JULY TWELFTH
Posted By: July 13, 2015
Flag fanfare in north is a world away from US
Tom Kelly. Irish News (Belfast). Monday, July 13, 2015
A week ago in South Carolina they lowered the Confederate flag over the State House for the last time.
A Republican representative, Jenny Horne, made an impassioned plea to her colleagues who were minded to filibuster the debate on the removal of the flag. Ms Horne won the day.
Interestingly, Ms Horne is a direct descendant of Jefferson Davis, the man who first raised the Confederacy flag and who wanted the southern states to leave the union.
In other words she has pure-bred Dixie pedigree. Her actions and more importantly her words won her national recognition and praise.
Had Ms Horne been over here she would likely be labelled a Lundy.
The Confederate flag is far from being an inoffensive relic of the past or a fun-loving piece of car paintwork from the 1980s TV show The Dukes of Hazard.
To many Americans and in particular African Americans, it’s a symbol of oppression and exclusion.
In fairness it’s also a part of the history of the USA. Notwithstanding that, it should not form any part of a state’s flag or officialdom.
To their credit Americans are good at dealing with such equality issues and rights – even if it leaves them with a barmy attitude to gun control and a citizen’s right to carry arms, including an AK47.
Having worked across many of the southern states in the US,[I can observe] they remain fairly racially, socially and economically divided. That said more Americans live in Hicksville than Hollywood.
While Europeans tend to think of the US as West Wing, Dixie-loving Americans prefer Dollywood.
Americans are a flag-mad nation. Gardens, rooftops, schools, churches, sports stadia and camper vans all proudly display the stars and stripes.
In America for the most part flags are a defining and unifying symbol of the great melting pot.
Over here in The North of Ireland, which gave the USA so many of its flag-waving presidents, flags are much less about unifying and much more about territory marking.
Flags are obviously important symbols for many people in Northern Ireland. They are sometimes displayed to warn off and at other times they are flown in an act of defiance.
Children tend to see a flag for what it is – a piece of cloth that flutters in the wind.
Driving past re-furbished flats in north Belfast, I noticed a lone tricolour flying defiantly towards Tigers Bay. It’s well beyond the reach of any disgruntled loyalist.
Unsurprisingly, Belfast is festooned with Union and paramilitary flags for the Twelfth. The large bonfires peppered around the city loom ominously too close to housing and it’s hard to believe that some of these beacons of bigotry actually receive public funding.
Obviously for the vast majority of northern Uionists, the Twelfth is the pinnacle celebration of their culture and identity.
The fact that the vast majority of British citizens in the rest of the UK view it with bewilderment is lost on them as they swagger around the ‘bonies” on the Eleventh night.
Tradition it may be, but from some of the scenes on our TV screens, it’s not exactly a summer BBQ for the family.
Take Chobham Street in Belfast, where 54 houses had to have their windows and doors boarded over at a cost of some £10k and no less than six fire appliances were on stand-by all evening.
The Orange Order has taken some positive steps to start explaining its culture and tradition to the outside world but those efforts are constantly undermined by bonfires that burn images of nationalist politicians, tricolours and effigies of the Catholic faith.
The Orange Order museum is an extremely welcome development but one suspects it’s a perspective viewed through the safety of orange-tinted glasses.
A more unwelcome feature of the Twelfth celebration particularly in Belfast is the drinking culture amongst the followers of certain bands.
There is more than a little irony watching the spectacle of upright honourable Orangemen and women marching under the banner of some Temperance Lodge being followed by lager louts and lassies with the all the decorum of a bunch of Essex chavs on a night out in Magaluf.
Throughout Northern Ireland, the overwhelming majority of demonstrations will pass off peacefully and in a celebratory tone.
Most of the demonstrations will be family friendly and welcoming. Rural communities will as usual lead with a live and let live approach.
Poor old Lundy will still get torched but perhaps the Pope will fare a little better these days.
