News
7th July 10
7/7/2010
Ulster Unionist MLA, Tom Elliott, has praised the organisers and participants of Newtownbutler "Border Defenders" Flute Band annual parade after it passed off peacefully during the weekend.
Ulster Unionist MLA, Tom Elliott, has praised the organisers and participants of Newtownbutler “Border Defenders” Flute Band annual parade after it passed off peacefully during the weekend.
Speaking after watching the parade, Mr Elliott said: “In the days leading up to the parade enormous pressure was placed upon the organisers by Republican elements who wanted to prevent the event from taking place. The band members rightly refused to bow to the intimidation used to heighten tension in the area and thankfully the parade passed off peacefully. The protestors did make some noise in an attempt to drown out the music, but all in all the parade was a credit to the band and I’m sure they are pleased with how it went.”
“One of the worrying aspects of the parade was the way in which a pan-republican group emerged, with Sinn Fein representatives and dissidents mixing together. Obviously they had the same goal of intimidating the marchers and undermining the rights of Protestants to express their culture, but it also shows that they can work together and calls into question what level of contact they continue to have.”
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