Parades Commission faces judicial review
by Laura Friel
The Parades Commission controversy switches to Belfast
High Court this Thursday as a joint submission from the
Lower Ormeau Concerned Residents and Garvaghy Road
Residents Coalition contends the Commission is unable
to operate as an impartial and independent body.
Further revelations concerning Aidan Canavan, solicitor
for the Police Federation who was recently appointed to
the Commission, emerged last week. A case of sectarian
discrimination was recently taken to a Fair Employment
Tribunal by a Catholic solicitor against Canavan and
his law partner Richard Murphy. Aideen Grace alleged
she was ``constructively dismissed'' because she was a
Catholic. The case was settled before going to a full
hearing in January 1997 after a substantial sum of
money was paid as compensation to Grace.
Meanwhile it has been revealed that one of the
candidates selected by the Dublin government and
rejected by the British Secretary of State was Derry
legal academic, Angela Hegarty. The second of two
candidates put forward by Irish ministers was an
unnamed male. Hegarty was a former chair of the Belfast
based, Committee for the Administration of Justice and
Women's Coalition candidate during the Forum elections.
While the court case is being heard in Belfast, Parade
Commissioners on a speaking tour of USA are being
challenged by representatives of the LOCC and GRRC.
Gerard Rice and Breandan Mac Cionnaith travelled to
Boston, Washington and New York determined to thwart
what is being seen as a ``charm offensive'' by the
Commission desperate to court American public opinion.
In Derry plans by the Apprentice Boys for a week-long
festival celebrating Protestant culture have been
welcomed by the Bogside Residents Group.
Donncha Mac Niallais, who attended last year's pageant
re-enactment of the `Relief of Derry', said such events
promote ``harmony and good relations''. Mac Niallais
suggested such events should replace contentious
parades which are viewed as triumphalist. The Aprentice
Boys are seeking £10,000 funding for the project from
Derry City Council.
A pageant staged outside the Apprentice Boys
headquarters last August attracted widespread praise
but was marred when a band taking part in the main
parade attacked nationalist onlookers. Last week eight
men who attended the Apprentice Boys parade last year
appeared in court to face charges arising out of
disturbances after the march. The men, seven from
Coleraine and an eighth from Limavady, pleaded guilty
to charges of disorderly behaviour.
Six of the men were captured on video throwing
missiles, while one was filmed gesturing towards a
group of nationalist bystanders.
In Fermanagh, 30 loyalists have been charged with
public order offences arising out of a violent
confrontation by loyalists who blocked a Roslea Martyrs
Commemoration outside Maguiresbridge last October.
Loyalists stoned and threw fireworks at the RUC.
Meanwhile Carnlough Orangemen and loyalist bands are
being asked by residents to reroute parades in the
village. A local spokesperson said ``it's unacceptable
that people should be hemmed in their homes.''
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