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AN ORGY OF OF SECTARIAN BIGOTRY AND ANTI-CATHOLICISM… IS THIS WHAT THE ORANGE ORDER MEANS BY PROTESTANT CULTURE?
‘Bonfire effigies ‘clearly distasteful and offensive’
The PSNI has branded the burning of effigies, election posters and flags on bonfires during the Eleventh Night celebrations as “distasteful and offensive”.
Irish Tricolours, election posters and effigies were set alight in Moygashel. ©Twitter
Ulster TV.July 13, 2015
Hundreds of bonfires were burnt across Northern Ireland over the weekend.
The Fire Service says crews dealt with 52 bonfire incidents, with seven needing active intervention from crews on Sunday night and early on Monday morning.
At an incident in Larne, Co Antrim, burns gel was administered by firefighters to a young man who suffered minor injuries.
On Monday the PSNI said the presence of “various material” on bonfires is “clearly distasteful and offensive”.
It comes as Sinn Féin’s Michelle Gildernew has expressed disgust after an effigy of herself was set alight in Moygashel in Co Tyrone, while Alliance Party councillor Michael Long condemned the placing of various flags and election posters on a number of bonfires in the region.
The image of Ms Gildernew, the former Agriculture Minister, appeared on the bonfire along with a poster saying: “Sinn Féin scum hands off our culture’ and ‘public hanging at 10.30pm”.
Ms Gildernew referred to it as “a disgusting display of bigoted sectarianism”.
She added: “It is unacceptable for the PSNI to hide behind the stock response that they need community support in order to tackle these type of crimes.
“They are being paid to prevent and stop crime. It’s time they stopped facilitating the litany of law breaking associated with the annual bonfire season.
“When are we going to see some courageous leadership from political unionism and the Orange Order when it comes to this hate filled practice of burning of effigies, flags and election posters on bonfires?”
“NOT SATISFIED WITH INSULTING THE ENTIRE NATIONALIST COMMUNITY BY BURNING OUR NATIONAL FLAG AND CANDIDATES’ ELECTION POSTERS, THE ORGANISERS OF THESE BONFIRES HAVE NOW TAKEN TO BURNING EFFIGIES.”
Michelle Gildernew
“If the Orange Order and political unionism are sincere about wanting nationalists to respect their culture then they need to come out unambiguously in their condemnation of these hate crimes by assisting the PSNI in identifying those responsible,” she added.
East Belfast Councillor Mr Long said the presence of several election posters on the Chobham Street bonfire in east Belfast was shameful.
“Alliance has no issue with anyone celebrating their culture in a respectful and tolerant manner. However, placing Alliance posters on bonfires, as happened in East Belfast and East Antrim among other locations, as well as those from other parties and national flags, is neither respectful nor tolerant,” he said.
There had been concerns about the safety of the Chobham Street bonfire which was located in close proximity to nearby homes.
“Chobham Street saw six fire appliances and 35 firefighters attend to prevent any serious damage being done to the houses beside it,” Mr Long said.
“Those are valuable resources that could have been used elsewhere. The placing of the election posters of Naomi Long and others on it added an extra menacing edge to events.
“We will be reporting this to the PSNI and asking the various Councils to investigate whether any supported bonfires breached guidelines by the presence of flags or posters.
“We must move away from this disgraceful behaviour. This is not about being anti-bonfires but rather building a community where respect is paramount.”
Effigies of Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams, deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness and hunger striker Bobby Sands appeared on Ballycraigy Bonfire in Antrim, with the latter being placed in a coffin-like structure.
Police said they have received a number of complaints in connection with bonfires.
Assistant Chief Constable Stephen Martin said: “We have received a number of complaints and reports about various material, some of which was clearly distasteful and offensive, that were placed on bonfires at a number of sites across Northern Ireland last night.
“We have liaised with local community representatives in order to have material removed at many of these bonfires.
