The Five Demands

Parades Commission accusata di essere andata ben oltre il proprio mandato suggerendo alla Ballymaconnelly Sons of Conquerors Flute band, un percorso alternativo che sarebbe stata sicuramente accettato

“Ho fatto di una brutta situazione, una ancora peggiore” accusa Daithí McKay, Sinn Fein, dopo la rivelazione dei retroscena che ‘spiegano’ il dietro front della Parades Commission in relazione alla disputa sulla parata di Rasharkin in programma venerdì 20 agosto.
“In effetti hanno fornito consulenza alla band, andando ben oltre le loro competenze”, continua McKay.
La Ballymaconnelly Sons of Conquerors Flute band originariamente avrebbe voluto che il tragitto di ritorno della parata transitasse lungo Main Street, percorso che non aveva ricevuto il nulla osta della Parades Commission. Ma è stata la Commissione stessa che nella giornata di ieri, aveva informato la banda che se avessero presentato richiesta di poter ‘trasferire’ il ritorno su di un percorso alternativo, a quel punto sarebbero decadute tutte le ragioni alla base della decisione di tagliare gran parte dell’itinerario.
Nessuna consultazione con la Rasharkin Residents’ Association è stata ritenuta necessaria. Gravissima discriminazione soprattutto se si pensa che coloro che vivono nell’area del nuovo tratto di percorso, non hanno mai visto prima d’ora questa parata sfilare davanti alla loro porta, e non hanno potuto prendere visione della petizione firmata dalla stragrande maggioranza dei residenti”.

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Rasharkin parade advice ‘beyond Commission’s remit’ (U TV)
The Parades Commission has been accused of going beyond its remit, by advising Ballymaconnelly flute band to lodge a fresh application to parade in Rasharkin.
Local Sinn Fein MLA Daithí McKay has said the Commission also advised the band that their application would be accepted if they applied for a route it had suggested.
“In effect they provided advice to the band, went way beyond their remit and have made a bad situation in Rasharkin worse,” he said.
On Wednesday, the parading watchdog ruled the Ballymaconnelly flute band would be allowed to march up Main Street and walk the return leg along an alternate route.
The band had originally applied to return along the village’s Main Street, a route which the commission had banned.
The Commission said the revised route had replaced its original determination.
“The Commission believes that since the parade will pass the main part of the village just once, and that the new route provides for a continuous parade with less potential for significant stoppages, that no restrictions are necessary,” a spokesperson said.
DUP North Antrim MLA Mervyn Storey welcomed the decision.
But Mr McKay said local residents had been “snubbed” by the Commission.
“The Residents’ Association was not consulted,” he said.
“They have not considered the views of residents living on part of the new route adopted, who have never had this parade pass their door before, and have not looked at the petition signed by the vast majority of residents.”
Forty loyalist bands are expected to march at the event, which has faced protests from residents in the past two years.
Last year, there was minor trouble at the parade when some missiles were thrown at marchers.