Sinn Fein accused of ‘trying to create tensions’ ahead of Newry parades | Latest Newry News, Newry Sport and Newry Business for Newry City

Sinn Fein accused of ‘trying to create tensions’ ahead of Newry parades

Ulster Unionist Councillor David Taylor has spoken of his disappointment at comments made by Sinn Fein MLA, Conor Murphy regarding a number of parades due to take place in Newry over the last weekend in August.

orange parade2The local Councillor was reacting after Conor Murphy said it was ‘absolute madness’ to have three parades in Newry and accused organisers of refusing to speak to local residents.

Speaking to Newry Times, Councillor Taylor accused Sinn Fein representatives of ‘trying to create tensions in Newry over the rightful entitlement of the minority Protestant community to express their culture in their home city’.

“The remarks made by Conor Murphy about parades due to be hosted by South Down Defenders Flute Band and the Royal Black Institution highlight an ongoing, outdated sectarian agenda pursued by Sinn Fein in respect of their attitude towards the minority Protestant Community in Newry,” he said.

“Sinn Fein, as always, fail to step up to the mark in displaying genuine equality and tolerance to the minority Protestant community within the Newry area and it is clear that intolerance and old fashioned bigotry is alive and well within the Republican movement.

Councillor Taylor has called for tolerance over Newry parades

Councillor Taylor has called for tolerance over Newry parades

“While Mr Murphy will feign concerns regarding disruption to residents and impacts on tourism, the truth is that these well planned and marshalled events take place over the same period each year with little or no disruption to the commercial life of the City of Newry,” Taylor insisted.

“It is abundantly clear that Mr Murphy and his colleagues in Sinn Fein are driven by hatred of all things British and through a deeply imbedded intolerance of the minority Protestant community’s desire to display their proud heritage and culture in a positive manner.”

Taylor said there remains a ‘profound mistrust’ towards Sinn Fein within the minority Protestant community in Newry. “That suspicion and uncertainly will remain whilst Republicans continue their attempts to suppress this community’s entitlement to fair and equitable treatment in their home city.”

Looking ahead to the parades, he added, “I am confident the planned events will take place as always, in a well organised and positive fashion. I would call upon the people of Newry to embrace the events organised over the last weekend in August where a vast array of musical spectacle and colour will be on display, there to be enjoyed by everybody.”

More on this story:

‘Three days of parades in Newry is madness’ – Murphy

Short URL: https://newrytimes.com/?p=52187

Posted by on Aug 7 2015. Filed under Community, News, Politics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

Leave a Reply







Find us on Facebook

Log in | Designed by Gabfire themes