“ALTHOUGH SOME ITEMS WERE REMOVED, OTHERS WERE NOT. THESE ITEMS WERE DESTROYED ON THE BONFIRES AND IT IS UNLIKELY THERE WILL BE ANY EVIDENTIAL MATERIAL TO PROGRESS.”
Stephen Martin, PSNI
He added: “Where police are aware of a crime being committed, an investigation will follow.
“We take hate crime very seriously and actively investigate all incidents reported to us. Hate crime is wrong on all levels and the PSNI will do everything it can to ensure that everyone, from whatever background, can live free from prejudice, fear and discrimination.
“We would welcome the opportunity to speak to anyone who has information regarding these incidents.
“However, this is very much a community matter. It is about respect for each other and needs to have dialogue between the communities and their representatives in an effort to resolve this and to prevent it happening in the future,” he added.
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Mock public hanging of Sinn Fein female politician causes outrage
Cathy Hayes @irishcentral July 14,2015
Twitter storm following intimidation as disturbing effigies of Republicans deemed as “horrifying,” “disgusting.”
An effigy of former Sinn Fein member of parliament Michelle Gildernew was tied to a bonfire in Moygashel, County Tyrone, part of an Orangemen’s Day tradition. It appeared alongside a sign which read “Sinn Fein Scum, hands off our culture. Public hanging 10.30pm.”
This image appeared on the Moygashel Sons of Ulster flute band’s Facebook page. They had paraded to the location of the bonfire on Saturday (July 11).
On Twitter the public and politicians showed their anger saying they were “horrified” and “disgusted.”
The Sinn Fein activist and former Agriculture Minister thanked her supporters on Twitter:In a statement she called the act a hate crime and said the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) should investigate these type of incidents thoroughly.
She said, “With that kind of leadership is it any wonder that these Neanderthals think this type of insult is part of their culture.
“The Orange Order also claims that bonfires are an important part of protestant culture and should be welcoming to families. How can these displays of naked sectarianism be welcoming to anyone?”
She added that if the Orange Order was sincere about wishing nationalists to respect their culture they need only “come out unambiguously in their condemnation of these hate crimes by assisting the PSNI in identifying those responsible.”
Effigies of Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams, deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness and hunger striker Bobby Sands appeared on Ballycraigy bonfire, in Antrim. The effigy of Sands was placed into a coffin structure.
Alliance Party councillor Michael Long also described the presence of several election posters on the Chobham Street bonfire in east Belfast as shameful.
He said, “Alliance has no issue with anyone celebrating their culture in a respectful and tolerant manner. However, placing Alliance posters on bonfires, as happened in East Belfast and East Antrim among other locations, as well as those from other parties and national flags, is neither respectful nor tolerant.”
He added, “We will be reporting this to the PSNI and asking the various Councils to investigate whether any supported bonfires breached guidelines by the presence of flags or posters.
“We must move away from this disgraceful behavior. This is not about being anti-bonfires but rather building a community where respect is paramount.”
Assistant Chief Constable Stephen Martin said, “We have received a number of complaints and reports about various material, some of which was clearly distasteful and offensive, that were placed on bonfires at a number of sites across Northern Ireland last night.
“We have liaised with local community representatives in order to have material removed at many of these bonfires.
He added, “Where police are aware of a crime being committed, an investigation will follow.
“We take hate crime very seriously and actively investigate all incidents reported to us. Hate crime is wrong on all levels and the PSNI will do everything it can to ensure that everyone, from whatever background, can live free from prejudice, fear and discrimination.
“We would welcome the opportunity to speak to anyone who has information regarding these incidents.
“However, this is very much a community matter. It is about respect for each other and needs to have dialogue between the communities and their representatives in an effort to resolve this and to prevent it happening in the future,” he added.
According to UTV news the Northern Ireland fire service was called to 52 fires in total as the country celebrated the Eleventh Night, the yearly loyalist event. Hundreds of bonfires were lit over the weekend. There were no injuries or damage to property reported.
