‘A victory for common sense’

A VICTORY for common sense was how a parish priest summed up last Friday night’s controversial Ballymaconnelly band parade in Rasharkin which passed off without any serious incident although there was some trouble later.

Fr. John Murray, PP of St. Mary’s, and the DUP Mayor of Ballymoney, Councillor Ian Stevenson, had earlier taken the bold move of issuing a joint statement appealing for calm and urging everyone to respect law and order and culture on all sides.

That, along with a robust policing presence and a large number of marshals who walked behind each band, ensured that the parade itself was virtually trouble free.

Police received a report of a banger being thrown onto the Bann Road around 9.30pm on Friday and it landed between two bands and no one was injured.

Earlier in the day, around 4.30pm, police recovered two intact petrol bombs in a hedgerow and there was some trouble shortly after midnight, on Saturday morning, when two petrol bombs were thrown at police at Main Street.

Officers had returned to the area after reports came in around 11pm on Friday of passing cars being attacked by stones.

During the parade, Fr. Murray and Cllr. Stevenson positioned themselves directly in front of the protesters - thought to number more than 100 - where police had created a ‘sterile’ zone in the middle of the village, separating those protesters and parade supporters. Only press, parade monitors and politicans were allowed inside the restricted area.

As bands walked by, protesters held aloft placards calling for an end to ‘sectarian parades in Rasharkin’. Whistles were blown and bands were jeered and there was one incident which many saw the funny side of when a band member dropped his mace in front of the protesters leaving him to face howls of laughter.

At least nine Tactical Support Group units of police along with a dog-handling team and a police helicopter which monitored the situation throughout the evening, effectively threw a ring of steel around Rasharkin. The 200 plus officers ensured that any hint of violence would be stamped on immediately. Barriers were also placed along the Main Street between marchers and protesters.

But many are commenting that in addition to the police operation, the presence of Fr. Murray and Cllr. Stevenson had a positive influence in a very public show of unity.

Explaining why a joint statement, which had been discussed by interested parties in the run up to the parade, had been issued, Fr. Murray said both sides had different beliefs but he felt that all in the community could ‘get on’ as they did years ago.