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Friday, 04 December 2009

Parade will be 'peaceful' - Police

Apprentice Boys take part in the Lundy's Day parade

Police in Londonderry have warned trouble-makers they will be dealt with "robustly" if they disrupt the annual Lundy's Day parade on Saturday.

Up to 6,000 people are expected to take part in what is the most important date of the Apprentice Boys calendar.

Eighty-five people were arrested following parades in Derry over the summer, as troubles flared at the end of the Apprentice Boys Parade last August.

But PSNI Inspector Jon Burrows said plans were in place to ensure Saturday's parade passes off peacefully.

He said police had the ability to track and arrest wrong-doers.

"We'll be using our cameras and technology and sufficient officers on the ground tomorrow", he told UTV.

"We'll deal with any individuals who want to commit crime and disorder."

During the parade, thousands of people converge on the Diamond in the city centre.

Over the years great efforts have been made to reduce tensions surrounding the event.

Local traders said they will remain open for business on Saturday to accommodate Christmas shoppers, and local politicians have appealed for calm.

"People who are intent on coming to create problems tomorrow should stay away", local DUP MLA Willie Hay MLA told UTV.

The Bogside Residents' Association urged those coming to the city to participate to the parade to show "due respect" to the people of the city.

"Likewise, we would ask people living in this city to go about their business the best they can and not to get involved in any type of confrontation", BRG spokesman Donncha MacNiallais told UTV.

The parade commemorates the closing of the city gates as the siege of Derry began.

Robert Lundy, whose effigy is traditionally burnt at the end of the parade, was a governor of the city who advocated surrendering in 1689.

In Belfast, the SDLP's Alban McGuinness has called for nationalists not to protest over a feeder Apprentice Boys' parade on the Crumlin Road, saying it would against the wishes of the residents of Ardoyne.

"The people of Ardoyne do not want or need any more trouble," he said.

"Northern Ireland has moved a great distance but there are still a select few who haven't taken a single step and are hell-bent on protesting - this displays just how out of touch they are with the local community."

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11 Comments

At 21:09 on 06 December 2009, Heather wrote:

well jim ,, in this dirty little corner as you call it there are plenty of people who live and let live ,, democratic ,, yes it is supposed to be sorry if you had a crap day !!! but may i ask what time the parade started and ended ?? so really what you are saying is that the whole of londonderry was closed ???? dont think so ,, basically what you are really saying is that you do not want people to exercise their democratic right to march especially if they are from the protestant faith ,, so please do not go down the route that its all about you losing a days pay !!!!! the shops were open as they were on the 12th of july in Belfast ,, no complaints from the shop keepers there !!!!

At 11:59 on 06 December 2009, Martin wrote:

Deaglan it's people like you that keep all this trouble going blaming the police there are good and bad on both sides But it's up to the decent people to make sure it dont go on any longer all the parades no matter what religious side you come from should be respected and allow to pass without any trouble for all the lenth of time these parades take would it not be so much easier if they folk that dont like them just stay away from them that way they would not be offened.

At 11:32 on 06 December 2009, jim wrote:

ah, heather...sorry but that's a good one "in what is meant to be a democratic society "...why don't you write to Robinson and tell him that, maybe then we'd all get the job security and everything else this dirty little corner of the uk's been waiting for...you've a bloody cheek coming out with that statement....i went to work....i lost a days pay....i work in the public sector....no customers...at 8am yesterday morning the diamond area to carlisle road was cordoned off...you tell me heather...in what way does that help a city that already on it knees...

At 11:29 on 06 December 2009, Heather wrote:

well said Martin ,, a good day for all those concerned ,, and a bad day for those who would have liked to see trouble !!! well done to all those concerned ,,

At 04:24 on 06 December 2009, marc wrote:

jim, chris and deaglan, exactly what is the problem? do u hear protestants complaining or trying to stir trouble in easter when newcastle holds its easter rising parade? no! we just stay away from newcastle for the day! or do we riot and block streets in august over nationalists marching on hibernians day? again, no! so why dont you all just back off! after all, fair is fair! as heather said, this is meant to be a democratic society. it is a not a dictatorship ruled by sinn fien and the ira whereby it would probably be illegal to even be a protestant!

At 01:26 on 06 December 2009, Martin wrote:

As I'm sure you all have seen be now that the Parade went off with no trouble it's so nice to see both sides respecting each others traditions and getting on with thier daily lifes without bitter twisted folk trying to stirr trouble well done to everyone involved on both sides of the comunnity just the way it should be.

At 22:52 on 05 December 2009, Deaglan wrote:

I just wish the PSNI had been as robust at threatening people with legal consequences when the planned Portadown loyalist clan-gathering had been made known to them, the police said the gathering was illegal yet few were arrested, they should all have been lifted and charged. But only nationalist protestors summon police helicopters, cctv and PSNI threats. PSNI-RUC whats the difference really????