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Persistent bad behaviour undermines unionism and Orangeism
Rev Brian Kennaway. Irish times.Tuesday, July 14, 2015.
Believe it or not, this year marks the 20th anniversary of what has become known as “Drumcree”. It was the stopping of the return parade from morning prayer at Drumcree parish church on Sunday July 9th 1995 which led us into this ongoing crisis over parading in Northern Ireland.
The RUC, then the decision-making body, had approved the parade but as residents of the Garvaghy Road blocked the road the police had no alternative but to stop the parade until matters were resolved. The Garvaghy Road was not cleared until July 11th when the parade returned to Portadown.
The following year the Chief Constable of the RUC, Sir Hugh Annesley, announced that the Drumcree Church Parade on Sunday July 7th would have to return from the church the way they came, that is by the Dungannon Road and the Corcrain Road.
The stand-off and subsequent violence of those two years led to the government establishing the North Commission – its subsequent report led to the creation of the Parades Commission in 1997 with full judicial powers in 1998.
Since its inception the Grand Orange Lodge leadership has refused to have anything to do with the commission and has tried every trick in the book to undermine and attack the commission personally as well as their determinations, even though many members who organise parades co-operate fully with the commission.
We have seen various attempts to deal with the issue of parades. The establishment of various “parade’s strategy committees” by the Grand Lodge, producing numerous reports. In conjunction with the various unionist parties we have had the “unionist forum”, the “Hillsborough Agreement” and last year the “Graduated Response” – all of which came to nothing.
On 15th June last representatives of the Grand Lodge met with the secretary of state and “presented her with a formal request urging her to personally intervene and commence a process to replace the current parading legislation, with an emphasis on ‘fair and equitable’ regulations for all communities.”
This displayed a failure to understand the role of the Parades Commission. Part of the responsibility of the commission is: “To keep under review, and make such recommendations as it thinks fit to the secretary of state concerning the operation of the Act.”
The implication of this is obvious. The Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland should engage fully with the Parades Commission and discuss with them ways in which the current parading legislation could be more “fair and equitable”.
The Grand Lodge representatives also “shared their frustration that nothing had been done by the secretary of state from last year to assist resolving the situation at Ligoniel,” the conflict over parades in north Belfast at Twaddle Avenue.
Again, every trick in the book has been tried by Orangeism and unionism, except the obvious, as stated by Mr Justice Weirwhen he refused a judicial review in July 2014. He commented: “These issues will require a degree of political leadership and courage; that’s the way they are going to be sorted out, by people sitting down and agreeing with each other … If a fraction of the energy that is put into litigating these matters or going on the television or radio to talk about them was put into sitting down with clean sheets of paper and nice sharp pencils, I think we would get to the terminus much quicker.”
Mr Justice Weir also said: “Given the lack of concrete progress, no-one could have legitimately expected that circumstances had sufficiently changed for the better in the intervening period to warrant the giving of permission for a parade over the contentious area.”
The Grand Lodge representatives who met with the Secretary of State on June 15th have evidently ignored this clear judicial advice, and have done so at their peril.
At the Drumcree parade on Sunday July 5th last the Grand Secretary, Drew Nelson, acknowledged that violence undermines their fight against the Parades Commission, but there was no acknowledgement that their own persistent violence and bad behaviour continues to undermine both unionism and Orangeism.
Marcher accused of attempted murder as parade rerouted
Irish Republican News · July 14, 2015
Loyalists rioted on Monday night in north Belfast and drove a vehicle into nationalist residents, seriously injuring a teenage girl, after their march was preventing from passing through the Catholic Ardoyne area.
In line with previous years, the anti-Catholic Orange Order was barred from walking along the nationalist Crumlin Road due to a determination of the Parades Commission. The body has been tasked with adjudicating on contentious parade routes since 1998.
