Limavady bandsmen mark territory for July Twelfth

There have been calls for action to be taken in the county Derry town of Limavady after two loyalist bandsmen urinated at the gates of a parish priest’s home during a parade in the town.

The bandsmen, who are not believed to be from Limavady, were taking part in a parade organised by the town’s Star of the Roe band on Friday night last.

They were pictured urinating outside the home of Limavady parish priest, monsignor Bryan McCanny, beside the town’s St Mary’s Church on Irish Green Street.

In 2012 there was a huge outcry following a similar incident outside St Matthew’s church on Belfast’s Newtownards Road.

Limavady Sinn Fein councillor, Anne Brolly said the incident was particularly grave as this year’s main County Derry July 12 march was due to take place in Limavady. She called on the PSNI to take action against the two men involved.

“This year the 12 July celebrations are due to be held in Limavady but this incident and the insult it has caused to the Catholic community will cast a shadow,” she said.

SDLP assembly member for the area, John Dallat said the incident raised many questions about the supervision of loyalist bands parades in Limavady.

“What were the stewards doing when these thugs were urinating against the wall of the parochial house? Where were the police? What follow-up has taken place to identify the culprits who disgraced themselves and clearly need time in court to reflect on the need for basic human modesty as opposed to the animalist tendencies exhibited during this parade,” he said.

YCV ‘STUNT’

Meanwhile, nationalist residents have dismissed as a “PR stunt” a statement by a controversial loyalist band that it is to disband.

The Shankill Road-based ‘Young Conway Volunteers’ created controversy in July 2012 when it was filmed walking in circles outside St Patrick’s Church while playing the sectarian Famine Song.

The band was set up in memory of a member of a UVF paramilitary who died in 2003. Carrick Hill Concerned Residents Group spokesman Frank Dempsey described the move as a “smokescreen.”

“It would have been saying we are not playing music past St Patrick’s and Carrick Hill, that would have been a more positive thing,” he said.

“I think it’s a PR stunt on their behalf and the Orange Order is in there somewhere. If they want to make a positive gesture then don’t play music.”

North Belfast Sinn Fein councillor JJ Magee said “the issues at stake are much more serious than the behaviour of any one of those bands no matter how provocative their actions have been.

“We need the loyal orders to make it clear they will abide by the Parades Commission’s determinations around the conduct of their members and of the bands they hire for the day.

“Failing that, we will continue to call on the Parades Commission and on the PSNI to deal with any breaches of determinations through due legal process.”

Urgent Appeal