Irish Republican News · December 12, 2005

Loyalists may parade in Dublin

A ‘Love Ulster’ parade featuring sash-wearing Orangemen and hardline unionist ‘kick the pope’ bands may take place in Dublin’s city centre towards the end of January.

William Frazer, head of the anti-republican lobby group, Families Acting for Innocent Relatives (Fair). claimed the parade would highlight the plight of Protestant victims of the conflict and expose the Dublin government’s “double standards” in relation to the peace process.

In October up to 5,000 people took part in a Love Ulster march and rally in the Shankill area of Belfast, with further events planned for next year. Love Ulster was established this year to campaign against what the organisers see as moves to force the North into a united Ireland.

The campaigners, comprising Protestant victims’ groups, the Orange Order, other loyal order members, and loyalist activists, are highlighting what they contend are a diminution of the North’s union with Britain and a list of “unremitting concessions to republicanism”.

Mr Frazer said he expected at least 1,000 people at the Dublin parade. The route was yet to be finalised but he expected it would be from O’Connell Street to Leinster House where the parade organisers and some DUP and Ulster Unionist politicians would address the crowd.

“We plan to have a couple of hundred victims on the parade, several Orangemen, some of them carrying banners displaying details of people murdered by the IRA, and at least six bands,” he said.

Mr Frazer said the Union Jack and the Ulster flags would be flown as well but that there would be no loyalist paramilitary flags or trappings. He was confident there would be no trouble as a result of the parade. “Unless somebody attacks the parade, everything should pass off peacefully,” he added.

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