Within minutes of the annual ‘Twelfth’ parade reaching the police lines, bottles, bricks and metal bolts were thrown at PSNI police, who responded with water cannon. Shortly afterwards, a vehicle driven by a parade organiser appeared to suddenly reverse into nationalist residents, striking three people and running over a 15-year-old girl.
The girl was trapped under the car and sustained grave injuries to her head and neck. “It’s miraculous that she’s still alive,” said Fr Gary Donegan, of Holy Cross Catholic Church.
The driver, who was wearing a band uniform and understood to be a member of the North and West parading organisation, was arrested.
Sinn Fein and PSNI officials appealed for calm, claiming the girl in question was not badly hurt. PSNI Chief George Hamilton took to social media to declare that the girl’s injuries were not serious. “She’s in our thoughts,” he said. He said eight PSNI men were injured in the clashes, including one senior member.
Sinn Fein’s Gerry Kelly also insisted the injured girl’s condition was not life-threatening. “She was very lucky,” he said. “This young teenager is safe and that’s the main thing.”
Earlier, several loyalist bands breached a Parades Commission ruling by playing music while passing St Patrick’s Catholic Church in northwest Belfast. The bands played sectarian tunes such as the ‘Famine Song’ near the church, a site of numerous sectarian displays by loyalist marchers in recent years. One bandsman was seen to spit towards the church as he passed.
The British Labour’s party spokesperson on the North of Ireland, Ivan Lewis, condemned the scenes as a “serious step backwards for stability in Northern Ireland”, while Alliance Party Justice spokesman Stewart Dickson said “the image of Northern Ireland” would suffer.
“Clearly the use of bolts and other objects as missiles shows there was premeditated intent to cause trouble. I would call on everyone with influence at a political or community level to work together to restore peace to our streets.”
The Greater Ardoyne Resident Coalitions, which opposes sectarian parades through the community, said the critically injured girl had been denied immediate help from the nearby Ambulance Station, which had been closed “due to the demands of Loyal Orders to impose sectarianism on our community”.
“This young girl could have been killed by a sectarian bigot who sees her as a second class citizen,” they said.
“The question needs to be asked of Loyal Orders, unionist parties and loyalist paramilitaries – would this young girl’s life have been worth the demand to trample over residents’ right to live free from sectarian harassment and intimidation?”
The violence followed almost unprecedented displays of sectarianism at loyalist bonfires this weekend, with a record profusion of Irish flags, nationalist election posters, figures in effigy and other sectarian and political threats.
The most controversial of these was the advertised ‘execution’ of Sinn Fein election candidate, Michelle Gildernew, who was depicted in effigy on a gallows on a bonfire in Moygashel, County Fermanagh.
Full reports to follow in our forthcoming weekly publication.
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[Orange]Order’s failure to marshal protest regrettable say police
Connla Young. Irish News (Belfast). Wednesday, July15, 2015
A SENIOR police officer has described the Orange Order’s decision not to marshal its supporters at the scene of Monday’s loyalist violence as “regrettable”.
Trouble flared after hundreds of loyalists gathered near the interface between Ardoyne and Twaddell Avenue as Orangemen returned from the main Twelfth of July demonstration.
Petrol bombs, paint bombs and other missiles were thrown at police who blocked the route of the Orangemen who the Parades Commission had banned from passing nationalist homes in Ardoyne.
Police said 20 officers were injured during the trouble in north Belfast and five more sustained injuries in the city centre.
The most serious injury was sustained by an inspector whose ear was “practically severed” by a
lump of masonry thrown by loyalist rioters.
It is believed he was not wearing a riot helmet at the time.
Another officer required stitches to a finger after a bite attack.
Police fired five plastic baton rounds during the north Belfast trouble and say they believe four people were struck.
Water cannon were also used on rioters.
Assistant Chief Constable Stephen Martin said there was no evidence of loyalist paramilitary involvement in the riot.
He spoke of his disappointment that the Orange Order did not marshal the parade.
“I think anybody who has the ability to influence the action of others, the ability to influence people to act peacefully and within the law should have a responsibility to exercise that influence and I think it’s regrettable when people chose not to do so,” he said.
