone who uses it and seeing as you dont use it then you would know nothing about it, christ says that we should love thy neighbour, is this how we should love thy neighbour by dancing around playing tunes with added on offending words outside a place of worship, tell me were in the bible or any other religous book does it say that.
Michael H in Belfast wrote (242 days ago):
Hopefully Nationalists/Republicans realise that this is coming weekend is something that Loyalists/Unionists hold dear just as they will hold the Easter celebrations dear in 4 years time. If the 'parasite commission' fail to accept that this is a significant chapter in Unionist history then I for one will be expecting the same treatment for those who wish to Celebrate the Easter Rising in 2016. Not that long ago Sinn Fein were releasing statements expressing how they hope the next 10 years would go peacefully. Funny how when it comes to the start of that 10 years they continue to stoke up tension and hatred. Their puppets in the SDLP and the Alliance party will share the blame if it all goes pear shaped. Funny also how the Alliance party claim to be a party for all yet fail to recognise Loyalist/Unionist culture.
Linda in NI wrote (243 days ago):
So has Sinn Fein/SDLPs words and behaviours ever heightned tensions? Those 2 so called political parties have totally ignored the damage to life and society that terrorists within the community they represent has inflicted on others including some within their own community. Downright narrow minded arrogance prevails within those parties
WTF in Ards wrote (243 days ago):
Jesus wept, the community I come from are sick sore and tired of the parades commission. It ranks along the Fair Employment Agency in crass naked anti-protestantism. Because it does the nationalist/republican bidding no wonder we see it as very one sided. Lets sum up what has happened this summer. A parade had stopped with this particular band outside St.Pats. The band has nowhere to go. As is their thing they continued playing with a very poor choice of songs. SF rent a mob are apopleptic about a chapel most didn't know existed......in fact I've probably been in St. Pats more this year than the vast majority of the Carrick Hill Residents Association (who?). Media go into a feeding frenzy whilst conveniently forgetting about 'bad taste' Republican parades, eg Dungiven etc. What does the PC do.....bans the YCV band (probably correctly) from the next parade but then imposes restrictions on all other bands not involved in the incident. Unionists are getting really p*ssed off at this stage. Republicans organise a parade as close to a loyalist area as Carrick Hill is to St. Pats.....guess what, no restrictions as according to the PC it's not contentious????? Republicans attack the Orange Hall during the parade.....sure that's ok then. Loyalists lose the plot and riot for 3 days. What does SF/SDLP do...nothing about the PC decisions (other than to say how great they are), nothing about republicans attacking the Orange Hall, nothing about Republicans from the New Lodge and Antrim Road attacking police and loyalists in Annesley Street...sure it was just high jinks lads. I would class myself as a reasonably moderate Unionist but this stinks to high heaven.
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