Irish Republican News · December 8, 2003

No trouble at Lundy's Day parade

The annual Lundy's Day parade by the Protestant Apprentice Boys organisation in Derry was peaceful.

Around 2,000 members took part in Saturday's march through the city centre on the second largest parade on the Apprentice Boys calendar. The parade celebrates a 17th century Protestant victory over a Catholic Army and ends with the burning in effigy of a historical hate figure.

One arrest was made, but the day was the quietest for many years.

A deal brokered between the Apprentice Boys, the nationalist Bogside Residents' Group and the business community, has helped to ensure marches in recent years have been relatively trouble free.

Traders had voiced concern that businesses could lose Christmas trade on the day of the march.

Businessman Garvan O'Doherty said it was one of the most busiest trading days for a march in the city.

``We would intend to keep this process going so that we can further normalise all activities on the day from shopping to parading and have the security presence substantially reduced further on the basis that it should be no longer needed if the progress continues to bear fruit.

``We are aware of some traders discontent with the affect on trade but these comments were made prior to the success of yesterday (Saturday). These comments will not be ignored and will be factored into the future workload of the process.''

A feeder parade which passed a flashpoint in east Belfast on Saturday morning before joining the main march in Derry also passed off peacefully.

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