Mr Martin defended a police
decision not to close the road where an Orangeman drove into a
group of nationalists, seriously injuring a teenager.
A witness told The Irish News that several loyalists had abused nationalists as they drove past minutes before the collision.
“It was assessed that there was no requirement to close the road and the traffic was free flowing,” Mr Martin said.
Sinn Féin MLA Gerry Kelly urged unionists to show leadership.
“That leadership has been lacking,” he said.
“In the run-up to the Twelfth we had the withdrawal of marshals and public statements warning of violence, the burning of flags, symbols and effigies and pictures threatening Catholics with crucifixion.
“In order to deal with the
remaining issues around parading there needs to be a process of genuine local dialogue with no predetermined outcomes.”
Greater Ardoyne Residents Collective spokesman Aidan Ferguson said activist Dee Fennell helped the injured teenager and maintained
calm before the arrival of parish priest Fr Gary Donegan and emergency services.
He said an alternative route along nearby Harmony Lane should be used.
“Politicians, resident groups, community workers and stakeholders need to work together to secure Harmony Lane as a win-win for everyone,” Mr Ferguson said.
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Orange Order bigotry must be challenged and opposed
Letters to Editor,Tom Cooper, Irish News( Belfast). Wednesday, July 15, 2015.
For just how much longer must the beleaguered nationalist community in the north be expected to succumb to unwanted loyalist bonfires and being forced to indulge unwelcome, uninvited anti-Catholic Orangemen who have been purposely routed through nationalist areas to display the sectarian power of the ‘conqueror’ over the ‘conquered’?
The new draft parades’ bill which was expected to usher in a more acceptable system of dealing with contentious parades to replace the Parades Commission, has been rejected by the Grand Orange Lodge. The proposed legislative change which has been rejected will now be shelved and the British government appointed Parades Commission, which has also been rejected by the Orange Order, will be reappointed. For the assembly to continue to bow to the bigoted and undemocratic demands of Orange Order bullies is tantamount to permitting the state to be governed according to the principles of sectarian mob rule. Neither the nationalist community nor the rule of law should acquiesce to threats and intimidation, nor should they be subservient to Orange Order demands.
Confederate and Nazi flags adorn streets in Antrim. Israeli flags flown by loyalists from lampposts in Belfast, Nazi flags flown by loyalists in Carrickfergus while other loyalist hoods in Belfast threaten to crucify all Catholics. Like Orwell’s image of the future in 1984 of a jackboot stamping on a human face, forever, loyalists will always be on the side of the jackboot while nationalists will always be on the side of the human face. Councils refuse to take down offensive loyalist paramilitary flags because they fear reprisals. The PSNI refuses to remove Tricolours from loyalist bonfires because the Orange Order says it’s part of their cultural heritage. Yet last August the PSNI did remove a republican bonfire
in Belfast.
When former President McAleese tried to point out this trait in loyalism a few years ago saying that some people in Northern Ireland transmitted to their children an irrational hatred of Catholics she was castigated by the media north
and south.
The Orange Order has fought a 200-year rearguard action against democracy in Ireland by opposing every progressive reform from the repeal of the anti-Catholic and anti-dissenter penal laws to the Patten Report on the RUC. Any proposal (whether it be the Act of Union, Home Rule or power sharing) which they perceived might weaken loyalist hegemonic domination in Ireland, was vigorously opposed, often with threats of violence, and if the violence and division this island has endured for centuries is to be overcome, bigotry must be challenged, exposed and vigorously opposed at every opportunity, preferably from within.
Bail for Orangeman accused of two attempted murders
Connla Young. Irish News ( Belfast), Thursday, July 16, 2015
A 61-year-old member of the Orange Order who is accused of attempting to murder two females in Ardoyne has been released on bail – despite police concerns his release could spark further unrest.
