UKIP Down District representative Alan Lewis has challenged the Parades Commission over the restrictions on a march in Downpatrick this evening (Monday 5 August).
“Annually Parade Commission observers turn up and witness a peaceful dignified parade yet the commission annually bows to pan nationalist sectarian belligerence.
“I challenge the Parades Commission to release the previous reports of its parade observers who were present every year at the Downpatrick RHD parade. I “believe these reports will confirm this parade has been peaceful in recent years.
“There is no legitimate ‘lawful’ reason for this parade to be restricted other than for Sinn Fein’s gratification seeing Protestants excluded to the perimeters of Downpatrick and to appease whatever secret SDLP representation was made to the Parades Commission.
“The Parades Commissions continued existence is having a detrimental effect on community relations by passing negative determinations on peaceful unionist parades while allowing militant republican glorification parades go ahead. This simply isn’t good governance and far from promoting a shared future,” aded Mr Lewis.
The Parades Commission had conceded that only one band could march to the War Memorial on the Strangford Road and lay a wreath.