John Alexander Aughey, from Brae Hill Park in the Ballysillan area of Belfast, was arrested after his car struck several pedestrians – including a 16-year old girl – as they stood at the Ardoyne shop fronts.
The incident occurred on Monday evening during heightened tensions in the flashpoint area. Two females sustained injuries, the youngest of whom suffered multiple injuries including a shattered pelvis after she was trapped under Aughey’s car before the vehicle was lifted off her by residents and police at the scene.
Aughey appeared in the dock of Belfast Magistrates Court, where he faced two charges of attempted murder. He spoke once to confirm to the court that he understood the two charges against him.
A detective sergeant said police were objecting to Aughey being released on bail for numerous reasons, including a risk to the public, a fear that his release could spark further tensions in the flashpoint area and a concern that Aughey would commit further offences.
Outlining police objections, the officer said that tensions at the notorious north Belfast interface “remain high” and that Aughey regularly attended the loyalist camp at
Twaddell Avenue.
So prominent a figure is he, the policeman said, that he gave an interview to the BBC last October when he spoke of a precarious situation and local people’s anger.
The police sergeant told the court: “Police believe this man is committed to pursuing the protest at Twaddell. If he is released on bail, it could lead to widespread serious disorder in Belfast.”
The police officer said this in turn could lead to risks not only to police but also members of the public.
In addition, the officer expressed concerns about Aughey’s own safety, should he be released, saying “the defendant has already been identified on social media”. The detective sergeant said that due to Aughey’s high profile, he has already been warned about “his own personal safety”.
A solicitor representing Aughey told the court: “At the outset, this is a matter which is highly regrettable and profoundly regretted by the defendant. He has made that clear to police.”
The solicitor spoke of his client’s age, his ill-health which includes ongoing treatment for cancer and his wife’s ill-health.
He also told district judge Fiona Bagnall that it was “highly unlikely these offences will remain as the offences before the court” as he was initially arrested on a less serious charge of dangerous driving causing grievous bodily injury.
The solicitor also branded his client a “law-abiding citizen” whose last appearance in court was over three decades ago for a defective tyre. Saying Aughey “is not going to go out and commit further offences”, the solicitor asked that he be released on bail to live at an address outside Belfast.
Mrs Bagnall agreed to release Aughey on bail but imposed conditions that he had to abide by – including not going within 500 metres of a “procession, protest or parade”.
He was also banned from entering north Belfast and banned from getting behind the wheel of any vehicle.
Aughey was ordered to appear before the same court in four weeks.
Controversial loyalist band to lead a parade past St Patrick’s Church
Connla Young. Irish news (Belfast). Thursday, July 16, 2015
A controversial loyalist band which has previously played the Famine Song[that mocks the Irish Famine; lyrics below] close to St Patrick’s Church will lead a fresh parade in the area next month.
Bangor Protestant Boys Flute Band caused controversy on Easter Monday when members played the sectarian tune just yards from the church.
The Co Down-based band is expected to lead up to 55 members of the Clifton Branch of the Apprentice Boys past St Patrick’s and nearby nationalist Carrick Hill district on August 8.
They will then travel to Derry for their annual ending of the siege celebrations.
In the past the band, which wears UVF-style insignia, has been pictured carrying paramilitary linked flags.
Prominent flag protester Jamie Bryson is a leading member of the band.
Although the offensive tune was played outside a music free zone designated by the Parades Commission, it later said the band had contravened its code of conduct.
In a subsequent determination relating to an Orange Order parade past the church the commission said that “community tensions around parades in this area have been considerably heightened by the most recent loyalist/unionist parade on 6 April, 2015”.
They said that the playing of the Famine Song was a “contravention of the commission’s code of conduct which states that ‘participants should refrain from conduct, words, music or behaviour which could reasonably by perceived as intentionally sectarian’”.
Earlier this month the nationalist Carrick Hill Concerned Residents’ Group disbanded after the Parades Commission ordered Orangemen not to play music while passing St Patrick’s and Carrick Hill on July 12.
The group came to prominence after Shankill Road based Young Conway Volunteers was filmed walking in circles while playing the Famine Song in July 2012.
Carrick Hill residents’ spokesman Frank Dempsey voiced concern at the planned involvement of Bangor Protestant Boys.
“Is this not a case of history repeating itself, it’s the same band.Is this going to be the same result again?
“When is this going to be taken seriously, they can’t allow the same band to come down with the fingers up to everybody.”
Clifton Branch spokesman Chris McGimpsey said members of the group have yet to discuss the upcoming parade.
He added that during the April parade branch members would not have been aware of what music the band intended to play.
“Our branch will again obey the determination as we have on any other parade over the past 10 years,” he said.
“Hopefully it will be a peaceful, quiet day and none of our members will cause offence to anyone.”
The Parades Commission is set to rule on the parade later this month.
A controversial loyalist band which has previously played the Famine Song close to St Patrick’s Church will lead a fresh parade in the area next month.
Bangor Protestant Boys Flute Band caused controversy on Easter Monday when members played the sectarian tune just yards from the church.
The Co Down-based band is expected to lead up to 55 members of the Clifton Branch of the Apprentice Boys past St Patrick’s and nearby nationalist Carrick Hill district on August 8.
They will then travel to Derry for their annual ending of the siege
celebrations.
In the past the band, which wears UVF-style insignia, has been pictured carrying paramilitary linked flags.
Prominent flag protester Jamie Bryson is a leading member of the band.
Although the offensive tune was played outside a music free zone designated by the Parades Commission, it later said the band had contravened its code of conduct.
In a subsequent determination relating to an Orange Order parade past the church the commission said that “community tensions around parades in this area have been considerably heightened by the most recent loyalist/unionist parade on 6 April, 2015”.
They said that the playing of the Famine Song was a “contravention of the commission’s code of conduct which states that ‘participants should refrain from conduct, words, music or behaviour which could reasonably by perceived as intentionally sectarian’”.
Earlier this month the nationalist Carrick Hill Concerned Residents’ Group disbanded after the Parades Commission ordered Orangemen not to play music while passing St Patrick’s and Carrick Hill on July 12.
The group came to prominence after Shankill Road based Young Conway Volunteers was filmed walking in circles while playing the Famine Song in July 2012.
Carrick Hill residents’ spokesman Frank Dempsey voiced concern at the planned involvement of Bangor Protestant Boys.
“Is this not a case of history repeating itself, it’s the same band.Is this going to be the same result again?
“When is this going to be taken seriously, they can’t allow the same band to come down with the fingers up to everybody.”
Clifton Branch spokesman Chris McGimpsey said members of the group have yet to discuss the upcoming parade.
He added that during the April parade branch members would not have been aware of what music the band intended to play.
“Our branch will again obey the determination as we have on any other parade over the past 10 years,” he said.
“Hopefully it will be a peaceful, quiet day and none of our members will cause offence to anyone.”
The Parades Commission is set to rule on the parade later this month.
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If we hadn’t have taken them in
Fed them and washed them
Thousands in Glasgow alone
From Ireland they came
Brought us nothing but trouble and shame
Well the famine is over
Why don’t they go home?
Now Athenry Mike was a thief
And Large John he was fully briefed
And that wee traitor from Castlemilk
Turned his back on his own
They’ve all their Papists in Rome
They have U2 and Bono
Well the famine is over
Why don’t they go home?
INSTRUMENTAL
Now they raped and fondled their kids
That’s what those perverts from the darkside did
And they swept it under the carpet
and Large John he hid
Their evils seeds have been sown
Cause they’re not of our own
Well the famine is over
Why don’t you go home?
Now Timmy don’t take it from me
Cause if you know your history
You’ve persecuted thousands of people
In Ireland alone
You turned on the lights
Fuelled U boats by night
That’s how you repay us
It’s time to go home.
